Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the military overthrow of Gabon’s President Ali Bongo, who had ruled the oil-rich nation for 14 years.
Fayose said the coup was a welcome development for democracy in Gabon, where Bongo had won a controversial third term in a disputed election last weekend.
Fayose, however, clarified that he was not in favour of military intervention in politics, but rather he was opposed to the sit-tight syndrome of some African leaders.
He contrasted the situation in Gabon with that of Nigeria, where he said democracy was reasonably established and elections were held regularly.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Friday, Fayose said: “I am very happy with what happened in Gabon.
“I don’t like military incursions in politics but I want to say to you that Nigeria is different; we have a reasonably stabilised democracy.
“We have our flaws, but you can see the uninterrupted democratic process. After four years there will be an election.
“Nigeria has gone from one party to another party. One person to another person within a space of time. But in a country where one man is spending 30, 40 years. You have to boot him out of the place in whatever way. That’s different from the Nigerian setting.”
The coup in Gabon was carried out by a group of senior military officers who announced on national television that they had seized power and dissolved state institutions on Wednesday, shortly after Bongo was declared the winner of the presidential polls. Bongo and his son were reportedly arrested and placed under house arrest by the coup plotters, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the “Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions”.
The coup sparked celebrations among some residents in Gabon’s capital Libreville, who waved flags and embraced soldiers on the streets.
However, it also drew condemnation and concern from international leaders and organisations, who urged respect for constitutional order and warned their citizens in Gabon to stay indoors.
