To avoid being recruited into the army like many of his peers at the time, he moved back up north in 1965 and settled in Impfondo where he continued to teach physical education.
That same year, Oba-Apounou was admitted to the PCT Central Committee,[3] and appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Youth;[4] his ministerial portfolio was expanded to include sport in 1984.
On 13 August 1989, he was appointed to the government as Minister of State for Youth and Rural Development,[7] holding that post until 1991.
In 1998, just months after Sassou-Nguesso's return to power at the end of a brief but bloody civil war, Oba-Apounou was appointed as President of the Defense and Security Commission of the National Council of the Transition (Conseil National de Transition, CNT—the country's legislature from 1998 to 2002).
[8] Rumors predicted that he would become the next Mayor of Brazzaville,[citation needed] but he was instead elected as First Vice-President of the National Assembly on August 10, 2002.
[15] In February 2008 Oba-Apounou was elected as head of the departmental coordination of the Rally of the Presidential Majority (RMP)—the coalition supporting Sassou Nguesso—in Brazzaville.
[19] Oba-Apounou was eventually succeeded as President of the PCT's Brazzaville Federation by Gabriel Ondongo in March 2014.
[20][21] The decision to replace him was attributed to a desire for renewal in leadership posts, and PCT Secretary-General Pierre Ngolo spoke warmly of Oba-Apounou's experience and wisdom.
He was inspired to start the business in 1999, when Brazzaville was preparing to host the annual FESPAM music festival but had insufficient accommodation venues.