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Personal View: Togo's demo-crazy
By Mobolaji Sanusi
Friday, February 18, 2005
"Tyranny and anarchy are never far asunder."- Jeremy Bentham
The Speaker of Togo's Parliament, who was to take over after Eyadema's death as provided in Togo's constitution was prevented from re-entering his fatherland as the country's top military hierarchy pronounced Faure, the new president, and also forced the Parliament to change the constitution to suit their machination.
Abraham Lincoln's universally acknowledged definition of democracy remains "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." it is doubtful whether what happened in Togo can be described as democracy. It is to borrow from the Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, in one of his immutable songs - a "demonstration of craze and crazy demonstration."
The events in Togo have generated lots of reactions and condemnations from governments and leaders the world over. South African President, Thabo Mbeki, summarised the rape on Togo's democracy when he commented thus; "The current unconstitutional charade in Togo, following the death of President Eyadema adds to the instability in West Africa."
Even outside West Africa, where lies the genuine conducive atmosphere for political stability?
African policeman
As if Togo is now an extension of Nigeria, the Federal Government behaved like the US of Africa with its release that reads: "... the Federal Government urges the Togolese authorities immediately to return the country to the status quo ante." The funny thing about this statement is that the status quo ante ceased when the Parliament of Togo shamefully altered the constitution to suit the whims and caprices of Faure Gnassingbe and his military collaborators. Thus, a new status quo has constitutionally emerged even though as in other African countries in a crooked way.
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which has since metamorphosed into African Union has as one of its cardinal principles, non-interference in the internal affairs of member countries. That was why after the January 13, 1964 coup in which Etienne (later Gnassingbe) Eyadema helped Nicholas Grunitzky to get to power, the OAU then hiding under this lame principle welcomed Togo's coupists that pioneered coups in West Africa to its meeting of that year.
It was that coup that saw Eyadema murder Sylvanus Olympio, Togo's first president within the compound of United States Embassy. Being not contended as Grunitzky's Army Chief of Staff, he toppled him on January 12, 1967 thereby appointing himself the President of Togo. That was the beginning of a fascist reign that lasted till February 2, 2005. In a manifestation of absurdity his son, Faure has taken over to complete the term of office of his late father.
In all of these, it is not the condemnation from Nigeria nor the chastisement from South Africa or the AU that will change the situation in Togo. The United States of America's government in its own statement gave a more realistic option. It said that; "We call on the Togolese authorities to fully co-operate with ECOWAS, the African Union and other members of the international community and to move peacefully and rapidly towards free and fair election."
The operative words in this statement are the ones calling for an earnest election in which Faure Gnassingbe might partake and most surely win. The US did same under President Clinton when during his tour of Africa, precisely Uganda, against the background of intense agitation from Nigerians to prevent late Abacha from transmuting into a civilian president, the US President showed his country's preference for democratisation in Nigeria under whatever guise; either through transmutation or otherwise. But for death, Abacha would have been president.
The subsequent death of MKO Abiola who won the 1993 presidential election before US and UN women and men respectively and the emergence of Obasanjo, an ex-military man as president, bore eloquent testimony to the reality of US statement on the Togo democratic rape. This statement coming from the world's most powerful country leaves the Togolese with two options; to either be ready to fight the authorities to liberate themselves from the Eyadema dynasty's grip or to acquiesce thereby accepting an "arranged" election that would see Faure still emerge as a democratically elected president.
Western conspiracy
The western conspiracy in all this is apparent with a recent description of late Gnassingbe Eyadema by French President, Jacques Chirac as a "close friend". France has a defence treaty to defend Togo's democracy and territory. Till now she is not acting on the rape of democracy in that country. Why should anyone expect Chirac to act against the interest of the son of his "close friend"? Therein lies the limitation on the powers of ECOWAS, AU and other African leaders condemning the occurrence in Togo.
With or without western support, what is happening in Togo is a democratic aberration. It is criminal and ungodly for the Eyadema family and their ethnic group to feel they could foist an Eyadema presidential dynasty on Togo. But do most African leaders have the moral suasion to call on Faure to quit Togo's Presidential Palace? Eyadema in 2003 like in previous years rigged his country's presidential election. Nigeria's 2003 presidential election was largely seen as rigged with the election in the president's state, Ogun, declared null and void by a court of law. The parliamentary election that followed Eyadema's election in 2003 was also rigged in favour of his anointed candidates, thereby allowing him absolute control over the parliament. The same happens in Nigeria's Assembly election preceding the presidential election.
Those declared to have lost elections were re-announced to have won and later became principal members of the House. This is why some believe Nigeria's President like Eyadema and his son will always have his way over the house. Togo's wrongdoings under Eyadema are happening in other African countries too; there is demo-crazy in most African countries and not just Togo.
For every single finger pointed in Togo's direction, four fingers go in the directions of other African leaders who also allow demo-crazy in their enclaves. It is only God that can liberate us all.
ABRAHAM Lincoln, the famous erstwhile American president will be turning in his grave with what dictators have turned democracy into in Africa. The latest of such exhibition of political delirium was the way and manner Faure Gnassingbe was declared his country's President after his father's death on his way abroad to seek medical attention.
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