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| PM Phil. Yang, unable to put his act together? |
Since two years ago when president Biya openly criticized the government of intolerable inertia and underperformance, leaving Cameroonians and especially the ministers anxious about an imminent cabinet reshuffle, no news has since emerged from the Unity Palace. Ministers are now in a state of discernible hysteria and anxiety; unbridled laisser-faire, impunity, indecision, insubordination etc. have infested and taken a comfortable sit in the government machinery. While some analysts evoke regime fatigue, accusing the PM of failing to put his act together, others say the buck rather stops at President Biya’s desk; that the president might just be overwhelmed with events in the government and has decided to play the observer.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
In his book: “20th Century World Affairs, Jack Watson observed that: “the fifth French Republic under Leon Blum was weak, hesitant, indecisive and heading towards imminent collapse.”
This observation by the British historian resonates vividly with the situation of the Cameroon government today. Observers within and without regime circles say they are unable to come to terms with the glaring dysfunction and hazardous manner in which some government departments are operating nowadays in Cameroon: Some Government Ministers and General Managers of State-owned companies take major decisions without consulting their hierarchy, and more often than not they do it with reckless impunity.
As the iniquities of the government are multiplying and repeating themselves, observers have expressed fears the system might be grinding to a halt.
Unable to hold its patience, the local press has been awash with speculation about an imminent cabinet reshuffle. Editorials in many tabloids opine that recent happenings in government are not only unacceptable in a republic like ours, they are outright shameful and disgusting.
Only last week the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousamane Mey, wasted no time to cancel a series of decisions by the Director General of Customs appointing officials to various positions in the customs department. The MINFI reminded the DG of customs that the appointment of officials was not within the competence and prerogatives of her office.
Observers hastened to indict the DG of customs for gross insubordination vis-à-vis her immediate boss-the MINFI. Many blamed Libom Li Likeng for acting ultra vires.
The insubordination by the DG of Customs was sequel to that of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, only weeks ago. The MINAC was reported to have undermined and frontally insulted the office of Prime Minister; vehemently flouting an instruction of the sitting PM, Philemon Yunji Yang, ordering her to stop all actions that she was undertaking to find a solution to the problem of author’s rights in Cameroon.
In what could be interpreted as calling the PM’s bluff, the tough-acting Tutu Muna went ahead and supervised the creation of a new author’s rights body Socacim, and also immediately granted operation license to the new association, thus giving it the go ahead to begin collecting and managing musician’s rights in the country. Ama Muna only later informed the PM of her action.
Yet, as the public and her colleagues in government watched in awe and waited to see what the PM would do to the iron-lady from Ngiembo in Mbengwi, nothing ever emanated from the Star Building; even though her decisions were all declared null and void by the PM.
It should be recalled that some time ago the same Ama Muna deliberately and openly flouted a verdict of the Supreme Court urging her to reinstate the license that she had withdrawn from the Cameroon Music Corporation – CMC. Despite ignoring the verdict of the Supreme Court, the daughter of RT. Hon. Solomon Tandeng Muna (RIP) still had her way, despite making a mockery of the judiciary as a constitutional power in Cameroon.
What’s more, Tutu Muna’s action happened on the heels of yet another act of insubordination from another government minister vis-à-vis the sitting PM. It occurred when Philemon Yang was still recovering from the shock of that occasioned by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye Lazare, who did not only appoint senior officials of his ministry, he went ahead and installed them into their new functions without the consent of the PM.
It should be stated that the acts of insubordination mentioned here are only some of the most recent ones since the present government came into being in October 2011. Observers contend that such acts have been one of the hallmarks of the Philemon Yang-led government for several years running.
It should be recalled that following his reappointment as minister in October 2011, Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said it clear and loud on state radio that he owes allegiance and thanks only to President Biya who appointed him, and to no other Cameroonian whosoever.
That is why it is feared that the astonishing impunity that sanctions these acts of insubordination may only pave the way for anarchy to overrun the entire government machinery in the near future as other unruly ministers and GM’s may decide to do like their unruly colleagues, if nothing is done sooner than later.
Yet, what is all the more intriguing to observers is the phoney silence and complacency of the president of the Republic in the phase of the laisser-faire attitude of some of his appointees. Some observers who spoke to this reporter said they are surprised at the president’s indifference especially giving that he had himself pointed out these dysfunction of the government in his State-of-the-nation address way back in December 31, 2013. In that famous speech President Biya vexatiously decried inertia, insubordination, laisser-faire, sluggishness and general underperformance of the government; the president said things must change for the better.
Yet even as many thought he would march words with action by overhauling the government, nothing has ever happened, until today.
Analysts contend that if the president could decry the situation in 2013, then he should be lamenting today giving that things have degenerated to an abysmal state. It is now feared that if the president fails to act hard and fast, the decaying situation may only engender chaos and total anarchy in his government.
Yet though, some analysts still point accusing fingers at the sitting PM, Philemon Yunji Yang, arguing that he has been unable to put his act together; the buck stops at his desk for the insubordination and almost total absence of impulsion and cohesion that now characterizes his government.
However, PM Yang’s partisans defend him by arguing that since coming to the Star Building the illustrious son of Oku in the North West region has put in his all to ensure unity, cohesion and coordination in government business.
“Philemon Yang is an epitome of unity and continuity in government; since he came to office he has not sacked any body based on tribal reasons; he is also not money-minded like some of his predecessors; Philemon Yang is only concerned about the growth and development of Cameroon, and helping his boss President Biya to succeed in his daunting mission as head of state,” commented a Yang apologist, during a heated debate in a famous Anglophone joint in down town Yaounde. He added: “the problem of inertia and insubordination in government doesn’t rest with the PM; the buck stops firmly with the President of the republic, who has confiscated all the powers from the PM’s office thus exposing the sitting PM as weak and appearing somewhat as just the first among the ministers in terms of protocol.
PM Yang’s partisans argue that even if he has the will to prescribe sanctions to serve as deterrent for further recalcitrance by unruly ministers, he hasn’t the means to do that; his hands have been clipped by the president, who requires the PM to seek and obtain a presidential visa for any actions that he must take.
“If I were the PM I would do the same like Philemon Yang, that is stay mute and allow the president to act. You know that the President has delegated the signature for the presidential visa to the secretary-general of the presidency. This virtually makes the SG of the presidency the boss of the PM; he now appears condescending in front of the PM who is supposed to be his boss,” observed an analyst, who added that by refusing to sanction the defaulting ministers the PM only saved himself a possible humiliation and embarrassment that could be invited on him from the presidency.
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