Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says African leaders
need to focus on the root cause of the recent spike in coups across the
continent.
Atiku tweeted his thoughts on Thursday while reacting to the
recent coup in Gabon — the eighth in Africa since 2020.
He said the military takeovers are worrisome, adding that
they call for introspection.
“The coup in Gabon stands condemned,” Atiku said.
“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.”
President Bola Tinubu had also frowned at the recurring
coups on the continent, saying he was consulting with the AU leaders on how
best to address the “contagious autocracy” spreading across Africa.
The Nigerian Working Group on Peace and Conflict Prevention
(WGPCP) had listed economic inequalities, youth unemployment, and corruption as
factors that spur coups.
The group also urged the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) to take urgent actions to address the region’s economic
outlook, saying it would prove a major antidote to military takeovers in the
sub-region.
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