Why is Minister Atanga Nji unpopular among Cameroonians, according to polls?
A recent poll conducted by the Mouvement Jeunes Révoltés has revealed that Minister Paul Atanga Nji is the least popular politician in Cameroon. The survey, which sampled over 1,900 respondents all above 21 years of age, showed that Atanga Nji received the highest percentage of negative reviews, with 96% of those polled expressing disfavor.
In the same survey, Minister of Public Works Nganou Djoumessi ranked second with 88% negative opinions. He was closely followed by the City Mayor of Yaoundé, Luc Messi Atangana, who received 81%. Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, garnered 74%, just behind opposition MP Nourane Foster.
Atanga Nji’s Controversial Actions
Minister Atanga Nji has attracted significant public attention throughout 2024 for his various actions and statements, particularly in areas under his responsibility. His most recent controversy was a warning to unauthorized churches, threatening action against them starting in January 2025 if they did not get authorization from government, permitting them to function.
Earlier in December, Atanga Nji’s decision to suspend several non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for three months, citing alleged violations of laws, sparked widespread debate.
Additionally, Atanga Nji frequently engaged in verbal confrontations with opposition members. At the Governor’s conclave which held from December 18 to 19, he issued stern warnings to opposition politicians, urging them to comply with the law and warning of “hard counter measures” in 2025.
Atanga Nji also made headlines in October this year when he instructed private media outlets not to report on President Paul Biya’s health after the 92-year-old leader spent over 40 days abroad, leading to speculations among the public as to his health and fitness for the presidency. He threatened severe sanctions against any media that defied the order and ordered regional governors to monitor local media coverage.
As a member of the ruling party from the conflict-ridden North West region, Atanga Nji has consistently expressed his unwavering support for President Biya, portraying him as the symbol of Cameroon’s democracy and stability to the dismay of fellow Northwesterners, which is not necessarily the same opinion people have of the Octogenarian.
