Sir Dr. Barrister Nico Halle, former National President of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, CMF, has paid tribute to the late Very Rev. Dr. Festus Ambe Asana, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, describing him as a humble, transparent, and principled church leader whose legacy should inspire Christians across the country and in the diaspora.
In an interview with the press, the renowned anti-hate-speech advocate said he received news of Dr. Asana’s death with “devastation.” “I was numbed and shattered,” he said. “We had just celebrated his 80th birthday with gratitude to God for his life and ministry. Though he had health challenges in recent months, his passing is still a painful loss, not only to his family but to the entire PCC family.” He added that the timing of the loss is significant, coming as the church navigates a transition in leadership. “This is a moment when the PCC needs the kind of moral courage, patience, and wisdom that Dr. Asana embodied,” he noted.
Sir Dr. Halle said his relationship with the PCC spans several decades and is rooted in service, faith, and a sense of duty. He has served as legal counsel to the church under Rev. Awasum, Rev. Nku, Dr. Asana, Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, and the current Moderator, Rev. Miki Hans Abia. All his services, he said, were rendered on a pro bono basis. “It is my expression of gratitude for God’s blessings in my life,” he explained. “The PCC is not an institution I served for gain. It is the church that formed me spiritually, and I will always give back to it.”
Beyond legal work, he recounted serving on various church boards and committees, where he developed a close working relationship with Dr. Asana long before the latter became Moderator. One of the most memorable moments of their friendship, he said, was chairing Dr. Asana’s 40th wedding anniversary celebration. “It was more than a family event,” Sir Dr. Halle recalled. “It was a testimony to faithfulness, partnership in ministry, and the kind of humility that marked his entire life.”
Reflecting on Dr. Asana’s five-year mandate as Moderator, Sir Dr. Halle praised his commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity. “He began his leadership by promising change, and in my view, he fulfilled that commitment,” he said. During that period, Sir Dr. Halle served as a member of the PCC Board of Trustees. He said Dr. Asana encouraged trustees to ask critical questions, protect church assets for mission, and ensure that resources were used for the gospel and not for personal interest. “He wanted a church where members could trust their leaders,” he said. “He did not run the PCC like a private estate. He ran it like a household of God.”
Church members who worked with Dr. Asana during his tenure recall his efforts to strengthen presbyteries, promote lay participation, and reduce bureaucracy. For Sir Dr. Halle, those reforms were not about politics but about restoring confidence between the pulpit and the pew. “He listened. He prayed. He consulted,” he said. “That is why many people still speak of his time with respect.”
However, Sir Dr. Halle also expressed concern about governance within the PCC in recent years. He alleged that constitutional procedures were not fully respected during the last Moderator election, and said he resigned from the Board of Trustees alongside other members after disagreements over constitutional matters. “We could not remain silent when the constitution was being sidelined,” he stated. “Resignation was painful, but conscience demanded it. The PCC is governed by rules that protect everyone. When we ignore them, we open the door to division.” He used the moment to call for unity rooted in truth. “The church should continue promoting transparency, accountability, and adherence to its constitution,” he urged. “Unity without truth is not unity. It is silence.”
Sir Dr. Halle also spoke about _Truth House_, which he described as a spiritual movement aimed at encouraging integrity, accountability, and renewed spirituality within the church. He said the initiative seeks to create space for Christians to speak openly against practices that undermine the church, while remaining committed to its spiritual mission. “Truth House is not against the church. It is for the church,” he explained. “It calls us back to honesty, repentance, and courage. Christians should not fear criticism when advocating moral values and church reform. If we love the PCC, we must be willing to correct it when it strays.”
Looking ahead to Dr. Asana’s funeral, Sir Dr. Halle called on PCC members to celebrate the former Moderator’s life and legacy. He described Dr. Asana as someone who demonstrated humility, patience, peace, and devotion throughout his ministry. “He did not chase titles. He carried responsibility,” he said. “He prayed more than he complained, and he served more than he demanded. Those are the qualities Christians should emulate.”
He concluded with a charge to the entire PCC family, at home and abroad. “Dr. Asana’s life reminds us that the church is bigger than any one leader. It is about Christ,” he said. “If we honor his legacy, we will build a PCC that is transparent, accountable, and faithful for the next generation. That will be the best tribute we can give him.”
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