In an opinion piece published in the daily The Guardian Post on September 7, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, wants to silence controversies surrounding the restoration of the vice-president position in Cameroon. For him, “it is time to put an end to the witch hunt regarding the Vice-President position.” Read an excerpt from his opinion piece…
“During his swearing-in ceremony on November 6, 2025, the Head of State, His Excellency Paul Biya, the Great Visionary, declared:
Read more Building Security: Mayors and Professional Orders Seal a Partnership
“We must also submit to Parliament certain reforms that will allow the State to function more efficiently, adapting our institutions to the demands of our environment.”
As always, the Head of State says what he does and does what he says. Thus, H.E. Paul Biya presented before Parliament, which sat in March 2026, a bill aimed at amending the Constitution.
The main change was the creation of the position of Vice-President of the Republic.
Instead of welcoming this major innovation in the functioning of our institutions, some opposition leaders, supported by the media and NGOs acting on orders, fuel strange debates to discredit it.
It is said that a politician, victim of his own misdeeds, would have sent a petition to the African Union (AU) to oppose the creation of the Vice-President position.
Some talk about the introduction of a presidential ticket in the presidential election.
Why should Cameroon worry about what happens elsewhere? Had President Paul Biya not already warned that “Cameroon is…”
… “Cameroon,” a country master of its own destiny, which does not blindly follow others without considering its own realities?
As Minister of Territorial Administration, I had the privilege of presenting to the Senate and the National Assembly, convened in joint session, the amendments to the Electoral Code relating to the creation of the Vice-President position of the Republic.
I explained to the nation’s elected officials the merits of the Head of State’s initiative. Members of the National Assembly and the Senate adopted the government’s bills by a very large majority.
In accordance with the legal provisions in force, the texts were promulgated by the Head of State.
Any controversy orchestrated by political actors — mainly those of the opposition — is futile.
Read more Cameroon/ Back to school: Maurice Kamto sends a message to the educational community
I think it is time to put an end to the witch hunt regarding the Vice-President position. The nation’s policy is defined by the Head of State.
By virtue of his prerogatives and discretionary power, the Head of State appoints people to civil and military positions and can dismiss appointed persons at any time.
These provisions are enshrined in the Constitution and must be taken into account.
Moreover, His Excellency Paul Biya knows Cameroon better than any of us. I challenge anyone to prove me otherwise.
In my book, published before the presidential election of October 12, 2025, entitled “37 Years of Unwavering Loyalty to the Head of State. Understanding the Meaning of My Ongoing Struggle for Respect for Republican Legality,” I emphasized that too many events have shown that the Head of State was right.
It is in our interest to follow the path laid out by His Excellency Paul Biya, who is more than 30 years ahead of all of us — senior officials of the Republic, politicians, civil society leaders, and others.
His Excellency Paul Biya has this extraordinary ability to see today the obstacles that we, especially those who make noise, will only see in 20 or 30 years, regardless of our political affiliations.
This is the mark of an exceptional statesman: His Excellency Paul Biya, the strength of experience and hope, who, by creating the position of Vice-President, was once again right.
Let us have the courage and honesty to recognize what is good for our country.
H.E. Paul Biya had already warned his opponents in 1992: “You must not play with Cameroon” (Cameroon Tribune, October 12, 1992).
In 2026, this warning from the Head of State remains relevant.
His Excellency Paul Biya knows Cameroon better than any of us. He shows the way; we must support him at all times and in all circumstances.
Anyone who claims to love Cameroon more than President Paul Biya is a charlatan.
Read more Cameroon: Higher education teachers decide to paralyze the academic year start
Paul Atanga Nji, Minister of Territorial Administration”
