Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the military take over of power in Gabon.
Atiku who condemned the forceful removal of the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo described it as unconstitutional.
Atiku who was a former vice president of Nigeria made this known in a statement on Thursday.
He advised the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to engage these soldiers diplomatically, thus convince them to return to the barracks.
Truth Live News had reported that the Gabonese army officers, under the aegis of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, CTRI, on Wednesday, seized power and sacked the incumbent president, Ali Bongo.
According to TV Ali Bongo is currently under house arrest.
While reacting to the development, Atiku insisted that democracy has come to stay as a preferred form of government.
Part of the statement reads: “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”.