Fierce battles Atanga Nji has fought for Biya regime.

Though many regime supporters have fought to keep the ship of the Biya regime in safe waters, one of them, who has often staked his neck to see the ship of the Biya regime steered to safety, is Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration.

Atanga Nji, who has been described, and rightly so, as fearless, pragmatic, witty, insightful, proactive, workaholic, dexterous politician and endowed with a rare common sense, has never spared any efforts, to the best of his abilities and strength, to tackle head-on, any adversaries faced by the Biya regime.

The deadly battles Atanga Nji has fought for the CPDM regime in his decades of politicking, are in many sectors; political, humanitarian, socio-cultural, traditional, administrative, cadastral, among others.

The diehard CPDM regime supporter has even sometimes put his own life on the line, to fight for the system. 

His crisis management savvy has often been hailed by many analysts as unparalleled, hardheaded and results-oriented. Where some chicken-hearted CPDM regime adherents fear to tread, Atanga Nji moves in with fearless ease. 

Little wonder his crisis management style has endeared the top brass of the CPDM regime, who always give him thumps-up for his pro-active and fearless actions against “enemies” of the State. 

As groups of opposition political parties are coming together in alliances, in a bid to sweep the CPDM regime off its feet at the 2025 presidential election, Atanga Nji, true to his smartness and witty nature, has picked holes in the manner in which the opposition is going about the activities of the alliances. 

That is why on Tuesday March 12, 2024, the plain-speaking Atanga Nji, in a tough statement, warned the leaders and adherents of the political alliances; Alliance for Political Change, APC, and Alliance for Political Transition, ATP.

The daredevil MINAT boss slammed those fronting the APC coalition platform for some of their activities, including a visit they paid to jailed separatist leaders at the Yaounde Kondengui prison.

Atanga Nji said the visit of the opposition political party members to Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Co. was an endorsement of the chaos that reigns in the North West and South West Regions.

The territorial administration minister also said the political groupings or any others in gestation are “clandestine movements”.

Quoting Law No. 90-56 of 19 December 1990, on political parties, Atanga Nji said the movements have no legal status and so cannot function within the State of Cameroon.

Analysts have said Atanga Nji’s prompt move is one that could nip the political alliances in the bud and save the CPDM regime from an impending storm.

Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan for NW, SW 

It has been whispered within several circles that the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Plan for victims of the armed conflict raging in the North West and South West Regions, was the brainchild of Atanga Nji. He is the Coordinator of the humanitarian plan. 

The plan, with a budget of 12.7 billion FCFA, was launched June 20, 2018. 

Atanga Nji’s astute management of the plan has seen people affected by the crisis regain their lives. Many have been provided basic needs and food stuff. Some of the items that have been distributed include; mattresses, buckets, washing soap, blankets, roofing sheets and planks, cement among others.

Some of the beneficiaries of the humanitarian assistance have attested that the support they received has greatly helped them to rebuild their lives. Hundreds of thousands of persons have so far benefited from the humanitarian assistance. 

Tactful handling of Mousgoum, Arab Choa clashes  

Paul Atanga Nji has also fought tooth and nail in the area of resolving inter-community crises that could have escalated and shaken communities.

A case in point is that between the Mousgoum and Arab Choa communities in the Far North Region of the country. 

In December 2021, fighting broke out between the two communities, over grazing land and water for fishing.

The fighting led to the death of close to 20 persons, many others wounded, houses destroyed and mass displacement of the population.

Minister Atanga Nji immediately led a delegation to the area to seek for peace between the belligerent communities. 

Thanks to his rare mediation efforts, Atanga Nji was able to pacify and reconcile both communities to live together as brothers and sisters. 

Atanga Nji encouraged those who fled because of the conflict to return to their communities. He did this by giving them incentives to enable them resettle. 

He even visited some of the persons who had fled the clashes to Chad, in order to persuade them to return. 

Observers say if Atanga Nji was not swift in taking practical measures to mediate for peace between the Mousgoum and Arab Choa communities, things would have gotten worse with more deaths and destruction. Analysts say peace now reigns between the communities because of Atanja Nji’s peace negotiation deftness. 

Soothes tempers in Far North Region

When floods hit the town of Kouserri, in the Far North Region, in September 2022, displacing thousands of persons, Minister Atanja Nji did not delay with the Head of State’s relief items.   

The minister went there on September 20, 2022, to distribute a huge consignment of relief items. The assistance was handed to the 1,800 victims of the floods, at a ceremony in Kousseri. 

