Ayoyinka Òní, Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC), Lagos State Chapter has stated that everyone who benefited from the corrupt regimes of the late Omar Bongo and his son, Ali Bongo, who has just been ousted as President of Gabon in a coup, should be exposed.
Omar Bongo was the second president of Gabon for almost 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009. His son, Ali Bongo, succeeded and ruled until he was ousted from office on Wednesday.
Oni asserted that those who are asking for a restoration of democracy in Gabon, are as confused as those that are calling the military takeover in Gabon a revolution.
The Lagos AAC chairman made this known in a statement signed on Wednesday, in which he noted that a system that has enriched a particular family for 56 years, must be pulled down.
He explained that the end of a so-called civil oppression can be the beginning of a military oppression. Stressing that what the people of Gabon need is a civilized government created and supported by the people of Gabon.
The statement reads in part, "Those of you that are asking for a restoration of democracy (demonstration of Craze) in Gabon, are as confused as those that are calling the military takeover in Gabon a revolution.
"What happened in Gabon is a military uprising that took over the government. And this cannot happen without the displeasure of the people to the way they are ruled or against a fraudulent election. In the case of Gabon, it is both.
"Should this have warranted a military takeover? That question should be answered by the family that ruled for 56 years while 34% of the population remain in poverty, not me and you. The people of Gabon are also in the best position to tell us if the military takeover was needed, not you, me, ECOWAS, AU or UN.
"There is a system that has enriched a particular family for 56 years making one man have over 70 bank accounts; that system must be pulled down. Until then would the people of Gabon get the revolution that would turn things around for good.
"The people of Gabon must not necessarily see the military as an enemy but the system that has empowered few be it military or civilian to amass so much wealth while the people suffer.
"Everyone that has benefitted from the corruption of 56 years must be exposed, both local and international oppressors. All that they stole from the people must be seized and they must face the law and be punished for their corruption.
"The military should be educated on the fact that their duty is to protect the people while they revolt and not repress or oppress them. The good people of Gabon should rise up and fight for their Liberation. A new system of governance and distribution of resources must be drafted. No one involved in the destruction of the country in past should be involved in such a referendum.
"One of the reasons why Nigeria is still in the state it is today, is because we keep allowing people like Obasanjo, Abdulsalami, Buhari, Tinubu, Goodluck, Gowon and all others who ruined our society, give us advice on the way forward. How can they help build what they destroyed?
"The resources of the people of Gabon must be controlled by the people of Gabon and must be used to develop Gabon throughout all their cities.”
"The end of a so-called civil oppression can be the beginning of a military oppression. The people of Gabon don't need any one of them, what they need is a civilized government created and supported by the people of Gabon," the statement added.