Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gabon actu
Published on 2024-03-03 21:20:08
In a statement, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, former Prime Minister under Ali Bongo, acknowledges that the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) is facing a major crisis and recommends that the party’s institutions recognize the power vacuum of the Distinguished Comrade Ali Bongo and Secretary General Steeve Ndegho Dieko, the main victims of the coup d’état of August 30 last year. Below is the full text.
Gabon, our country, experienced a military coup on August 30, 2023, with the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba and the seizure of power by General de Brigade Brice Clotaire Oliguemangue, Commander in Chief of the Republican Guard.
This event had a heavy impact on the life and functioning of the Gabonese Democratic Party, the ruling party since its creation on March 12, 1968. It also revealed the fragility of the party’s leadership bodies, whose statutory governance rules derive their source and legitimacy from the Distinguished Comrade President.
However, the President, although officially declared free to move by the CTRI, has not undertaken any known political activity since August 30, 2023 and is therefore unable to guide and steer the party’s actions.
Furthermore, the absence of the PDG Secretary General, due to his house arrest, does not allow for the regular administration of the party.
From these two unavailability situations arises a de facto vacancy in the positions of Distinguished Comrade President and General Secretary, which should be acknowledged by the competent bodies.
Faced with this situation, which must be described as a major crisis, a political solution of wisdom and unity is necessary today.
We must move away from an ostrich policy and from this quick fix of an interim solution. Our party, with its 56 years of existence, is made up of men and women of quality and great experience, who in the past have managed to navigate through very difficult situations. Their contribution should be sought with humility, just as the contribution of all willing cadres should be solicited.
The failure of the first phase of the Self-Criticism and Reconstruction Conference, called without prior consultation with the deliberative bodies, confirms the deep crisis that threatens the PDG, our common house.
In view of all the above, courageous and salvational decisions must be made.
It is indeed time to allow for open discussion so that grassroots militants, without whom the Party would not exist, can express themselves on the deep-rooted causes that have undermined the PDG leading to the loss of power.
Through an inclusive, participative, and open consultation, the party can build and define a new strategy if it wants to remain the main political force in our country and be attentive to what our compatriots criticize.
It would be futile to continue denying the current realities.
Refusing, ignoring, or downplaying the deep-rooted causes that led to the current situation would be an irresponsible and suicidal approach.
We must conduct a thorough inventory, retrospectively examine and introspect the life of the Party, from its creation to the present day.
In this regard, how can we not draw all the lessons from the testamentary speech delivered by the Founding President of the PDG, Omar Bongo Ondimba, on December 2, 2007? His courageous self-criticism of the action of the Gabonese ruling class over 40 years should guide us in redefining the future of our party.
We must enact courageous and ambitious reforms to provide our Party with a solid political framework that is in line with the realities of a country where people under 25 represent almost two-thirds of the population.
It is time for the current Executive, whose interim status cannot last indefinitely, to urgently convene a meeting of the Political Bureau and the Advisory Council of sages, preferably before March 12, 2024.
This joint meeting of the Political Bureau and the Advisory Council of Sages must deliberate on the establishment of an ad-hoc directorate, tasked with managing current affairs until an extraordinary congress is held to establish stable and legitimate structures for our party.
Going against this vision would mean wanting to herald the death of the PDG, which would be a historical responsibility that would be risky to associate with.
[Image description: An image is included in the article.]
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Actu
