"When I miss him, I come here": Fru Ndi's ranch manager recalls lessons beyond politics

For more than two decades, veterinary surgeon Nfor Napoleon worked closely with the late Ni John Fru Ndi, managing livestock on the opposition leader's farm while building a relationship that extended far beyond professional duties.

Three years after Fru Ndi's death, Nfor Napoleon says the bond remains so strong that he still regularly visits the chairman's residence whenever he feels his absence most deeply.

Speaking to Hilltopvoices during the third anniversary thanksgiving service organised by the Fru Ndi family and the Social Democratic Front (SDF) at the Presbyterian Church Musang in Bamenda, Nfor Napoleon described the late opposition leader as a father figure whose lessons continue to guide his daily life.

"I have been handling the animals on the farm since 2003... Through that, we had political interactions and a lot of close family interactions. He became a father to us." he said

The thanksgiving service brought together members of the Fru Ndi family, SDF leaders, government officials, clergy, supporters and well-wishers to celebrate the life and legacy of the founding chairman of the SDF, who died in June 2023.

For Napoleon Kwalar, the anniversary was a reminder that Fru Ndi's presence continues to be felt by many who knew him closely.

"When I miss him, I come here... Each time you enter this compound, you see him. Sometimes you dream about him. Sometimes you remember exactly where he used to sit in church." he said

According to him, the return of National Executive Committee members to the chairman's residence for meetings was evidence that Fru Ndi's influence remains a powerful force within the party.

"His spirit is a rallying force. Some people may have drifted away, but they are finding their way back."  Napoleon said. 

He described Fru Ndi as a leader who genuinely loved people and believed that dialogue offered the best path to resolving conflicts.

"Politics simply gave him a pathway to express how much he loved people and how much he dreamed of a bigger Cameroon," Napoleon said.

"He always looked for peaceful ways of solving problems. Dialogue was at the centre of his life."

Recalling a personal disagreement he once had with his boss Fru Ndi, Napoleon said the chairman's approach to reconciliation revealed much about his character.

"For three days we did not meet. Then he simply called me and asked me to sit where I always sat. We never even discussed the problem again. It ended there."

Nfor Napoleon, Fru Ndi's ranch manager attending to guest during anniversary 

He also welcomed plans announced by the Fru Ndi family to establish a memorial library, revealing that the late chairman had personally gifted him several books over the years.

"I have about five books he bought and signed for me," he said. "I still read them over and over again."

Among them was a publication he received from Fru Ndi after a trip to South Africa, a gift he says continues to influence him years later.

Despite several invitations from Fru Ndi to become more active in politics, Napoleon chose to remain in his professional field.

"He wanted me to join the shadow cabinet at one point and even encouraged me to get involved in local politics, but I remained focused on my profession," he explained.

Even so, he says the lessons he learnt from the SDF founder continue to shape his outlook on life.

One of those lessons concerned financial discipline and long-term planning.

"He always told me that when you make profit, don't get too excited. Think about how to multiply that profit through investment," Napoleon recalled.

Nfor Napoleon, Fru Ndi's ranch manager

Another lesson was the importance of truth and integrity.

"If somebody spoke badly about another person, he would call both people together and ask the accuser to repeat the claims in front of the person concerned. It was his way of teaching us to remain truthful."

Perhaps the most important lesson, however, was Fru Ndi's belief that people matter more than wealth.

"He taught us that people are the greatest asset you can have in life, not money," Napoleon said.

He also shared one of the chairman's most memorable sayings.

"He often told me that if he were to choose another god apart from the living God, he would choose the soil."

According to Napoleon, Fru Ndi's love for agriculture, tree planting and land stewardship reflected his belief in leaving something behind for future generations.

"He planted trees he knew he would never harvest. He believed we should keep planting until the day we are planted."

For those who worked closely with him like Nfor Napoleon, the legacy of Ni John Fru Ndi lives not only in speeches and political victories, but also in everyday lessons about truth, investment, service and humanity. 

By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web

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