By: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Over the years whenever military coup occurs in any nation, there is negligence of democratic tendencies.
In this case, the military takes over absolute power within the nation ousted, however one of the defenses of the military incursion into politics most is corrupt practices of democratic leaders.
Gabon coup d’etat was orchestrated due to the negligence of Gabon democratic government, the outed Gabon President Ali Bongo was said to have been in power since the death of the former President in 2009 who happened to be his father. The Bongo’s family was alleged to have been ruling for 53 years in Gabon.
The price of crude oil went up after last Wednesday’s military take over in Gabon, a Central Africa country, which produces and export crude oil as a member of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) because the military government of Gabon closes the borders leading to the country.
The military adventurists cited irregularities in August 26 General Election in Gabon, in which according to the Electoral body of Gabon Ali Bongo won the two third majority of the vote.
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The ousted president was placed under house arrest by the military. The Military Government of Gabon announced Brice Oligiu as the new Military President.
However there has been several demonstration of protesters in support of the military president in France Colonised Country, Gabon.
As long as African leaders allow institutional coup under the auspice of democracy with the negligence of liberal democracy, military incursion will continue to spread sporadically in the continent
There is a video circulating in the internet of several Gabon currencies reportedly found in the apartments of the former democratic leaders.
Africa is blessws with natural resources but the leadership of Africa is managed by corrupt democratic leaders, making the incursion of military seemingly attractive.
Is military government a blessing or a curse? Those who have witnessed it will testify one of the demerits is the suspension of constitution and lack of freedom of expression. As a matter of fact, some of the demerits of military government are witnessed in some so-called under democratic governments in Africa.
The issue is it is not as if the people of Gabon are interested in the military but they don’t just want the Bongo’s family dynasty again.
They need a new face. That was why they demonstrated in support of military rule in their country.
What will be the outcome of the military actions in Gabon? There is an imposition of curfew from 6:00PM – 6:00AM by the military Government of Gabon .
The military should organise a transitional committee to set up democratic elections in which the outed President will be disqualified and tried in the Court of law and if find guilty, he should face the wrath of the law.
Then the military should peacefully handover power to a democratically elected President since military rule is no longer accepted in this era.