He defied age limit to become a policeman, then resigned 14 years before his retirement age; subsequently, he became a dependable MP -and now he’s a noted businessman and philanthropist.
Hon.Emmanuel Yoyo (former MP for Ngoketunjia) at his young age so loved the police force that in 1971 he defied the age limit of 21, sat and passed a special recruitment of Inspectors of police.
Then he was 19, but took the first position (major) of the seven candidates who passed the exam. About 1000 candidates had sat for the competitive exam nation-wide During orientation of the successful candidates at Police School in Yaounde, it was discovered that brilliant Yoyo had not attained the required minimum age for sitting the exam.
Exceptionally, police hierarchy decided to ignore the age factor, giving meritocracy the pride of place. And Yoyo’s cherished dream of becoming a policeman became a reality. Yoyo served the police for 23 years and abandoned it 14 years before he was due retirement. He was Assistant Commissioner of Police for Immigration in Douala, when he took anticipated retirement, the first-ever in the service.
But before his retirement he had headed several police stations in different parts of the country and was even given anticipated promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, but surprisingly Yoyo rejected it because one of the commissioners on the promotion list was judged by Yoyo to be a “criminal”. Yoyo felt that it was dishonorable for him a policeman of integrity to be on the same promotion list with a colleague of questionable character.
Departure from Police
Then at the Immigration Service , Douala, a duty-conscious Yoyo considered it uncalled for when his Provincial Police Chief, one Mfou Mvondo convened a security meeting and asked him whom he voted for at the 1992 presidential election- whether he voted for incumbent Paul Biya of the CPDM or John Fru Ndi of the SDF . In reply, an angry Yoyo asked the boss whom he too voted for. As his boss said he voted for Paul Biya, Yoyo said Fru Ndi was his choice. The Provincial Police Chief said he voted Biya because it was the latter paying them. But Yoyo, noted for his outspokenness, quickly dismissed the boss’ claim, insisting that it was the State of Cameroon paying them.
Disappointed by recurrent tribalistic inclinations exhibited by some of his bosses, Yoyo prematurely quit the police to embrace politics . He became a staunch member of the leading opposition party, the SDF. When Yoyo joined the SDF in 1995 he was elected as MP for Ngoketunjia in 1997.
In Parliament, Hon.Yoyo became Questor in 1999 and served in that position for eight years, during which period his fierce fight for social justice led to positive changes made him more popular. His fight for social justice also earned him enemies within government circles, but this Ngoketunjia elite remained a true representative of the people.
DEVELOPMENT AGENT & EMPLOYER
Even after leaving Parliament, Hon. Yoyo continued making significant contributions to community development and nation-building, with no publicity.
People who are close to him told AFRICA EXCELLENCE that, the ex-MP, who is particularly admired by his constituents and generally by advocates of social justice, transparency and development, prefers that his actions should speak for him.
Hon.Yoyo’s businesses (which include large-scale agriculture and cattle rearing) have offered employment to hundreds of Cameroonians. Hon. Yoyo ,who was born on 20th December 1951 in Baba I,Ndop has been credited, among other projects, for financing and constructing three water projects in Ndop town after leaving Parliament , which experts valued at over 140 million Fcfa; he also realized a giant water project worth 100 fcfa in Babungo village; built bridges within his constituency. Hon.Yoyo, a father of six, now about 70, but who is always looking young reveals his secret: “It is discipline … you have to feel happy; not allowing problems weigh on you can keep you young…. Being good to people is one of the secrets of my successes. Sometimes, when I look at people and think they can be useful to the community, I assist them so they can contribute their quota to nation-building.”
Yoyo, who despite the ongoing Anglophone crisis, is one of the few elites who have decided to stay in their constituencies while many others have fled for safety, thinks that a two-state federation is the best solution to the Anglophone crisis. The Ex-MP blames eruption of the Anglophone crisis on the mishandling of little problems by government officials.
A philanthropist, Hon.Yoyo had built three churches in Ndop subdivision, worth over 130 million Fcfa and offered to the Catholic Church. His wife Mrs Yoyo .who is a devout Catholic Christian, is also a committed development agent – realizing, among other contracts, water projects in many parts of the Northwest region.
