MPs Gang-Up In Parliament To Discredit Yang To Biya

Ahead of Imminent Cabinet Shake-Up:

 

By Yussuf Sariki

Philemon Yang, Prime Minister and Head of Government was appointed on June 30, 2009. It is above 3 years since he was appointed and has served. Out of the six (6) prime ministers, who have served under President Paul Biya, Yang has done his best. Bello Bouba was 1^st (Nov 6, 1982 - Aug 23, 1983) – 9 months, 17 days; 2^nd – Ayang Luc (Aug 22, 1983-Jan 25, 1984)- 5 months 3 days; Sadou Hayatou (April 26, 1991-April 9, 1992)- 5 months, 2 weeks; 4^th – Simon Achidi Achu (April 9, 1992-Sept 19, 1996)- 4 years, 4 months, 1 week, 3 days; 5^th – Peter Mafany Musonge (Sept 19, 1996-Dec 8, 2004)- 8 years, 3 months, 6^th Chief Ephraim Inoni (Dec 8, 2004-June 30, 2009) 4 years 5 months; 7^th- Philemon Yang (June 30, 2009 to present) – 3 years.

What did MPs want to do during the question and answer session last week? To project Prime Minister Philemon Yang as a saint, who has been unable to deliver or what else?

What Chronicle subsumed was that the Q/A session which was staged at the anniversary of Yang being Prime Minister for 3 years, was not by accident. Accordingly, because President Biya today is very unpredictable, those working with him ought to defend selves.

Last week’s question and answer session in parliament was memorable. Both opposition and CPDM MPs quizzed the PM to make clarifications over certain nuances. Yang received quizzical questions from the CPDM MP, Hon Roger Nkodo Dang over CAMAIRCO; Hon Joseph Banadzem from Bui like Yang, over the cumulation of functions and then Jean Jacques Ekindi over the Dangote cement factory.

All seven questions directed to PM Yang have since been deduced as a strategy to discredit him to President Biya. Chronicle gathered that the O/A session was well fine-tuned and did not happen by accident. Accordingly, the questions were intended to discredit Yang in the eyes of President Paul Biya as not being able to handle situations.

For a CPDM MP Roger Nkodo Dang to have questioned the PM over the functioning of the lone national airlines corporation could not be doubted. Yang was tasked to unveil how CAMAIRCO has been functioning since its creation and how its prospects were.

Yang, though the PM, is Board Chairman of CAMAIRCO. He said the corporation is just one year in operations. He said CAMAIRCO should be assessed same time next year or in 2014, deadline given to assess CAMAIRCO activities.

Having squashed the CPDM MP, Roger Nkodo Dang’s concern, PM Yang then surged to make clarifications over concerns raised by Hon Joseph Banadzem MP for Bui (same constituency as Yang). Banadzem’s concern was over the issues of retired official still at work. To this, Yang clarified that it was the prerogative of President Biya to appoint whoever is fit where.

Then came Jean Jacque Ekindi, of the Mouvement Progessive (MP), over the Dangotes cement factory. Yang said despite the fact that Sawa chiefs were against, it was amiss. He said cemencam which was a stone throw had never been a subject of controversy. He said the Dangote cement factory would take effect as duly planned.

Yang, from Chronicle’s observations stood tall to the preoccupation of elected representatives. What Chronicle learnt was that security reports were on the premise that the PM stood tall in his responses.

But as Chronicle has been told, when Biya wants to shake-up his cabinet, he doesn’t consider what propagandists inform him about. Chronicle learnt that if the House Speaker okayed questions that could embarrass the Prime Minister, it was not for nothing.