Never have undue liberties been taken by any territorial administration minister like Paul Atanga Nji in managing the affairs of civil society organizations and associations or negotiating alliances with political parties on behalf of the ruling CPDM.
Disgusted by the recent ‘irregular acts ‘ undertaken by the overzealous minister in negotiating alliances between some obscure political parties with the CPDM and chairing the meeting of the association of traditional rulers in view of influencing a motion of support for the candidacy of President Paul Biya,UDP National Chairman, El Hadj Lawan Bako whose proposals and words of advice and caution to government are very much respected has come out to set the records straight.
In a press release issued by the statesman on 1st February 2025, he condemns the MINAT boss for overstepping his powers which are limited by the 1990 Liberty Laws to registering associations and going ahead to preside the meetings of these associations and managing their affairs.
According to him, it is the Minister of Arts and Culture who is in charge of promoting the culture and traditional activities of the people of Cameroon but not the MINAT Minister.
Likewise, it is the Secretary General of the CPDM who is in charge of negotiating alliances with political parties in support of President Paul Biya, National Chairman of the CPDM, and not MINAT whose duties are to carry out state functions/affairs.
Bochong El-Hadj Lawan Bako who is Commander, Knight of Valour, also condemns as irregular the reception by the MINAT boss of political parties with motions of support to the CPDM candidate President Paul Biya without the presence of the CPDM Secretary General.
All these acts, he said, smack of overzealousness and so must be condemned in the interest of the Republican institutions.
The arguments raised by the UDP Chairman are supported by the classic case of negotiations between the CPDM and the SDF in 1997. During discussions of that political alliance those who signed the document were the former Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge who was CPDM Political Bureau member for the South West and Joseph Charles Doumba who was CPDM Secretary General, and not MINAT. Signatories on the SDF side were Justice Nyoh Wakai, Legal Adviser, and the Secretary General, Prof. Tazoacha Asonganyi.
In bringing out these irregularities, the UDP Chairman is advocating that the MINAT boss be called to order on pain of plunging the country into chaos and endangering the security of the state on the eve of the crucial presidential elections by his overzealous actions.
