Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Désiré-Clitandre Dzonteu
Published on 2024-03-08 14:08:57
Redeployment of the board, Ali Bongo’s health, upcoming congress, celebration of March 12, reforms, refoundation, and perspectives are some of the points discussed in the following interview with the new first vice president of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). According to Paul Biyoghe Mba, “between two evils, one must always choose the lesser.” The former Prime Minister thus criticizes the former “DCP”, stating that they need to rise again after being knocked down. For him, the “general interest must prevail,” especially in restructuring the party, including for the benefit of Ali Bongo.
“You have just been appointed the first vice president of the PDG. What exactly happened during this meeting?”
Paul Biyoghe Mba: I would like to provide a brief historical overview. As the saying goes, never two without three. I simply note that I am becoming the vice president of the PDG for the second time in very difficult circumstances. The first time was in 2009, after the death of the party’s founding president. Shortly after, I was appointed Prime Minister. And the statutes stated that when you are Prime Minister, you are the first vice president of the PDG. So, I was the first vice president from July 2009 to March 2010, under difficult conditions to manage the transition, elections, etc. And now, on March 7, 2024, I am once again the first vice president of the PDG. History repeats itself.
At this moment, I would like to say two things. Firstly, I sincerely thank all those who have devoted a lot of time to reflection, evaluation, analysis, and who have agreed that I can once again be the first vice president of the party.
“In 2009, when you were appointed first vice president, the president had passed away. Currently, the president is alive. What is Ali Bongo’s position in the party now?”
You know, the first vice president means that you are not the president. You act in their absence.
You have roles, prerogatives, and the freedom to do things, but you are not the president. It is an important honor that has been bestowed upon me once again. And I can reassure you, the second thing is that I will spare no effort to deserve this great historical trust that has been placed on me again, because we need to rebuild a party that was once in power and is now just like any other party. I will do everything, with the participation of everyone, to unite once again, because the people are divided. To gather supporters of all levels, of all ranks, so that our political team, knowing that it has taken a blow, must admit it… You know, I often say, when I was young, I practiced combat sports. When you are hit and you fall, you have to get back up. It’s difficult to get back up, but you have to get up and continue the fight, and even win it. That’s my vision. We have taken a blow. We will get back up. I can even say we are already almost standing. We must continue, and we must do it with the participation of all the supporters who are now feeling discouraged, demotivated, etc.
So, the first thing is to unite everyone based on two things. A real assessment, a frank situation assessment, and beautiful prospects at hand. Prospects both in speech and in action. Because we are a party that is 56 years old after all, we must increasingly focus on action rather than words.
“This particular day was also dedicated to a deep reflection, or a kind of self-criticism about the party’s life, as you take on your new role.”
The meeting that was called revolves around two axes: self-criticism and refoundation.
Self-criticism means that we must look at ourselves in a cold and clear manner. PDG members, leaders, and all supporters must objectively examine what we have done. Particularly, over the past 10, 15 years, to lose the power we had so heavily. Because we lost that power. So, what did we do? We must first identify the causes so that we do not repeat the same mistakes in the future.
There is a deep analysis of this situation, and we will certainly carry out this exercise on March 16, next. And I hope it will be done in the most honest way possible. I always say that the best way to heal an abscess is to incise it. It hurts when cutting the abscess with a scalpel. But after draining the pus, you sleep better at night. We will responsibly and respectfully drain the abscess. We must not rush, we must not hide. It serves no purpose.
Once we have drained the abscess, once we have done this self-criticism, because in reality, we are the ones responsible for what has happened to us. The PDG is responsible, the PDG leaders are responsible for this situation. We must admit it. If we had behaved properly, we wouldn’t be where we are today. If we are here today, it’s because we have had failures and shortcomings. But we cannot just stay there. Since I told you that we need to rebuild the party. Therefore, we must refound it.
We must start making adjustments, restructurings. And that’s what started today. We have instituted vice presidents. Vice presidents who existed before, created in 2003 and disappeared in 2010, and now they are back in 2024. We are reinstating a structure that has proven itself. A major and important reform!
