By Kamil Opeyemi
Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says African leaders need to focus on the genesis responsible for the recent spike in coups across the continent.
Atiku gave the advise on Thursday via his X platform ( formerly known as Twitter) while reacting to the recent coup in Gabon.
He said the military takeovers are worrisome, adding that they call for introspection.
“The coup in Gabon stands condemned. Democracy and democratic governance have come to stay as a preferred form of government, and everything should be done to enthrone, nurture, and sustain it.
“As I suggested in the case of the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS and African Union authorities should open a window of diplomatic engagement that will pave the way for the soldiers to return to the barracks.
“The latest coup brings the number of military takeovers in Central and West Africa to 8 since 2020. This is worrisome and calls for introspection.
“We may have to focus on dealing with the disease and not the symptoms that birth coups,” Atiku wrote
President Bola Tinubu had also expressed deep concern about the Wednesday coup in the Republic of Gabon in the West Coast of Central Africa.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity while briefing State House Correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday said that Tinubu would consult with other Heads of State and Government in the African Union on the Gabon crisis with a view to determining the way forward for the natural resource-rich country.
‘’President Bola Tinubu is watching closely with deep concern for the country’s social political stability and at the seeming autocratic contention apparently spreading across different regions of our beloved continent.
‘’The president as a man who has made significant sacrifices in his life in the course of advancing and defending democracy is of the belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun,’’ he said.
Ngelale said the president affirmed that the rule of law and recourse to the constitutional resolutions and instruments of electoral dispute needed to be used in the matters of democratic challenges.
‘’To this end, the President is working very closely and continues to communicate with other Heads of States in the African Union.
‘’This is towards a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forwards with respect to how the power in Gabon will play out and how the continent will respond to contagious autocracy spreading across the continent,” he said.
Gabon is rich in natural resources such as timber, manganese and oil and it’s the fifth largest oil producing nation in Africa, which has helped drive its strong growth.
The country’s oil sector now accounts for 50 per cent of its GDP and 80 per cent of its exports.
NPO had on Wednesday reported how military officers in Gabon announced the takeover of democratically elected government of Bongo on Wednesday after a disputed Tuesday election.
They also announced the cancellation of recent election results and the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic”.
The Commonwealth had also expressed fear about the military takeover in the country with Secretary-General Patricia Scotland saying the situation was “deeply concerning”.
“The Commonwealth Charter is clear that member states must uphold the rule of law and the principles of democracy at all times,” Scotland said.
Tinubu also spoke with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Tradeus on the Gabon crisis, where the two leaders agreed on the need for the safeguarding of democratic institution in the continent.
Tinubu also urged African in Diaspora to continue to engage with global communities to extend the support for the democracy in the continent.