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Faces Behind Gabon’s Historic Coup Speech
In the realm of Gabonese history, a seismic shift occurred, shrouded in mystery and determination.
The enigmatic faces of 12 Gabonese military officers emerged from the shadows, heralding the end of a 56-year-old Bongo family dynasty.
This watershed moment sent shockwaves not only across Gabon but reverberated throughout the entire African continent.
In an unprecedented move, these officers introduced themselves as members of ‘The Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions.’
Their mission is to safeguard peace by dismantling the prevailing regime.
In their resounding statement, they declared, “In the name of the Gabonese people…we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
As one officer eloquently voiced their joint statement, a formidable assembly of a dozen others stood steadfastly behind him, adorned in military fatigues and berets.
Their determination to instigate change was palpable.
The daring soldiers boldly asserted that the results of the recent election, which saw President Ali Bongo declared the victor with 64.27% of the vote, were null and void.
This declaration set the stage for a political earthquake.
Albert Ondo Ossa, Bongo’s principal contender, had been allocated a mere 30.77% of the votes, a fact that had stoked widespread controversy.
The opposition had vociferously decried Bongo’s supposed victory as fraudulent and had proclaimed their own triumph.
In an audacious move, the 12 putschists declared the complete annulment of the election results, along with the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic.”
Their decree of dissolution resonated far and wide.
State institutions that had wielded power for decades now faced a reckoning.
The government, the senate, the national assembly, the constitutional court, and the election body were all cast aside in a dramatic show of force.
One of the soldiers, speaking on Gabon 24, captured the essence of their mission, stating, “After observing irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos.
“we have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.”
A New Chapter in Gabonese History
This historic moment marked a dramatic departure from the status quo.
Ali Bongo had ascended to power in 2009, succeeding his father, Omar El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had served as Gabon’s president for a remarkable 42 years, from 1967 until his passing in 2009.
The younger Bongo’s leadership had faced its share of challenges, including a debilitating stroke in 2018 that sidelined him for nearly a year, prompting calls for his resignation.
The subsequent year witnessed a failed coup attempt, resulting in mutinying soldiers being sent to prison.
The future of Gabon now stands at a crossroads, as the nation grapples with uncertainty and change.
The enigmatic faces behind this historic coup speech have set in motion a series of events that will undoubtedly shape the destiny of this African nation.
Gabon and the world await, with bated breath, the unfolding chapters of this gripping narrative.
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)