President Bola Tinubu has expressed his serious concern regarding the political situation in Gabon and the socio-political stability within that nation.
Tinubu’s response emerged shortly after a group of Gabonese military officers appeared on television on Wednesday, declaring their intention to “put an end to the current regime” and nullifying an election that, according to official results, President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, conveyed Tinubu’s viewpoint to journalists. Ngelale shared that Tinubu firmly believes that upholding the rule of law and employing constitutional means to resolve electoral disputes is an imperative that should not fade away in Africa.
In Ngelale’s words, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Gabon, deeply concerned about the stability of the nation and the apparent spread of autocratic tendencies across various parts of our cherished continent.” Ngelale went on to emphasize that Tinubu, having made substantial personal sacrifices in his own life to uphold and safeguard democracy, staunchly believes that power should reside in the hands of Africa’s citizens, rather than being dictated by force.
Ngelale further stated that Tinubu reaffirmed the significance of “adhering to the rule of law and consistently resorting to constitutional resolutions and mechanisms for settling electoral disputes, a principle that must persist in our esteemed continent.” He added that the President is actively engaged in ongoing communication with fellow heads of state within the African Union.
This collaborative effort seeks to establish a comprehensive consensus on the subsequent steps concerning the Gabon crisis and how the continent can effectively address the concerning spread of autocracy that is being witnessed.
