Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Gabonese Official Dismisses Opposition Leaderâs âPloyâ

   Peter Clottey  January 26, 2011
   Andre  Mba  Obame  (C) (AMO) greets supporters upon his arrival at the
   airport Leon Mba in Libreville, 30 Dec 2010

Photo: AFP

   Andre  Mba  Obame  (C) (AMO) greets supporters upon his arrival at the
   airport Leon Mba in Libreville, 30 Dec 2010

   The  chief  of President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimbaâs cabinet has dismissed
   as  âsensationalism  and  (an)  attention-seeking  ployâ an opposition
   leader's declaring himself president after finishing second in Gabonâs
   2009 election.

   Liban  Suleiman  told VOA Andre Mba Obame is trying to create division
   among  ethnic  Gabonese  that  will, in his words, mimic the crisis in
   both Ivory Coast and Tunisia.

   âThe  real  position  is  (that) the president is looking at it like a
   non-event.  But,  the  population of Gabon is very mad and upset about
   this  (because),  as  you  know, it is a country that is known for its
   stability and peace,â said Suleiman.

AFP Photo

   Gabon President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba greets supporters (file photo)

   âIf  somebody looks at the geopolitics of it, the fact that he (Obame)
   started  speaking  in his ethnic language in meetings and rallies only
   allowed  him  to consolidate (his base) within his ethnic group, which
   is about 30 percent of the population.â

   Suleiman also said Mba Obame tried to scare the rest of the population
   who are not members of his ethnic group.

   Mba  Obame  said  Tuesday  at his swearing in ceremony in the capital,
   Libreville, the vote of the people should take precedence over a court
   verdict.

   More  than  a  year  ago, Gabon's constitutional court upheld official
   results  that  gave the victory to Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba with about 42
   percent of the vote.

   Mba  Obame  has also named a government of 19 ministers. But, Suleiman
   said  the  opposition  leader  will  soon come under investigation for
   violating the countryâs constitution.

   â(Mba Obame) lacks respect for the constitution of the country and the
   rule  of  law.  Even  the president himself is subject to the law; so,
   every citizen of the country has to be subject to the law. That is why
   the  president  does  not need to react to this becauseâ¦when you have
   strong  institutions in the country, you know the institutions will do
   their work,â said Suleiman.

   âHe  (Mba  Obame)  knows  that  he  is  going  to lose the legislative
   elections,  so  he  is  creating  the  precedence so that he becomes a
   martyr  so  that  he does not go to the legislative elections with his
   party,  because  the  way  the president is moving things forward, the
   opposition leader is scared that the president will win big.â

   Suleiman  accused  opposition leader Mba Obame of using his television
   station to cause in his words, confusion, ethnic tension and divisions
   among Gabonese.

   âThe  only  thing  he is good at is using the ethnic vibe (connection)
   and the fact that he owns a television station.â

.