After threats on Kamto, Cabral: Opposition, civil society lampoons Atanga Nji.

 He had accused them of making derogatory remarks on the Head of State, Paul Biya, and fanning the flames of violence to disrupt presidential polls expected in 2025. 

Atanga Nji had also dangled other actions, including possible prosecution of those his release targeted, further invoking limitations of parliamentary immunity in the case of Hon Cabral Libii. 

At best, he was firm that next year’s presidential election in Cameroon will take place in serenity, despite opposition agitations.

Amid the quietude that greeted the warning, the opposition and some civil society actors have been castigating the minister. 

Among those who have issued replies to the threats from the MINAT boss is Prof Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, MRC.

The Member of Parliament, MP, Hon Cabral Libii, embattled leader of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation, PCRN, has also fired back at Atanga Nji.

International legal heavyweight, Barrister Akere Muna, human rights lawyer, Felix Nkongho Agbor, and political scientist, Dr Aristide Mono, have also stroke back at the MINAT boss.

We will no longer accept violence- Kamto

In a note issued Friday May 25, Prof Maurice Kamto, tackled Atanga Nji, insisting that the MRC and its supporters would no longer accept violence within the political space.

He derided the minister for tagging certain opposition leaders as adventurers seeking for cheap popularity. Kamto accused Atanga Nji of rather being the person acting outside the precincts of the law in search of notoriety.

The MRC leader said his political party “will no longer accept violence, wherever it comes from- from the CPDM or state services- without reacting”.

Going by the political leader, “peace will reign in our country, from now on, today and tomorrow, if we all want it together; in particular by respecting the laws of the Republic, by refraining from rigging elections and blocking the activities of other political parties on the field to favour the CPDM, in a logic of a single party”. 

Kamto re-echoed what he declared a few weeks back as being MRC’s readiness to face the regime in place head-on, in relation to the 2025 presidentials.

He specified that the 2025 presidential election will only be peaceful if those in power do the right thing. Kamto said: “There is no point in shouting and blaming anyone…they cannot reign unchallenged”.

The MRC leader asserted that the regime in place cannot be denying the opposition the right to carry out its activities and at the same time, “want to attribute to others the responsibility for possible violence”. 

The former minister and varsity done quipped the practice will not continue.

I didn’t insult Biya-Hon Cabral Libii

In an outing on May 26, Hon Cabral Libii of the PCRN said, Atanga Nji has no law to cite as preventing any citizen from using the phrase: “My dear compatriots”. 

To note that the minister had, among other things, barred the politician in his release from using the expression: “My dear compatriots”.

Hon Cabral Libii denied accusations from the MINAT boss that some of them insulted the Head of State. He rather said given Biya’s age and contribution to nation building, the Head of State must watch out against his collaborators whom he said want to cripple Cameroon.

Cabral Libii said he and PCRN supporters can’t condone anyone insulting the Head of State but declared that there are a lot of excesses within the government that must be checked. He urged President Biya to stop such persons from carrying out their plans.

‘Change is inevitable’

Citing political mutations across Africa, Cabral Libii said most members of government are living in a dream world of being in power eternally. He said most of Biya’s allies don’t want to see anything good from the Senegalese experience, where a youth was voted Head of State.

The MP argued that the same persons refer to Cameroon as being a continent and as such must be ready to see the changes happening across Africa on home soil.

He claimed that most of those in power are desperate and panicky because they have embezzled wealth meant for the common good. 

The beleaguered PCRN leader rather called for massive enrollment on the voters’ register to change the leadership of the country in 2025.

Threats undermine justice- Akere Muna

Still on the same issue, Barrister Akere Muna, also a key national political actor, described Atanga Nji’s threats as being alarming. 

“His promises of brutal repression without due process are quite alarming, as they undermine the very foundations of justice,” he maintained, adding that: “His threats to the constitutional rights of political parties to hold even a private meeting, by labeling them as illegal, are concerning”. 

Akere Muna further said it is embarrassing to hear Atanga Nji insisting that enrolling on the voters’ register is not compulsory. 

Such actions, among others of Atanga Nji, the international legal luminary said, are “against the core principles of civic duty”.

He further criticised Atanga Nji for describing himself and the ministry under his command as the, “custodian of political parties”. 

Akere, who was a candidate at the 2018 presidential election but dropped at the last minute in support of Prof Kamto, said: “This declaration carries great gravity, especially considering that the present government itself originates from a party. Perhaps it would be wise for him to consider the legality of many of the organs within the CPDM as well”.

‘Ignorance is a misfortune’  

Akere Muna further faulted Atanga Nji for interfering in the internal management of political parties, to the extent of deciding their leaders. 

“…it is not within his mandate to occupy himself with their internal management, including the determination of party leaders,” he bemoaned.

While quoting an English judge as having once said: “Ignorance is not an excuse but a misfortune”, Akere Muna called for massive voter registration. 

He said it is regrettable that “Atanga Nji has taken up the role of a constitutional expert on matters of freedom of speech”.

Masses will not be bullied- Agbor Balla

For multiple award-winning rights lawyer, Barrister Felix Nkongho Abgor, the season will be replete with anti-people actions. 

He released a message apparently referring to the current climate in the country, indicating that: “While they will be desperate, they will ban political alliances, they will discourage citizens from registering on voter lists and will even go as far as threatening those who encourage them to do so, they will restrict freedom of assembly, will violate our freedom of speech and will ban citizens to use some words”.

Agbor Nkongho added that: “Despite all the threats of arrest towards those who want to make the country a better place for all and call for change, the people will not be bullied”. He averred that the reactions signal the end of an era. 

“Their reaction is a strong signal that the champagne party is coming to an end. The people will triumph and there will be euphoria and joy in the land,” the rights lawyer restated.

Enter Scholar & political scientist

Scholar and political scientist, Dr Aristide Mono, reasoned along similar lines with Agbor Balla. He censured Atanga Nji’s actions from different fronts. 

Atanga Nji, he said, lacks merit to ban coalitions of political parties, which he explained are normally taking their legality from the existence of legalised political parties.

Dr Mono averred that it is a mockery and a ridicule to Cameroon that a minister will ban the use of certain expressions such as “My dear compatriots,” or even speaking against crusade to boost voter registration. 

The political scientist said the action shows panic within the system as other key political actors are pushing for citizens to be politically active to shape the destiny of the nation.