Beninese Minister of Microfinance is facing a controversy over her first book
THE BOOK WAS RELEASED IN PARIS AT SOFITEL ARC DE TRIOMPHE FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009 THEN IN COTONOU AT MARINA HOTEL ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009 BUT NOW IS RAISING CONTROVERSY AS FORMER PRESIDENT, MAJOR GENERAL MATHIEU KEREKOU WHO IS SEVERELY CRITICIZED IN THE BOOK AND HIS RELATIVES ARE SAID TO BE VERY ANGRY AGAINST NOT ONLY THE MINISTER BUT ALSO AGAINST HER BOSS.
The main issue of the book is «the challenges of the people’s mobilization for the promotion of democratic good governance». The book’s title in French is “Mon combat pour la parole” which may be translated as “My struggle for the floor”.
In her book, she describes her fight for the promotion of good governance. Reckya MADOUGOU is known to be one of the majors actors involved in the beninese Civil Society’s combat against the third term of Mathieu KEREKOU in office. Her posters on which it was written ‘Do not touch my constitution!’ had helped mobilize the people against the attempt of the regime to amend the 1990 constitution.
By writing this book, she intends to serve as a model for the african women and in general for the african people who are engaged in the fight for good governance on the continent.
On Friday, February 13, 2009 during the ceremony of the book’s release in Cotonou, at Marina Hotel, the first copy sold was worth 27.200.000 cfa francs while in bookshops it could be bought 8.000 cfa francs. The release was enthusiastically welcome by the folks. Among the most distinguished guests who attended the ceremony were the Ambassador of Netherland, the President of Benin’s Chamber of Commerce and different members of the Civil Society.
However, the book does not please everybody. Especially, the former Head of State seems to be much annoyed by what his friends and supporters see as allegations and lies intending to dirty his reputation. It is as if they see the hands of the government behind the book. And the attempts of the Government to distant itself from the controversy has so far been unsuccessful.
Some local news paper wrote about different Boni YAYI’s envoys who had been sent to calm down the former Head of State in vain.
In an article published in daily news paper on February 16, 2009, Modeste KEREKOU, a former MP who is the son of Mathieu KEREKOU, talking about Reckya MADOUGOU’s book and its content accused her of ill faith, mentioned irrelevances, allegations, evil intention to discredit his father, self-conceit, self-praise and misguided comparison of the regime of his father and the current regime which, according to him, the book contains:
« “My struggle for the floor” is the pompous title of the book. The era Miss MADOUGOU, the Minister has decided to make her analysis upon is one from 2003 to 2006. Dear compatriots, was freedom of expression suppressed during this period in our country? And even beyond that, let me go back to 1996, the year which marked the return of President KEREKOU in office. From 1996 to 2006 during the two (02) terms of my father, was freedom of expression confiscated or restrained in our country? Has there been a single prisoner of conscience or a political prisoner in our country during this period? [..] That period and the one we live right now in, which of these two deserves the fight for freedom of expression? Which of these periods is characterized by promotion of intolerance, public and private media muzzling, obscure deals and bargains, pressures of all kinds, state terrorism, disrespect for balance of power between state institutions, and simply the denial of democracy? I leave upon everybody the responsibility according to his experience of these two eras to answer sincerely. ..»
«Democracy is not arrogance or contempt. Political adversity can not be freed from morality and respect for human dignity. Membership of a government is not a license to insult and slander…»
Media also wrote about a possible legal action against the Minister.
In a communiqué released by PRPB which was the ruling party under the military regime of Mathieu KEREKOU called for the resignation of Reckya MADOUGOU.
In fact, the former President is said to still have a lot of influence on the political scene and Boni YAYI surely does not want him to turn his back on him at a time when he is faced with challenging hostilities from an opposition which is getting increasing dominant.
Another worrisome situation to the current President is the behavior of Bio TCHANE who has been his successor as the head of West African Development Bank (in French Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement: BOAD). Bio TCHANE is from the Northern West region of the country and may turn out to be an obstacle to him in his quest for second term in office. Bio TCHANE’s candidacy may erode his electors. Boni YAYI, to win the 2011 presidential contest, needs to assure the total support of the North which is his most important fiefdom.
According to rumors, Mathieu KEREKOU and Bio TCHANE who are both from the same region have close ties. Moreover, the coalition of G13 which seems to support Bio TCHANE’s candidacy for the March 2011 presidential race also has ties with Mathieu KEREKOU.
