Atiku Abubakar reacts to Gabon coup d’etat

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the recent coup d’état in Gabon which saw the president, Ali Bongo ousted.

Taking to his “X” handle, @atiku, on Thursday, saying that democracy and democratic governance have come to stay.

He said: “The coup in Gabon stands condemned. Democracy and democratic governance have come to stay as a preferred form of government, and everything should be done to enthrone, nurture, and sustain it.

“As I suggested in the case of the Niger Republic, the ECOWAS and African Union authorities should open a window of diplomatic engagement that will pave the way for the soldiers to return to the barracks.

“The latest coup brings the number of military takeovers in Central and West Africa to 8 since 2020. This is worrisome and calls for introspection.

“We may have to focus on dealing with the disease and not the symptoms that birth coups,” he concluded.

It could be recalled that military personnel announced seizing power and the attendant ousting of President Ali Bongo on Wednesday.

The development comes barely one month after army officer announced a coup d’etat that ousted the president, Mohammed Bazoum.