The floods had been caused by heavy downpour, leading to a dirk giving way. 

Not long after that, floods also hit Yagoua, still in the Far North Region. Atanga Nji, who had barely settled down in Yaounde after the trip to Kouserri, again zoomed off to Yagoua, to take stock of the situation and distribute relief materials. 

The trip took him to Yagoua, Marga, Guidiguis and Guirvidig.   

During the trip, Minister Atanga Nji went to Guidiguis, where no minister had been since 1920! Atanga Nji, while there, paid a courtesy visit on the Lamido, who explained to him the problems being faced by the community. 

Analysts say because of the brewing anger within the northern communities after the floods, if Atanga Nji had not gone there to pacify them and assure the population of government’s attention, the anger could have boiled over. 

An analyst, who did not want to be named, said: “If the minister had not gone to Yagoua, to calm flaring tempers, a revolution could have been staged from there because of the floods”.   

Swift intervention in Bamouns, indigenes clashes in Sangmelima

Between October 8 and 10, 2019, there were clashes in Sangmelima, Dja and Lobo Division of the South Region, between Bamouns and the indigenes. 

The indigenes had attacked Bamouns and their businesses. Several persons were wounded and properties destroyed. Because of the attacks, some of the Bamouns began quitting the town. 

While others went to sleep, it was Minister Atanga Nji, who, on October 17, 2019, rushed there. While in Sangmelima, he held a series of meetings, during which he evaluated the damage done. He equally took time to preach peace, reconciliation and living together.

Atanga Nji is said to have used an innovative method to reconcile the indigenes with the Bamouns. 

He is said to have asked that a meal of the indigenes be prepared and that of the Bamouns also prepared. 

Thereafter, he brought together the Bamouns and the indigenes to eat and drink together. 

“This was an innovative action of the minister that reconciled the Sangmelima indigenes and the Bamouns,” an analyst said. 

Obala flood victims

Minister Atanga Nji, was on September 13, 2022, in Obala, Lekie Division of the Centre Region, to distribute a huge consignment of relief aid from the Presidential Couple, to victims of the floods that occurred in the locality on May 18, 2022.

It should be noted that the flood had caused a bridge which linked three Secondary and Technical High Schools, to collapse, making access to the school difficult. Many houses were also destroyed, leaving many families homeless.

The gifts Atanga Nji took there were distributed to the close to 1,000 beneficiaries, at a ceremony the MINAT boss chaired at the Quartier Bami in Obala.

The relief materials comprised 75 mattresses, 180 blankets, 80 bags of rice, 29 cartoons of soap, 25 cartons of sardine, 30 cartons of vegetable oil and 300 buckets.

Enter teachers’ strike of 2022

In March 2022, public school teachers, under the banner of what came to be known as ‘On a trop supporté’, OTS, went on strike, putting the education of hundreds of thousands of children on hold.

Atanga Nji was categorical that it was the right of teachers to air their grievances, but warned that they had been infiltrated by adventurers, who wanted to use the strike to make political gains. Atanga Nji then went ahead to instruct all regional governors to arrest any teacher fomenting trouble. 

Analysts say it was the MINAT boss’ firm instruction that caused impostors masquerading as teachers, to back down. Reliable sources say Atanga Nji then went ahead to make sure that the grievances of legitimate teachers were resolved. 

The grievances were looked into and the strike was nipped in the bud, thanks to Minister Atanga Nji’s proactiveness.

Atanga Nji, some analysts hold, should be given credit for such an action. Though there are still pockets of grievances by teachers, Atanga Nji’s actions, some analysts say, have cowed them from grounding schools. 

Battling fake chiefs, villages, land-grabbing 

The creation of fake villages and the enthronement of fake chiefs thereto, have become the order of the day, particularly in Fako Division of the South West Region.

When Minister Atanga Nji was in Limbe, on June 11, 2022, for the enthronement of the Paramount Chief of the town, John Elufa Manga Williams, he later held a meeting with administrators of the Division. 

During the meeting, Atanga Nji warned against rampant land-grabbing in Fako, encroachment on Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, land and the hazardous creation of villages, most of them fake.

He had said order would be instituted and all fake chiefs flushed out and fake villages cancelled. 

Atanga Nji, the no-nonsense person he is, keep to his words. This was seen in the fact that the then Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Fako, Mr Chaibou, on the instruction of Minister Atanga Nji, made moves to weed out fake chiefs. He equally cancelled fake villages and put a hold to land-grabbing.

