Silencing his detractors:

Philemon Yang becomes Cameroon’s longest serving PM

Appointed to the star building on 30 June 2009, the 70-year old discrete, self-effacing and taciturn son of Jikejem Oku, in Bui Division of the NW region, has finally broken the record that until now was held by the Rt. Hon. Peter Mafany Musonge (the Father of Fako political emancipation). Mafany served as PM for 8 years two months and three weeks (19 September 1996 to 8 December 2004). But Yang has already made 8 years four months and counting.

Philemon Yang

            Yang has silenced his detractors who had dismissed him as a political feather-weight at the star building. Before his appointment as PM in 2009, many considered Yang somewhat of a gamble. And this was perhaps owing to his unrepentant discreteness. Some even said he had played his discreteness to his own disadvantage.

Because Yang was hardly seen at CPDM rallies or in political arenas, many said he did not have the requisite political stamina for the post of PM, especially giving the complexities of the job. Also, because Yang had hardly made a public speech, it was difficult to know his position on many issues of national interest.

That was perhaps why many political speculators saw instead Christopher Nsalai (also from Bui) becoming the PM in preference to Yang. When Nsalai eventually died in 2008, at a time when a cabinet shake-up was imminent, it was widely believed that he had been battered on the battlefield of his quest for the PM job. Whether Biya would have made Nsalai the PM if he had stayed alive is a matter for another debate. 

            Be it as it may, time has finally proven that even if Yang was not battling for the PM job, he understood very well the modus operandi of his boss and mentor, president Biya, and believed that Biya also knew him only too well. 

            That is why even though heavily criticized by his Northwest kith and kin for being too tight-fisted with money (a local tabloid once opined that Yang was more tight-fisted than Japanese hand brakes) and exceedingly conservative, Yang has proven these doomsday protagonists wrong: He now holds the record as Cameroon’s longest serving PM ever. Who can beat that?

            Yang’s longevity in office has once again proven that Paul Biya does not rely on what people think or say about others before appointing them. (We recall that Marafa said he had once told Biya that Issa Tchiroma did not merit appointment as minister.)

            Perhaps those who thought that Yang would not last as PM had forgotten that the ‘Oku boy’ had been an early Biya ally way back in 1975 when he first entered government as vice minister of territorial administration at age 28. It was that same year and in the same cabinet reshuffle that Biya was appointed Prime Minister by Ahidjo.

            Since then and until today, Yang has remained a trusted ally of President Biya. After Ahidjo’s departure, Biya maintained Yang in government for a short while, until 1984 when he sent him as Ambassador to Canada.

            Yang stayed in Canada for 20 long years before Biya called him back to prepare him for the Star Building top job. He was the Assistant SG of the Presidency from 8 December 2004 until 30 June 2009 before becoming the PM.

It is believed that the post of Assistant SG of the Presidency is the incubator for future PM’s. And that was perhaps why Christopher Kilo Nsalai (RIP) and Prof. Peter Agbor Tabi (RIP) also saw themselves as potential PMs. Nsalai was the first Anglophone ASGPR under Biya. He was later removed and sent as Ambassador.

            For a regime that is known to raise trusted friends to the skies, especially if you continue to be subservient to the big boss, Yang is sure to stay even longer at the star building or be catapulted to yet another exalted position that is, if Biya decides to drop him from the PM’s Office any time sooner than later.

            With talk making the rounds about an imminent cabinet reshuffle and considering the craving by Anglophones for more important portfolios in government, political book makers say Yang’s continues stay at the Star Building might be short-circuited; if anything he might not keep the post beyond the next cabinet reshuffle.

            Yet these political watchers say if removed as PM, it is likely Yang will be made either the grand chancellor of National orders or the president of the constitutional council (that if it is eventually set up) or the president of the Senate, why not?

            But whatever President Biya has in store for PM Yang, he has already demonstrated beyond all doubt that Yang is a most trusted ally and a member of his inner circle. Biya is never known to forget his friends, and he has continued recycling them in government and at the detriment of the younger generation that has continued manifesting impatience to also rise and crowd the top.

            Apart from PM Yang, other members of the present government have also become record holders in their own right. Among this privilege few are Alamine Ousman Mey, who is now the longest serving finance minister ever; Ngole Philip Ngwese – longest serving minister of Forestry; Dr. Magdalene Tchouente-longest serving minister of research; Hamadou Moustapha- doyen of Special Duties at the presidency since 2004 (he had earlier held the position in 1975 at age 30); Joseph Dion Ngute and Adoum Gargoum – longest serving minister delegates to the minister of foreign affairs; Zacharie Perevet - landlord at employment and professional training, etc etc.

            It is worthy to note that Bello Bouba Maigari is also the longest serving minister of state in Cameroon -since 1997. Bello was Biya’s first ever PM in 1982. He was also once the minister of economy and plan in 1975 at age 28.

            Another landlord of the new deal regime is the sitting minister of state for justice, Laurent Esso, who left as Chancellor of the then lone University of Yaounde in January 1988 to become deputy director of cabinet of the presidency and has since not left the government. Said to have veto powers in Biya’s inner circle, Laurent Esso has moved from one strategic and juicy ministerial portfolio to the other, haven been the Director of Cabinet of the Presidency, Minister of Justice (twice), Secretary General of the Presidency, Minister of Health, Minister of Armed Forces etc. etc. 

New Deal Prime Ministers

Bello Bouba         -        6 November 1982   -       22 August 1983

Ayan Luc             -        22 August              -        25 January 1984

Sadou Hayatou    -        26 April 1991         -        9 April 1992

Achidi Achu               -           9 April 1992                -           19 September 1996
Mafany Musonge        -           19 September 1996     -           8 December 2004
Ephraim Inoni             -           8 December 2004        -           30 June 2009
Philemon Yang           -           30 June 2009               -           -