President Bola Tinubu has expressed concerns over the coup in the Central African country of Gabon which ousted President Ali Bongo.
FACTSHEET reports that military officers from the oil rich country seized power on Wednesday night, arrested the president, his wife and son and subsequently announced that they have taken over the realms of governance on behalf of the people of the country.
The ousted president was last Saturday announced the winner of the August 26, presidential election which secured a 3rd term in office for the ousted Bongo.
However, reacting through a statement issued by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu said he was watching the events closely while consulting with AU leaders.
The statement reads:
“H.E. President Bola Tinubu is watching developments unfolding in Gabon very closely and with deep concern for the country’s socio-political stability and the seeming autocratic contagion appearing to spread to other parts of the African continent.
“The President, as a man who has made significant personal sacrifices in his own life for the cause of advancing and defending democracy, remains steadfast in his unwavering belief that power belongs in the hands of Africa’s great people and not in the barrel of a loaded gun.
“The President affirms that the rule of law and a faithful recourse to constitutional instruments of electoral dispute resolution must not be allowed to perish from our great continent.
“To this end, the President will continue to communicate with other Heads of State within the African Union and beyond toward a comprehensive consensus on the next steps forward.