The issues of fake chiefs and fake villages, which are precursors to land-grapping, are potential catalysts for civil strife and public disorder that could lead to deaths and destruction of property, if they were not brought under control by the MINAT boss. 

That Atanga Nji took the stopping of these ills as one of his primacies, speaks volumes of a conscientious minister who wants to institute order and decorum, within a sector that has been so much mired in bickering, influence-peddling and sometimes outright fraud.

Clipping Kamto’s wings 

In should be noted that in September 2020, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, MRC, led by Prof Maurice Kamto, had planned mass protests nationwide, to frustrate that year’s regional elections.

The MRC leader, his party comrades and his allies of other political parties, were noted for holding several unauthorised meetings that posed danger to public peace.

After several warnings, Atanga Nji later made a move for Kamto and some of his allies to be arrested. Their arrests prevented an impending storm that could have shaken the foundation of the Biya regime.

It makes meaning to say that since his famous arrest in Douala, transfer to the Judicial Police Headquarters in Yaounde like a criminal, later the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison, and release; after several months in detention, Kamto has not only learnt his lessons but is fully aware of what awaits him, if dares disturb public peace again.

Electioneering strategist

Paul Atanga Nji is also reputed to be a shrewd electioneering strategist. Ahead of the 2018 presidential election, the Secretary General of Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, Jean Kuete, had opted for the party to engage in a door-to-door campaign.

Atanga Nji is said to have convinced President Biya to endorse public campaigns, arguing that without such to demonstrate CPDM’s popularity nationwide, Biya’s victory at the said election was going to be contested. 

The idea for mass campaigns finally prevailed and Atanga Nji held campaign meetings in several places, including in opposition strongholds.

The result of the election, with the CPDM candidate, President Paul Biya, having a landslide victory, is a testimony of Atanga Nji’s foresight, analysts say. 

Collaboration with bike riders… 

In order to better management volatile situations, Atanja Nji employs an appeasement and hands-on policy. It is for this reason, we gathered, that he knows all markets in the country, knows their Market Masters by name and is always in contact with them.

It should be noted that the mobilisation of persons, either for good or bad, is easily done within markets. With Market Masters in cordial relations with Atanga Nji, it is apparent he is always briefed if any action detrimental to the serenity of the Biya regime is planned within the markets.   

Atanga Nji is also said to be in permanent contact with commercial motorbike riders’ associations. This is also to always pacify them in order that they should not be lulled by the opposition to mobilise against the Biya regime. 

A case cited by analysts is that when Kamto’s MRC was mobilising to storm the streets, the party thought it had consolidated the support of motorbike riders. But unknown to them, the witty Atanga Nji had brought a majority of the motorbike riders to government’s side by having an entente with them.

Stepping up gun control

To better ensure security within communities, Minister Atanga Nji has made moves to step up control of the proliferation of firearms and ammunitions.

He has severally held meetings with firearms dealers, during which he reiterates the need for them to stay in line with laid-down regulations for their operations. He has always picked holes with the acquisition, sale and keeping of firearms across the national territory. 

During one of such meetings, Atanga Nji told dealers in arms that the situation is “further compounded by the fact that contrary to what the law prescribes, you, arms dealers, do not always systematically keep the digital and physical data necessary for operations tracking”. 

This, he noted, was partly responsible for the rising insecurity in the country.

Analysts say if control of firearms and ammunitions had been effective before the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, things may not have been the way they are today. 

Atanga Nji has been instrumental in handling the activities of private security companies in the country. He has also instituted order in the sector. Before he came to the helm of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, there were nine approved security companies. He has also ordered that unlike what obtained in the past, all security agents must put on same uniform colours-yellow; with which they can easily be identified. 

Rescued uniform officers from hands of civilians

It should be recalled that at one point, the social media in the country was inundated with videos of civilians beating up the forces of law and order. 

It was Atanga Nji, who put a stop to the phenomenon, when he issued a communique, warning that any civilian who beats up a uniform officer will face the strong arm of the law.

He had even staged a press conference at MINAT, in the presence of the Delegate General for National Security; Martin Mbarga Nguele.

Speaking at the press confab, a no-nonsense Atanga Nji had warned that he would send “a hungry snake” behind anybody who lays hands on a security officer. Thanks to Atanga Nji’s warning, the phenomenon stopped or at least, is not as rampant as it was before. 

War against “wayward” NGOs

Atanga Nji has also been engaged in running battles with some Non-Governmental Organisations, which he says, are working against the interest of the Biya regime.

