The Former Nigerian Vice President and the People’s Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Abubakar Atiku has called on African leaders to focus on dealing with the disease and not the symptoms that birth coups in the continent.
Atiku who took to his social media platform on Thursday while reacting to the military junta taking over the Goverment in Gabon revealed that the Gabon coup brings the number of military takeovers in Central and West Africa to 8 since 2020.
Recall that in a French statement on Wednesday which was read out by one of the officer on Gabon 24 television channel said the military junta has announced “putting an end to the regime” and cancelling the results of a recent election.
The military who expressed dissatisfaction to the general elections of 26 August 2023, admitted that the organisation of the polls did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot which brings so much hoped for people of Gabon
The outcome of the election heightened tensions, forcing the military to intervene. “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime,” one of the soldiers said during the declaration.
This, the Gabonese military junta added, was down to “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos”.
Atiku in his reaction said the coup in Gabon stands condemned adding that democracy and democratic governance have come to stay as a preferred form of government, and everything should be done to enthrone, nurture, and sustain it.
The former VP said he had earlier suggested in the case of the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS and African Union authorities should open a window of diplomatic engagement that will pave the way for the soldiers to return to the barracks.
According to Atiku’s tweets: “The coup in Gabon stands condemned. Democracy and democratic governance have come to stay as a preferred form of government, and everything should be done to enthrone, nurture, and sustain it.
“As I suggested in the case of the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS and African Union authorities should open a window of diplomatic engagement that will pave the way for the soldiers to return to the barracks.
“The latest coup brings the number of military takeovers in Central and West Africa to 8 since 2020. This is worrisome and call for introspection. We may have to focus on dealing with the disease and not symptoms that birth coups”, he said.
