As for President Nikolas Sarkozy and his French people, it does not matter what the wishes of the Gabonese people are; as he sends his country's congratulatory message to the newly "elected" President Ali Ben Bongo of Gabon? Like every other European colonial master of yore, Africa in the eyes of the French is just another source of raw materials to service their continent; so why bother who rules them? So, provided they are allowed unfettered access to the abundant natural resources therein, it does not matter really who the local despot controlling the daily affairs and misfortunes of Africans, is? Icheoku says, it is because of this business as usual premise, that Paris have hurriedly signed off on and sent an official seal of approval for Ali Ben Bongo to become the new lord of manor in Gabon. That the opposition is crying foul is immaterial, as it fell on deaf Parisian ears; so also was the disregard for the expressed Bongo-fatigue of Gabonese! Icheoku says, it is the same French people who put and propped up the late President Omar Bongo in power for over forty two years that are now signing up his son? This is in total disregard that this will institutionalised dynastic-rule in the oil-rich nation, and despite the fact that Gabonese never felt any better in the hands of the father-president Bongo's 42 years despotic rule; during which period, he practically converted the country's fortune into his private family's assets whereas the majority of 1.4million Gabonese live in abject poverty? So which side is the French on? Also a formidable opposition made up of a former prime minister as well as other six cabinet ministers failed to persuade the French's support; because in their calculation, the devil they know is better than the new saints coveting the keys to Libreville. Ali Ben Bongo, eldest son of and a former defence minister in his late father's cabinet, was declared president last Thursday, September 4, 2009. He allegedly won with 41.7 percent votes while two opposition candidates garnered 25.8 and 25.2 percent of the vote respectively. Icheoku asks, how can he then govern with less majority votes, than the opposition and instead of engineering a run-off election, the French government preferred to support an electoral fraud by recognising an aberration? Rightly called by one of the opposition candidate for what it is, “It’s not just a possibility of fraud. Its fraud pure and simple.” Icheoku adds, the French by rushing to recognise Ali Ben Bongo are now accessory to the fraud of an election which took place in Gabon! Hopefully Ali Ben Bongo will be unable to govern amidst such lack of a clear mandate, lack of transparency and legitimacy occasioned by widespread voter irregularities. Africa, what a cursed continent that must rise up in a second revolutionary war of independence, in order to free herself from both the neo-colonialist Europe and her Africna stooges - the new internal colonialists; being sustained by the former colonial masters for their very selfish reasons. Icheoku says, what an unfortunate day for the people of Gabon to be once again put under another internal colonialism and enslavement, this time of a baby-despot Ali Ben Bongo, under the watchful eyes of Élysée Palace! So it ain't so, Gabonese!
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Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
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FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter of congratulations to Gabon's newly elected president, Ali Bongo, in a vote contested by the opposition in the African country.
ReplyDeleteThe position of France, a former colonial power in Gabon whose troops still stationed there, has been closely watched.
Some opposition leaders have accused France of meddling with last month's election and propping up the country's longtime leader Omar Bongo - Ali Bongo's late father.
Gabon's main opposition parties on Monday demanded authorities conduct a recount of the disputed election the government said was won by the son of the country's long-ruling president.
Fifteen of the 17 candidates who took part in the August 30 vote held a news conference in the capital, Libreville, to voice their concerns about Ali Bongo's victory. They offered no proof, but alleged in a joint statement there had been "serious manipulation."
The second- and third-place finishers in the polls - opposition leaders, Andre Mba Obame and Pierre Mamboundou - were present. It was the first time Mamboundou appeared in public since results were announced on Thursday last week.
The group also called for an international commission to investigate post-election violence that centered on Port Gentil, the country's oil hub and second-largest city.
Still, the city showed signs of recovery on its second day of calm since rioting began last Thursday after the government announced Ali Bongo had won the election. He is being accused of rigging the vote to replace his father, Omar Bongo, who died in June after ruling for 41 years.
Gas stations reopened for the first time on Monday, as did shops selling meat and rice. Residents desperate to buy bread began mobbing bakeries before dawn, waiting up to six hours in lines stretching 150 people long.
"Bongo we accepted, but his son, no. We want someone new," said Noelle Mve, a housewife who had been waiting in line for three hours for bread and still had 100 people in front of her.
Angry protesters last week torched a police station, markets and the French Consulate. French oil company Total evacuated employees and their families to Libreville.
No date has been set for Bongo's inauguration, and many expect the opposition to formally challenge the results.
Former Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong, acting as spokesman for the 16 independent and opposition candidates, has said the election results "were false." The country's top three opposition leaders have said they feared security forces were trying to kill them.
The elder Bongo was viewed by many as the father of the nation and although he amassed a fortune, including 66 private bank accounts and more than 45 homes in the names of his immediate family members, he was mostly tolerated and seen as a vestige from another era, when Africa was ruled by autocrats.
The special election was called to replace the late president, and many had hoped it would mark the country's first chance at democracy. The elder Bongo ran in multiple elections where he was the only candidate. After intense pressure, he allowed the opposition to run against him and won multiple other elections riddled with irregularities and fraud accusations.
His son, nicknamed "Baby Zeus" when he was a child because of his heir apparent status, is seen by critics as a usurper of power. Others, though, say they have little choice but to accept the results
"What can we do? He was elected and the court confirmed it," said Daniel Essebe said, a Total oil platform worker who has been idled. "We can't keep not working."
The violence "no longer serves a purpose," Essebe said, sitting at a beach-side drinks stand with the oil platform he works on visible just offshore behind him. "The people are suffering. They have no bread, no food."