August 31, (THEWILL) – Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has declared support for Wednesday’s coup in the Republic of Gabon, stressing that it is justifiable since, in the first instance, democracy was unavailable in the country
The rights group emphasised that elections that are “devoid of opportunity for the electorate to freely exercise their democratic franchise and then for the true outcome of the free, fair and transparent electoral process allowed to reach its full course can’t possibly be classified as a democracy.”
This was made known through a statement made available to newsmen by the National Co-ordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.
HURIWA also asked the military in Gabon to speedily midwife a transparent, free and fair transition to civilian democracy and stressed that military coups in West Africa show that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has failed and needs fundamental tinkering, so as to play its role in defending democracy.
The rights group said ECOWAS failed to ensure that elections in its member states are not manipulated by incumbents, therefore, making room for the sabotaging of democracy and eventual military coups.
According to the group, ECOWAS, rather than sanction Gabon, should rethink and set up a think tank to modify her ground rules to classify the rigged or manipulated presidential election as a coup.
HURIWA said: “We are of the conviction that the government that has just been removed in Gabon can’t possibly be classified as a constitutional democracy because it is inconceivable that just one family will continue to govern Gabon for over four decades and then keep sustaining the governance fraud through contraptions defined by them as routine elections.
“Elections that are devoid of opportunity for the electorate to freely exercise their democratic franchise and then for the true outcome of the free, fair and transparent electoral process allowed to reach its full course can’t possibly be classified as a democracy. For that, we in HURIWA endorse the displacement of this long-standing political dynasty in Gabon. We support this removal of the Bongo dynasty but we also want the military to set up a short transition programme of not more than 6 months to organise free, fair and transparent poll to restore full constitutional government.”
HURIWA noted that Army officers have appeared on national television in Gabon to declare that they have taken power and annulled the results of Saturday’s election in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.
Earlier, the discredited electoral commission said Mr Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.
HURIWA said it is heartwarming that his overthrow would end his family’s 53-year hold on power in Gabon, just as the Rights group lamented that it is unimaginable that Gabon is one of Africa’s major oil producers, while nearly 90% of the country is covered by forests but poverty is at its highest peak due to corruption and lack of good governance.
HURIWA recalled that the soldiers, who announced the apparent coup, said they were from the Committee of Transition and the Restoration of Institutions and represent security and defence forces in the country.
One of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24: “We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime.” This, he added, was down to “irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos”.
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