We have reviewed the Executive Secretariat. Because the Executive Secretariat is the one responsible for the daily administration of the party. We have reviewed a new Executive Secretariat composed of 4 or 5 members, some of whom are familiar with this environment, and others who bring new experiences and energy. With this, we will continue, it will not stop there. Because we will prepare, on the national level, for the national dialogue meetings where I believe the PDG will be strongly challenged. We will have to explain to our compatriots what we have done. We have done bad things. But we have also done good things. Then, we must prepare for the Congress. The PDG Congress will be a true refoundation Congress for the party since we are continuing. And after this Congress, definitive decisions will be made. Because the structure that has been set up today, the vice presidents and the secretaries, are transitional structures that are somewhat ad hoc to do a specific job. It is a mission administration. The mission is to prepare the party immediately for the meetings, for the national dialogue, and to prepare for a Congress. And more profoundly, to put the party back on track.
Back on track so that it can face the challenges and move forward, regain its position as a party in power. As a party in power.
“Yes, you talk about involving everyone, yet you have expelled a prominent supporter, Madam Joséphine Nkama (Patience Dabany).”
You know that every party, every organization, has operating rules. Any respectable party, any respectable structure has a code of conduct. But in the decision that was made, I noted, like everyone else, that it was clearly stated that the reasons for her expulsion will be communicated to her soon. There are reasons that I am not aware of. But there are reasons that have led to her expulsion. And it is stated in the decision that they will be communicated to her shortly. Let’s wait until she has received the notification letter.
“What role did President Ali Bongo play in this party reorganization?”
Well, President Ali Bongo Ondimba is in a situation that everyone knows about.
Let’s be honest, legally, of course, he enjoys his freedom. That’s what was said. But physically and health-wise, let’s be honest, let’s look ourselves in the eyes, we can quickly conclude that there are probably many shortcomings. Many shortcomings in what has been done. I don’t have an in-depth understanding of the situation, but I believe there are many shortcomings. So, the problem is the following: let’s be honest. Between two options, you always choose the lesser one. You have two options in front of you. A president who is there, but whose absence is affecting the actual functioning of the party. And you have the party. What do we save? What do we save? According to you? I think that the common good must prevail. And the common good of restructuring the PDG will greatly benefit Ali Bongo and others.
Let’s focus on the common good, which means ensuring that his party, the party left by his father, Omar Bongo, can survive, that it does not disappear. Because there is a risk that it may disappear if nothing is done. There is political competition. Other parties are organizing. Today, the PDG is just like any other party. President Oligui Nguema has taken a decision that applies to the National Assembly and the Senate: no more majority, no more opposition, everyone is equal, on the same level. So, the PDG is just like any other party. A party in competition with other parties. The other parties are fully structured. They have presidents, vice presidents, etc. The PDG does not have any. We are behind compared to the others.
We needed to at least catch up, adapt. The decisions made today, we are adapting.
“It is said that the President of the Transition or the Transition, the leaders of the transition also played a role.”
That can be said. In politics, sometimes there are invisible things, etc. But I have not seen any visible action from the Transition. It is possible that it has been done… You know, Gabon was a country… we all know each other. We know each other. We have relationships. You and I know each other. Even if we don’t see each other often. Maybe someone could have given an informal opinion. Maybe, but not formally. In any case, no. Not at all.
“Are there any events planned in the agenda of the interim office?”
Yes! On March 12. March 12 is on Tuesday. There will be a soft gathering to celebrate March 12. Because, in reality, we have postponed everything until March 16. Because on March 12, it’s a Tuesday and it’s a holiday. It’s a holiday, and we cannot mobilize everyone. Plus, we have already started discussions on the meetings. Not everyone has responded yet, and the syntheses are being done. However, on Saturday, March 16, we will specify the location later, there will be a much larger event. That will be the first major event of the PDG since the freedom coup on August 30. It will be a significant event.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
