Gbagbo’s End And Task Before Quattara

21 April 2011

editorial

The arrest of the obstinate former leader of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo few days ago marks another disgraceful end to an inglorious era. By that singular event, Gbagbo becomes the latest addition to Africa’s hall of shame with a bloody baggage of over 1,500 deaths and over one million refugees displaced from their fatherland.

For reasons best known to him, Gbagbo turned down all entreaties from world leaders and bodies, preferring to hold tenaciously to power even when it was obvious, to the most undiscerning mind, that the game was up. Up until three or so weeks ago, the power drunken Gbagbo still had a golden opportunity to vacate the Presidential villa in deference to the popular will of the people eloquently expressed through the October 31 and November 28, 2010 elections which gave victory to his rival, Alassane Quattara.

For over four months after the polls, the over 21 million population wallowed in sorrow, each passing day with a gory harvest of deaths.

The elections were intended to reunify the country which had been divided between north and south by a nine year old conflict. Ouattara was initially declared winner by the country’s election commission, a verdict backed by the African Union, Economic Community of West African States, other Western leaders and the United Nations, which helped organise the poll. But the country’s constitutional council, headed by Gbagbo’s crony, later ruled that the incumbent had won, citing irregularities in Quatarra’s stronghold.

Following a bloody conflict, Quattara forces, led by French soldiers found their way into Gbagbo’s trench in the villa and arrested him. Why would any leader worth his name willingly bring himself to such a shameful end in the face of many open options?

It is on record that nearly every notable world leader, including Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, had at different times advised Gbagbo to stand down and allow the popular winner of the election to form the government.

Even the Pope, Benedict XVI had to send his special envoy, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson, to that country to foster dialogue and a peaceful solution. Didier Yves Drogba, the world acclaimed and respected Ivorian centre forward of Chelsea Football Club in England was not left out as he flew down to Abidjan to beg his country’s leader.

But rather than tow the line of reason, Gbagbo rolled out the tank and helicopter and launched attacks on his own people leaving several innocent people dead. Having explored virtually all known diplomatic options, the use of “legitimate force” which ECOWAS presidents had repeatedly warned him against, became inevitable. This is in addition to the prospect of prosecution.

Quattara should however not be carried away by this celebrated, universal support that brought him to power. Before him are frightening challenges. Chief among them is the task of reconciling the over 40 per cent of Ivoirians who legitimately voted for Gbagbo before the latter used the Constitutional Council to award victory to himself. That large chunk of the country cannot be ignored. For a lasting peace, Quattara must not adopt winner-takes-all attitude but work assiduously to achieve national unity. Though the verdict of the Constitutional Council on the last elections had been roundly condemned, it has not been set aside, making it an issue that must be resolved to save that nation from a constitutional crisis.

Going forward, those in exile, if any, and those who are now refugees must be assisted to return to the country to join in the efforts at nation building.

Though Gbagbo did not conduct himself well, his person must not be molested. The manner the office of the President was invaded during his arrest was quite untidy. That is the office of the President. Ironically, it is from there Quttara himself will lead the country.

Quattara’s ability to handle the myriad of challenges ahead will have a reverberating effect on the future of that country. France and other countries should, as a matter of urgency, assist Quattara to bring the war-wrecked nation back on its feet. The new leader must be told that the support he currently enjoys can be withdrawn in no time by the same clan of people who cheered him in. The proverbial cane used to flog Gbagbo is only being kept in the rafters.

As most Ivorians roll out the drums, Quattara has a choice to either enlist in the hall of fame or shame. Both options are open.

AllAfrica – All the Time