Sola Adegbite
6 May 2005
opinion
The international community should respond quickly to the Togolese crisis
THE unending political crisis in Togo, has taken a new dimension with the presidential candidate of the opposition political party, Mr. Emmanuel Bob Akitani declaring himself as president-elect, with 70 per cent of the votes cast, even though the Togolese Electoral Commission had earlier announced the son of the former Head of state, Faure Gnassingbe, as the president-elect. The present situation in Togo is a replay of the June 12 political crisis in Nigeria, in which the presidential candidate of the then Social Democratic Party, Chief M.K.O Abiola, declared himself president. It is on record that the June 12 crisis, after the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970, happens to be the other crisis that shook the nation to its foundation. Never in the history of Nigeria, will this be forgotten.
With the way things are going in Togo, one hopes they will not suffer the same fate. Unfortunately for the Togolese, they do not have the same strength in population that Nigerians had, to withstand the Eyadema cabal threatening to destroy the nation. It is quite evident from political events, right from the demise of the former Head of state, Gnassingbe Eyadema, that all was done including the use of force and intimidation of political opponents, to instal Faure as the next leader of Togo. And they seem to be succeeding, not with the pass-mark given to the election by observers from the West African region, ECOWAS and the Nigerian Government, which happens to be the leading political power of the region and the African continent. Since the release of the result, Togo has not had a minute of rest.
Unfolding anarchy
The People have taken to rioting and general lawlessness and the nation thrown into a state of total disorder and anarchy. Now that Akitani has declared himself president, one begins to wonder if this won't end in another civil war or rebel action. For the more than thirty-five years, that the late Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled Togo, after overthrowing the Government of Silvio Olympio, the life of the average Togolese did not seem to get better. In fact the country can be said to be worse for it.
The long years of Eyadema rule was only a confirmation of the general argument in the western world that African Heads of Governments, are despots. From West Africa to East Africa, the story is the same and despite the fact that the whole world is beginning to move towards democracy, African has refused to budge. Even those that finally succumbed to the power of internal and international pressure, end up manipulating the electoral process to suit their whims and caprices. And despite all efforts being made by the international community and notable sons of Africa, it seems these leaders are hell-bent on dragging the continent to the dark ages. Concerning the Togolese crisis, one thing that beats ones imagination, is how the so-called observers from the West African region and ECOWAS, came about their pass-mark.
The only pass-mark a government can get is legitimacy and legitimacy comes from the people. How can the people of Togo be rioting, with lives being lost everyday and the government of Nigeria and some God-knows observers will declare the election as free and fair? The Nigerian government may only be confirming the truth in all the allegations levelled against it concerning the supposed electoral malpractice in the April, 2003 presidential election. Just days back, the Secretary-General of the United Nation, Koffi Annan, lent his voice to the crisis in Togo by saying the Law enforcement agents in Togo should do away with their trigger-happy manners in handling the crisis. God knows that so many lives have been lost in the past few days, courtesy of the brutality of these agents of the government.
Kudos to the UN Secretary- General, for speaking quickly and well but the UN should know that in situations like this, it has to do more than speaking. It should take decisive steps backed up with action, in resolving the Togolese crisis. The United Nations has always been known to be lackadaisical, when it comes to political crisis on the African continent. A perfect example is the Darfur genocide, which shook Sudan to its roots. So also is the civil war in Cote D'voire which is yet to come to an end. The United Nations should stop this foot-dragging and move against the Eyadema dynasty and the nepotism they want to foist on the Togolese people.
In addition to this, the way and manner the western nations, particularly the super-powers, continue to turn a blind eye to the crisis on the African continent. They trade with Africa, enter into so many treaties, but when it comes to lending their ears to crisis on the continent, they go dumb. I think by now, the major voices in world affairs, particularly, the United States and Britain should have condemned in all totality the break down of law and order in Togo. The excuse might be that, Togo is a sovereign state and so should be able to solve its problems internally. But it is evident that the world has become a global village in which bigger nations have to police the affairs of smaller ones, to ensure stability. After all the US has mediated in the affairs of so many countries in the past, and even taken military action against some states seen as threats to global peace.
Clarion call
Let these developed nations rise and help Africa overcome its challenges. Finally, another country where help is required is, Nigeria. Coincidentally, the president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo happens to be the chairman of the African Union, and Nigeria as a nation has proven to be a leading political force on the continent. The Togolese people and the entire African continent were happy at the way the Nigerian government handled the crisis that brewed in the country when Faure was first installed. Now Obasanjo should not disappoint a watching world, by looking the other way, as Togo boils.
Also it will make mince meat of all his efforts at restoring the pride of the African continent, if Faure is foisted on the Togolese nation. The Nigerian government should use the same political wisdom it exhibited at the first coming of Faure and move against the injustice in Togo. If the Togolese people say, the election was rigged, then so be it. After all, democracy's best definition has been given as " Government of the people, by the people and for the people". Togo belongs to the Togolese people and not to the Eyadema dynasty. If Obasanjo can restore the hope of the people of Sao Tome and Principe, definitely the situation in Togo should not be too much for him to handle.
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