Need for restrain
ONGOING PRECOCIOUS ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN FOR MONTHS THROUGHOUT ALMOST THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS A WORRISOME SIGN FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS, MAINLY THE PRESIDENTIAL ONES. FOR A WHILE, THE FANATICISM AND INFLAMMATORY NATURE OF STATEMENTS DELIVERED DURING POLITICAL MEETINGS ARE AN EVIDENT PROOF.
Apparently, on both camps the positions have openly been made very clear since the Seminar of Common Return which was held in Abomey and in Bohicon and gave birth to the coalition of the anti cowries forces committed to change in Government in 2011. Since this meeting, the member parties of G4, G13 and Force Clé coalition have been watching very closely one another and none of them wants, as it is suggested, to take the risk of breaking up or “betraying” the commitment that was made. And till now, 2011 contest has been the key topic of all political statements. Everyone has therefore been focused on the forthcoming race. The peculiarity of this current situation lies in the fact that since the advent of the democratic era, it is the first time a coalition of political parties has been set up and has openly expressed its willingness to work for change in Government two years ahead of the presidential elections. A coalition, almost similar, but less structured was born in 1995, just few months before the March 1996 presidential elections. It had ousted Nicéphore Soglo and brought Mathieu Kérékou back into office. In fact, counting on his effective economical and financial achievements, under the transitional regime and under his mandate, Nicéphore Soglo has, as it may have looked like, ignored threats and ability for harms this coalition which defeated him finally, may have constituted. His partisans did not have the time to escape the fall down.
The anti cowries forces have now been in the same situation, it seems, with a Government aware which, on its side, has been embracing itself in order to be strengthened and remain in place trough all legal means. Then the cowries forces and the ones of opposition have been, all weekends, on the ground holding political meetings which turn into campaign rallies with denunciations and insults. The nearer, the elections’ day is, the more worrisome, the ongoing premature campaign has blithely been getting. There have not been contradictory debates on the media to keep the wrangling under control and allow the people to be well-aware in order to make the good choice when the time comes.
The violence which broke out last weekend in Ouidah and resulted in one death and many serious injured, has direct or indirect links to this premature campaign. In some places, threatening statements have sometimes been very dreadful. Partisans have been getting exited and the tension has been running high steadily. All weekend has been marked by insults, poisoning and anxiety with a Government that has increasingly been getting distracted from its tasks for the country’s development and by denunciations made without any evidence. With this foreseeable danger which is coming up, the Civil Society should start an awakening campaign. It is only this Civil Society that can still recall to the minds of politicians their obligations not to put peace in jeopardy by their deeds.
Apollinaire Kouton
Translated by Alfred Cossi Chodaton
