At opening of governor’s confab: MINAT boss declares merciless crackdown on uncivil behaviours, defiance.

He was speaking at the opening of the first semester conference of Regional Governors. 

The confab, which ended Thursday July 4, under the theme: “Administrative authorities and the maintenance of law and other in pre-electoral periods”. 

Opening the confab, the MINAT boss made a review of the nation’s political climate and social issues such as rising road accidents, unauthorised political activities and attempts to denigrate the Head of State, Paul Biya. 

He remarked that any form of deviant behaviour contrary to the laws and directives in force, will be responded to without mercy. 

According to Atanga Nji, the Head of State, Paul Biya, has worked in the last decades to make Cameroon what it is today, and nobody, irrespective of rank, will be allowed to ruin it.

No political activity without clearance 

With political fireworks already being felt as the nation looks forward to elections in 2025, Atanga Nji declared that no political activity will take place without the authorisation of competent authorities.

He insisted that all political parties and associations are within the competence of the ministry under his command, restating that: “No political activity shall be carried out nationwide without the clearance from administrative authorities”.

Atanga Nji disclosed that his collaborators have reported cases of persons, whom he described as “unscrupulous politicians”, seeking to exploit the population “by preaching violence, acts of vandalism, hate speech”.

The MINAT boss cited that the politicians “are suggesting revision of Electoral Code, single ballot paper, authorisation for people with dual nationality to vote”, among others put restated the firmness of the powers that be to ensure order reigns.

No hiding place for those disrespecting Head of State

When it concerns Paul Biya and his responsibilities as Head of State, Atanga Nji said, the democracy he offered Cameroonians must not be abused. 

Decades down the road, he averred that “Biya has worked to build our country on a solid foundation, where we enjoy peace, national unity and the spirit of living together, in spite of our differences”. 

He insisted that Biya “remains the Head of State and incarnates all State institutions. Unscrupulous politicians have taken upon themselves to address the Head of State as if they were talking to a layman…”.

He warned that: “Henceforth, such utterances shall not be tolerated”.

Biya masters Cameroon more than anyone 

Atanga Nji said the Head of State’s mastery of Cameroon is next to none. “He has experience in managing State affaires far beyond our boundaries,” the minister uttered.

Despite urging politicians to act in respect of State institutions, Atanga Nji reminded all of Biya’s standing.

“In Africa, he is respected as an intelligent, experienced and wiseman…so no room will be given to soothsayers and preachers of doom, who think they master Cameroon better than President Biya”.

He advised that “in a country as free as Cameroon, we must use our intelligence to build, not destroy. We must avoid verbal excesses, irresponsible rhetoric, hate speech and political one-upmanship, all of which can sow the seeds of conflict”.

Fate of daredevil political actors

For rash and madcap political actors, Atanga Nji announced what awaits them. 

“Defaulters, regardless of their social ranking, will pay a heavy price for violating the laws regulating the activities of political parties,” he enthused.

Any form of freedom without limits, Atanga Nji said, also sets the stage for chaos and anarchy. In this light, he advised administrative authorities to act as regulators and guides but exercise firmness “in the face of those whose favourite sport is to defy the authority of the State”.

Planned disruption of elections dead on arrival

For those whom Atanga Nji said could be planning to use the media to enforce defiance and possibly disrupt polls next year, he insisted that such won’t progress.

He urged the media to be on the watch-out, especially during interactive programmes, which he said have “become a kind of one-man show where people exhibit their ignorance and where hate speech and defying State authority have become the order of the day”. 

The member of government firmly announced that: “Any attempt to disrupt the electoral process today or tomorrow shall be dealt with squarely”.

Ban on heavy duty trucks amid rising accidents?

Establishing a link between heavy duty trucks and ugly occurrences on roads nationwide, the minister hinted on tough measures in view.

Atanga Nji lamented that: “Drivers of heavy- duty vehicles transporting goods, trucks carrying timber, sand and gravel, are often guilty of over-speeding, poor overtaking and drunk-driving. This recklessness is wreaking havoc on our roads”.

Faced with the recurrences, the MINAT boss disclosed that “administrative authorities will be obliged to issue orders as they did in 2007, to restrict the use of heavy-duty vehicles on certain roads”.

Commercial bike riders & crime

Revisiting progress made in restoring order in the commercial motorbike sector, Atanga Nji said there is reticence in some towns and cities. He said police authorities have reported cases of commercial bike riders being linked to atrocities.

The minister traced the involvement of commercial bikers “to certain crimes such as the sale of drugs, trafficking in arms and ammunition, assaults and armed robbery…”.

To understand the human casualty in terms of human resources linked to bike accidents and atrocities, Atanga Nji averred that: “You only have to visit hospital emergency departments to understand our concern about the seriousness of the incidents attributed to motorbike riders in our cities”.

The member of government allied the accidents to recklessness, before indicating that commercial bike riders “have been arrested by the forces of law and order for aggravated theft, assaults, highway robbery stabbing of customers and kidnapping for ransom”.

He promised to step up engagements with commercial bike riders’ unions nationwide, to address the situation. Atanga Nji however specified that those who demonstrate defiance will be arrested and tried in a court of law.

Partial ban on bikes 

To further boost law enforcement operations across the country, the minister hinted that in the face of abductions for ransoms, “two-wheeled vehicles will henceforth be banned in certain parts of the country, in favour of tricycles, which are better suited to law enforcement operations”.

He told administrative authorities that priority should also be on preserving the country’s achievements, ensure security of persons, property and following -up the execution of development projects.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3158 of Thursday July 4, 2024