Analysts say in most countries that have been destabilised, some international NGOs are alleged to have played a role. 

Minister Atanga Nji has thus stamped his feet on the ground, noting that any NGO working with “enemies” of the State, will be sent packing from the country.

This came to pass when Doctors Without Borders’ operations in the North West Region, was suspended by the governor of the Region. Doctors Without Borders later pulled out completely from the North West and South West Regions. 

Role in catering for, facilitating return of refugees

Atanga Nji has also been playing a primordial role in the catering for and facilitating the return of refugees in the East and Far North Regions.

He has also been visiting refugee camps in these regions to distribute President Biya’s relief materials. Each time the refugees are returning to their country of origin, Minister Atanga Nji is always there to supervise the exercise.   

Minister Atanga Nji, on April 14, 2022, had disclosed that government, for five years, had spent over 50 billion FCFA to cater for the needs of refugees from neighbouring countries and citizens rendered as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, due to crisis in some Regions of the country. 

He disclosed the statistics while officially launching the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan in Yaounde. The humanitarian response, it should be said, has been in implementation since 2014. 

Fight against ghost towns in the 90s

In the 1990s, when the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF, took the country by storm, with sometimes aggressive and violent demonstrations and political actions, Atanga Nji was among the few in the North West Region, then an SDF stronghold, who could openly manifest their affiliation to the CPDM.

One of such acts of bravado and show of party loyalty in the face of deadly threats from the SDF, was when Atanga Nji trekked from Bamenda to Yaounde, in support of President Paul Biya.

During the days when the opposition used ghost town operations as one of their strategies to bring down the Biya regime, Atanga Nji was one of only few Cameroonians who could muster the courage to openly fight against the phenomenon. He is on record to have bought some 80 taxis and put on the streets of Yaounde and Douala, to counter the ghosts that were on the streets of Yaounde and Douala.

It is believed that it was Atanga Nji’s move to put 80 taxis in circulation, on the streets of Yaounde and Douala, that frustrated ghost town operations in Cameroon, in the 90s.

Re-implanting CPDM in NW

Political pundits agree that it was Atanga Nji, who played a preponderant role in re-implanting the CPDM in the North West Region, in 2006. 

Before he became Section President of Mezam CPDM, in 2006, the CPDM had always had one Member of Parliament and one council in the North West Region. 

That was the MP for Balikumbat constituency in Ngoketunjia Division and the Balikumbat Council.

However, due to Atanga Nji’s political strategies, the CPDM moved up to nine out of the 20 MPs and 17 out of 34 councils for the very first time; after the 2007 municipal and parliamentary elections. 

Even in areas where the CPDM was defeated at the 2007 twin elections, it scored considerably high, compared to previous elections in the North West Region, after the introduction of multi-party politics in Cameroon in 1990.

It should be noted that when Atanga Nji was elected Section President of the then Mezam I Section of the CPDM, he vowed to deliver one council in Bamenda, which was the stronghold of the opposition SDF party, to the CPDM.

Atanga made good his promise, when in 2013, the Bamenda I Council was won by the CPDM. The council, till date, is run by the CPDM. 

At the 2018 municipal election, Atanga Nji stepped it up when the CPDM also won the Bamenda II Council. Atanga Nji is known to have also contributed enormously for the victory of the CPDM in Mezam and the entire North West Region. The ruling party won 19 of the Region’s 20 parliamentary seats. 

Diehard CPDM support for decades

It should be noted that Atanga Nji’s romance with the Biya regime started long before he became minister or even CPDM Section President.

On August 8, 1988, even as an ordinary supporter of the CPDM, Atanga Nji donated the sum of 57 million FCFA to eight ministries.

Meanwhile, on July 12, 2005, Atanga Nji organised the longest march in support of President Paul Biya. The march was from Bamenda to Yaounde (405km). It took nine days. In 1999, he made a donation of 4 million FCFA to ex-servicemen. 

At the 1992 presidential election, Atanga Nji is said to have alone mobilised some 400,000 votes in favour of President Biya. 

To propagate the CPDM ideals, Atanga Nji, for years, also wrote opinions that were published in Cameroon Tribune and other newspapers. 

If the aforementioned, and many others, which may have not been cited, are anything to go by, then analysts say there is no gainsaying the fact that Paul Atanga Nji is among the few Cameroonians who have contributed enormously for the Biya regime’s long stay in power, 42 years and still counting!