Political Crisis: CSO seeks Nigeria’s intervention, ECOWAS sanctions against Togo

Crisis
By Angela Atabo
Abuja ,April 27,2018(NAN) Togolese Civil League, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has called on Nigeria to exercise its influence as regional power, to compell Togolese government adopt political reforms and democratic transition.
The CSO also urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to consider economic sanctions and targeted restrictions against Togolese officials due to their alleged ongoing violation of human rights.
The Executive Director of the CSO, Miss Farida Nabourema made the call on Friday in Abuja at a news conference tagged “Togo in crisis: A high Stake Democratic Transition’’.
Nabourema said that the conference was aimed at bringing to bare the Togolese political crisis and why ECOWAS member country, particularly Nigeria, should be concerned.
She said that since August 19, 2017, Togo has been experiencing an unprecedented socio-political crisis marked by street protests, strikes and a slowdown in economic activities.
“The people of Togo were demanding political reforms that could lead to a democratic political transition, as Togo is yet to experience democracy unlike other countries in West Africa’’ she said.
Nabourema said that the group was in Abuja to appeal to Nigeria to use its strategic position and influence to compel the Togolese government to respect the will of the people.
“We want Nigeria to put more pressure on the Togolese government to do the right thing. Nigeria is the largest country in the region and the most powerful country in the ECOWAS.
“Looking at the ECOWAS parliament, Nigeria has 35 members whereas Togo has only five.
“The Nigerian government must use that influence to help other countries to overcome dictatorship, like it was the case with Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire and other countries.
“The Togolese believe that Nigeria has a lot of influence and power to put pressure on the government to stop threatening people’s freedom of association and respect the people’s freedom of expression,’’ she said.
Nabourema, however, stressed that the group was not asking Nigeria to send its military might to forcefully remove the government.
She recalled that the group had sent letters to the Nigerian authority expressing concern about the situation in Togo and some discussions had been held.
Nabourema said that the group was not comfortable with the position of Nigeria that the ECOWAS should act more in terms of solving the Togolese problem.
She recalled that the presidents of Guinea and Ghana had been respectively chosen by ECOWAS as the official mediators in the crisis.
“The Togolese president, Faure Gnassingbé, being the Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of Government, the prospect for a peaceful resolution is lean.
“We are yet to see the results; protest has been banned in Togo and people are being arrested which is against the ECOWAS Protocols.
“Unless the ECOWAS community takes swift action to pressure the Togolese government, there can be no meaningful result; even the petitions written for his removal was not addressed due to politics,’’ she said.
Tracing the history of the political crisis in Togo, Nabourema recalled that in October 1992, following a referendum, the people of Togo approved a new constitution by over 97 per cent of the votes.
She said the referendum ushered in a new republic that was supposed to end 25 years of military rule by the late Gnassingbé Eyadéma.
“Unfortunately, through political maneuvering and violent repression, Eyadéma and its ruling party managed to modify the constitution in 2002.
“In 2007, Faure Gnassingbé who succeeded his deceased father through a bloody ascent to power entered into an agreement with the opposition parties; the agreement was to conduct a set of political reforms including terms limits.
“Ten years after, however, the agreement, the promises were never fulfilled, therefore, the people of Togo are now on the streets.
“Their demands are simply for the reinstatement of the original 1992 constitution that was unilaterally modified,’’ she said.
Nabourema said that the country had been under dictatorial rule of the Gnassingbé family since 1967.
She said that the absence of term limits and the total control of the dictatorial government over and above the judicial and electoral systems had virtually made transfer of power impossible.
Nabourema said that the continued repression, the denial of basic rights including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly were creating conditions for violent confrontation in the country.
She alleged that despite the protests, the Togolese government led by Faure Gnassingbé had organised a methodical campaign to shut down its opposition, reduce freedom of expression and silence the civil societies. (NAN)
ATAB/ROT
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi