Ban of debates on Biya’s health: Kah Walla tackles Atanga Nji, urges him to stop threatening Cameroonians.

The decision signed last week by Minister Atanga Nji has since been a source of contentious debate nationwide. 

In her open letter to the minister, Kah Walla urged the member of government to desist from insulting and ridiculing Cameroonians.

The one-time presidential candidate told Atanga Nji that: “As a Minister of the Republic, you are to maintain professionalism, etiquette and respectability at all times…”.

She said contrary to many Cameroonians, she has had discussions with Minister Atanga Nji during which they disagreed over “90% of the time” but she never felt threatened or insulted. 

“Not once did you threaten or insult me during that conversation, despite our diametrically opposing views. I therefore know you are capable of communicating without threat or insult,” she said, while urging the MINAT boss to cease with the threats and insults he uses when addressing compatriots.

Ban illegal, disrespectful

Kah Walla said Minister Atanga Nji’s decision to ban debates on Biya’s health in the media wasn’t only illegal, but an act of disrespect to the Cameroonian people.

Kah Walla insisted that: “The preamble of the Constitution of Cameroon says ‘the freedom of communication, of expression, of the press, of assembly, of association, and of trade unionism, as well as the right to strike shall be guaranteed under the conditions fixed by law’. Freedom of expression is a Constitutional right! You cannot as a Minister of the Republic ban any Cameroonian from speaking about any subject unless there exists a specific law allowing you to do so. Your directive of October 9, 2024, to Governors is therefore illegal”.

She went further to intimate that Minister Atanga Nji was “confusing your role as the militant of the ruling political party with your functions as minister”.

The political party leader regretted that such confusion within the regime has been contrary to the interests of the country. 

“It is a confusion that has impoverished our country, obstructed its development and impeded Cameroonians from enjoying the liberties, resources and riches of this wonderful country of ours,” she stated.

Urgent need for action 

Kah Walla appealed to Minister Atanga Nji to focus his attention more on addressing the dire situations of compatriots who are victims of natural disasters. 

Kah Walla reminded the minister that about half a million Cameroonians are in dire straits in the Far North of the country due to flooding. 

She frowned at the minister for banning Cameroonians from mobilising resources to assist their fellow citizens while claiming the Directorate of Civil Protection in his ministry has failed on multiple fronts.

While noting that floods occur annually and the exceptionally high levels of water this year were predicted, she claimed MINAT “did nothing to prevent the deaths of Cameroonians and the disastrous situation in which nearly 500,000 of our compatriots find themselves”.

She claimed the ministry’s disaster response is “highly inadequate” with “insufficient” shelters, “insufficient and inappropriate” assistance provided to victims who are “traumatised and re-traumatised”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3260 of Tuesday October 15, 2024