The road to the unitary state of Cameroon was characterized by a conflict of interests and views, perhaps borne out of differing political experiences and the desire to preserve them. On the one hand, there were the Southern Cameroonians and their leaders who, due to their minority position, their upbringing in a decentralized system, and their desire to preserve their colonial heritage, preferred a loose federation in the event of Reunification. On the other hand, the Prime Minister of Cameroun and, later, President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon who was strongly inclined to a strong, centralized unitary system.

Aware of the strong feelings of the former Southern Cameroonians President Ahidjo pursued his goal cautiously, led the nation towards it gradually and imperceptibly but resolutely, and exploited every available opportunity to further that goal. Thus, the unitary state of Cameroon, which emerged on the 2 ^nd June 1972, represented the realization of a goal on which President Ahidjo had set his heart thirteen years back despite the earlier opposition of the Southern Cameroonians and their leaders to it, an opposition which has lately resurfaced in a more determined mode.