After resignation: Tchiroma quits Yaounde for Garoua.

The move, political watchers say, further throws the polity into uncertainty as Tchiroma continues to maintain sealed lips over the motive of his resignation and next move.

Tchiroma, who has held the post of Minister of Employment and Vocational Training since January 4, 2019, arrived the Garoua International Airport Wednesday afternoon. 

He is said to have boarded a car straight to his home from the airport, turning down requests from journalists who trailed him to get a reaction on his resignation, which continues to shake the country’s political set up.

The Guardian Post gathered that the FSNC leader told reporters that he needed time to rest, having just flown in from Yaounde. 

He is also said to have ascertained that the hierarchy of the FSNC political party, which he heads, was supposed to meet before taking a position to inform the country.

Tchiroma had been expected to communicate to the public on what is going on in Yaounde, Wednesday.

While reporters crisscrossed Yaounde, nosing for where the outing was to take place, images emerged of him rather arriving Garoua in the company of his aides.

Quitted office before resignation?

While the interpretation of his position continues to split hairs, it is reported that Tchiroma’s decision to quit government was not automatic.  He is said to have reflected well ahead of time before taking action. 

It is reported that he had removed his vitals from his office in Yaounde and backed out of his official residence as Minister of Employment and Vocational Training. 

Accounts hold that weeks before making public his political turnaround, Tchiroma had put his belongings in order, to avoid any potential embarrassment. 

Sources also said the recent move justified his swift move to Garoua Wednesday, a day after news of him leaving government leaked to the public.

When the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, was in the North Region for the inauguration of a cement factory in Figuil, on June 12, Tchiroma is said to have been absent. 

It is reported that he was in Garoua and had assured hierarchy he was going to mobilise supporters for the event but never showed up.

Tchiroma tables resignation letter to PM

Authoritative sources told The Guardian Post that Tchiroma handed his resignation to the Prime Minister, Head of Government on Monday June 23. 

He is said to have spent at least two hours with the Prime Minister, before leaving the Star Building. His decision is said to have been communicated to the Head of State, Paul Biya.

Tchiroma keeps promise 

The developments of Wednesday tie with a promise Tchiroma had made in a telephone interview with The Guardian Post on Tuesday as news of his resignation alarmed many stakeholders across the political spectrum.

He had promised that a statement on the situation was going to be out in the early hours of Wednesday from his team. He had said on Tuesday that: “Unfortunately, I made it a point of honour never to be involved at this point in time in making comments or opinions. Please, we have a team in charge of it. Tomorrow [Wednesday] in the early hours of the day, I think that all the necessary information to enlighten you will be brought to your knowledge and made available”.

Tchiroma sparks wind of change?

The resignation of Tchiroma from government analysts are saying, could be the start of a real wind of change with a huge bearing on the October Presidential poll. The FSNC leader’s last public outing was in his native Garoua close to two weeks ago.

He had during a rally with party supporters made fiery declarations against the regime in place, tasking the people to brace up to vote for change. It was about the second time in decades that Tchiroma was coming out that hard against the Biya regime.

He had blamed several social problems and other challenges facing the people of the Northern Regions on the Biya regime. Among other things, he had also said he will become an enemy if he asked the population to again vote for the same people this year.

The recent outing added to other grassroots tours he had made across the Northern Regions about three months ago during which he did not mention support for Biya. 

Tchiroma then had rather said no one can govern Cameroon without winning votes in the Grand North. He has also told reporters then that any political leader who tell supporters the choice of candidate to vote for no matter the nature of the election is a dictator.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3485 of Thursday June 26, 2025