Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Griffin Ondo Nzuey
Published on 2024-02-26 12:11:32
The call for Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to run for the upcoming presidential election launched by the founder of the Union for the Republic (UPR) is viewed unfavorably by the former opponent who denounces opportunism motivated by the position of high representative of the transitional president currently held by Gervais Oniane, who came in 4th at the end of the general elections in August 2023.
Going against the process initiated since the military took power, Gervais Oniane was the first of the former candidates in the August 2023 general elections to publicly call for Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to run for the presidential election scheduled for 2025. Following the coup d’état, the brigadier general of the Republican Guard made him his personal high representative. Since then, he seems to be indebted to him. This is the sentiment of Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou, who views his former political adversary’s initiative in a very negative light.
“Gervais Oniane is an opportunist who, because he is appointed as the high representative of the head of state, takes advantage of his presence by his side to make his followers and those who are starving believe that he can be the savior,” taunted the leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in an interview with Panafrik Médias. The former opponent instead calls for supporting the Committee for the Transition and the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) in its commitment to restoring institutions and behaviors.
However, while he hopes that the majority of Gabonese people will willingly change their mentality, the former Vice President of the Republic during Ali Bongo’s time doubts that this will be the case for Gervais Oniane. The founder of the UPR, he regrets, “goes in all directions and says anything.” “We realize that we are still far from being able to change behavior. [Especially] this behavior of a lackey,” fears the one who has not accepted any official position so far.
Additionally, Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou believes that the high representative of the Transitional President, for personal reasons, “has an interest in convincing Brice Clotaire Oligui to go back on his word and decide not to hand over power to civilians, but to keep it.” However, he assures, “the CTRI does not have to deny it. The CTRI has commitments to a confident, awakened people.” “Let’s not attribute intentions to the CTRI that it does not have,” warns the former mayor of Mouila.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
