A long afternoon of suspense…

The convening of a Council of Ministers meeting at State House raised some hopes about some important things in the offing…

State House grounds for most of Tuesday morning left a placid picture, especially without its waterworks or flowery display at the entrance, as is generally the case with an important event. The summoning of a Council of Ministers’ meeting to be chaired by the Head of State was eventful enough to fuel speculations of all types.

In the past, such conclaves have produced either important policy shifts in government work or have come up with government reshuffles so yesterday’s come together could never have been considered uneventful by all accounts, even if only considered that cabinet sessions are quite rare.

The suspense broke at about 11 a.m. with the arrival at State House of Mr Henri Eyebe Ayissi, the Minister-Delegate for the Supreme Audit Office, followed closely by Dr. Tiga, the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry. At about 11.05 a.m., the Prime Minister emerged from his l limousine and was immediately led by State Protocol officials to the third-floor Cabinet meeting hall of State House. Following closely after him were Messrs Abdoulaye Yaouba, Laurent Charles Etoundi Ngoa, Bidoung Mkpatt, Nganou Djoumessi, Emmanuel Bonde etc.

To seal the arrivals at about 11.45 am were Messrs Essimi Menye, Jean Pierre Fogui, Zacharie Perevet and Vice PM Amadou Ali. When the lifts to the third floor were blocked, CT observed that the Minister of Basic Education Hadidja Youssouf Alim, Sports Minister Adoum Garoua, Minister-Delegate in the Environment Ministry Nana Aboubakar Djalloh and the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Public Health were the only ones not present. State Protocol officials told CT that they were held back because of some contingencies including official missions abroad.

The president of the Republic emerged from his executive office apartments at exactly 12 noon, took his seat, then listened to a brief prepared statement by the Prime Minister and Head of Government, Philemon Yang before delivering a prepared statement to the 54 personalities present at the meeting including the Vice Prime Minister, Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers-Delegate, Secretaries of State and other officials ranking as ministers, notably the Secretary General at the Presidency, the Director of the Civil Cabinet, the Deputy Secretaries-General at the Presidency and the Ministers for Special Duties at the Presidency and the Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s office.

What could have been going on in there was a principal issue of conjecture by waiting reporters. And when the conclave ended some 25 minutes later, journalists, hoping to get a scoop from the Prime Minister had to make do with a laconic statement; “We discussed government business and everything went on well.

The Head of State gave us instructions which we’ll be following, of course,” came Mr Philemon Yang’s brief statement to the press before being led to his limousine. State House later issued a statement revealing a government emergency plan to ensure that the focus on economic emergency status by 2035 is kept alive.