Gabon Coup: Tinubu to meet African Leaders

Iyojo Ameh

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that he will meet other African leaders on the next steps to take as a result of the coup in Gabon that ousted President Ali Bongo who has been in power since 2009 after taking over from his father, President Omar Bongo.

He equally expressed deep concern over Gabon’s socio-political stability.

This is coming after a group of Gabonese military officers appeared on national television announcing that they are “putting an end to the current regime”.

But President Tinubu while reacting over the political tension in Gabon in a statement made by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said that he has made personal sacrifices for the cause of defending democracy and that he 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 statement reads, “He 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 contagious appearing to spread to other parts of the African continent.

The coup subsequently cancelled Saturday’s election which President Ali Bongo won. Bongo’s family has held power for 55 years in the oil rich country.