Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the military takeover in Gabon.

Atiku in a statement released on Thursday called on the leadership of the African Union (AU), to engage the military officers diplomatically.

The former vice president charged AU to convince the coup leaders to return to the barracks.

TORI had earlier reported that Gabonese army officers, under the aegis of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, CTRI, on Wednesday, seized power and sacked Ali Bongo as President.

Atiku further stated that democracy has come to stay as a preferred form of government.

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.”

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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…

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 31, 2023