Issa Tchiroma, Minister of Communication, has vouched that President Paul Biya will not spare any of his cabinet minister who out-rightly disrespects Prime Minister Yang Philemon. He was responding to questions from reporters at a press conference organized in his ministry, June 12.

“If there is anything President Biya hates more than everything; it is disrespect of hierarchy. Biya would not tolerate or condone anyone who disrespects his or her boss.” Tchiroma said.

This is coming in the wake of a news report by La Meteo newspaper that PM Yang recently filed a report of insubordination to the President indicting a number of ministers including Ama Tutu Muna, Arts and Culture Minister, Essimi Menye, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Patrice Amba Salla, Public Works Minister. Others in the list include Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of Higher Education, Yusuf A, Basic Education Minister and Louis Paul Motaze, Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Buttressing his point, Tchiroma observed that all ministers in government owe allegiance to Prime Minister Yang. “What some of you may not know is that we were all appointed or reappointed into government following a recommendation by Prime Minister Yang. He is the head of government, so we are accountable first to him before the President. We get to the president through him.”

Quizzed on whether or not there is anarchy in the cabinet – as some ministers recently manifested disregard for prime ministerial orders and others took major decisions without consulting the PM, Tchiroma’s answer was rather ambiguous; “In my opinion, every minister loves to maintain his position. All ministers are currently working so hard so that they may be reappointed when Biya names the expected new government.”

Commenting on President Biya’s delay in putting in place a new government which was expected few months after the legislative and municipal elections some two years ago; the communication minister said cabinet reshuffle is costly. “Do you know how much a cabinet shake-up costs? I would like to ask one of you what is like, if you are appointed. The next day, you start growing fatter”.

Ministers known to have either publicly disrespected the prime minister or ignored him while taking major decisions which normally require his approval include; Ama Tutu Muna, Arts and Culture Minister, Essimi Menye, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Patrice Amba Salla, Public Works Minister.

If Tchiroma’s claims are anything to go by, some of these names might not feature on the list of government ministers whenever Biya decides to carry out a cabinet reshuffle.