Hon Cavaye Yeguie raised to rank of first-class traditional ruler.

This was during a solemn ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Paul Biya Glass House in Yaounde.

The decree from the Head of State was handed to Hon Cavaye by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji. The ceremony marked the reclassification of the Mada second-class chiefdom to a first-class chiefdom. 

In attendance at the ceremony was a cross section of cabinet ministers, senators, Members of Parliament, MPs, and other traditional rulers from across the country. 

In his address, the Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril expressed gratitude to the President Biya for the honour bestowed upon him. 

He humbly accepted the decision, stating that: "The President of the Republic has made me a first-class chief. I accept with humility his decision".

He has requested the Minister of Territorial Administration to transmit his words of gratitude to President Biya.

Meanwhile, he has invited the people of Mada and the entire population of the Far North Region to rally massively behind the Head of State and vote him in the upcoming October election.

Enter Minister Atanga Nji

Speaking to the press, Minister Paul Atanga Nji, stated that he was at the event to convey President Paul Biya’s message to the House Speaker. 

He noted that the Right Honorable Djibril had been a second-class traditional ruler for close to 54 years, stating that the Head of State had decided to elevate him to a first-class chief.

"It is an important decision because traditional rulers are part of the system and in all State institutions, and the Rt Hon has been working so hard and has been expecting this promotion for quite some time," the minister remarked.

He added that the Head of State has rewarded the House Speaker for his commitment and patriotism. 

Minister Atanga Nji has reiterated the House Speaker’s call to the population of Mada and the entire northern regions to rally massively behind the Head of State in the upcoming October election.

“In his speech, he [Hon Cavaye)] said, he is not only thanking President Paul Biya for his wonderful gesture, but he's asking the community, not only his community, but the Far North Region, who have been honoured, to vote for President Paul Biya. And he gave the figures, 99.99%. So, it's a political commitment,” Minister Atanga Nji said. 

He added that: “He [Hon Cavaye] said, the President has elevated me to the rank of a first-class chief. I have been the Speaker of the National Assembly for more than 32 years. He has honored me. So, in return, we should vote for him massively”.

Minister Atanga Nji then promised to channel Hon Cavaye’s gratitude letter to the Head of State “not later than today”. 

"The New Deal of President Biya is all about humility, commitment, patriotism, and patience, and all those qualities are put in the Rt Hon,” he said, before urging the younger generation to copy the example of the House Speaker who has been patient for 54 years.

Council of traditional rulers hail Cavaye

Meanwhile, the President of the Council of Traditional Rulers, Guy Tsala Ndzomo, has congratulated Hon Cavaye Yeguie for the feat.

He highlighted the promotion as another manifestation of President Biya’s constant will to grant the institution of traditional command its rightful place in the management and development of Cameroon. 

He has expressed the gratitude of the traditional chiefs before noting that the National Council of Traditional Rulers, to which the Speaker had actively contributed during its establishment, had made him its Honorary President. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3504 of Tuesday July 15, 2025