A few hours ago, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, the National Director of Security of Mauritania, launched himself into power and shut his boss, President Maaoya Taya, out of Nouakchott.
This action, brought the 21-year rule of Taya to a dramatic and calculated end, in this 3 million peopled desert of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
It must however be early, quickly and clearly pointed out before the euphoria subsides, that Colonel Vall and his 16-member Military Junta for 'Justice and Democracy', have arrived a little too late, on the stage of political history.
Much as the people of Mauritania may have been wearied by the lack-lustre regime of Taya, as it was begining to show through an unprecedentedly free and fair elections of 2003, the unconstitutional overthrow of this elected government is nothing but a hijack of due democratic process by an ambitious self-appointed messiahnic group of the specialized paramilitary gendarmerie, known as Presidential Guards, headed by Vall.
Though, Taya's Democratic Social Republican Party (PRDS) still holds sway with a 79% majority in the legislature, the begining of real opposition by about 15 political parties that contested the last elections with growing sympaties amongst the populace, has dawned on Mauritania. There is no way Taya and his party would have won a fourth straight victory at the next elections using the yardstick of the last polls of 2003.
It this growing popular democracy that the ambitious elements in the Mauritanian Army attempts to abort. It is very probable that colonel Vall and his junta would try to seek popular base of support by anti-western sentiments, but this political line, if towed, would spell untold disaster for the new regime. Ask Sadam, who tried it in 1991 and was humiliated for it.
The questions which this self-styled 'Justice and Democracy' Messiahs of the 3 million poverty-sapped people of Muritania could not or ever answer in the days to come are: What happens to the legislative elections due next year, 2006? What happens to the 20 seats- 21%of the National Assembly and the Senate, controlled by the opposition parties? Is the 2-year time-table of restoration of 'true elections' by the junta not a ploy to gain a breathing space and legitimise its own rule? After 18 years in the saddle as National security Director, Is Colonel Vall just realising now that Taya is 'dictatorial and repressive'?
Could it be that the real lure for the junta to take over power is the recently discovered one billion barrels deposit of crude oil? Can we be assured that junta greed for self-enrichment is not traceable to the 30 billion cubit feet of natural gas just discovered? Wont this make the junta to prolong and postpone the promised 'true elctions' like in the case of its Nigerian counterpart which plauged and devoured national and peoples resouces for 30 years before being forced to abdicate power? Can Colonel Vall boldly tell the world that this coup was not the climax of his carefully planned ambition of 6 years ago that got a fillip when he travelled to all the 12 regions(Wilaya) of Mauritania in 1999, as the commander of the militarized police force, to inspect and reinforce (prepare) them for this day?
One thing though is certain, our people in Africa are tired of the musical chairs of dictators. We yearn for true development and progress. We are not ready for another experimental adventure in failure in the hands of some opportunistic leaders.
Aderemi Ojikutu (Aderaskeey) is a Motivational Author and Youth Mentor. He is a minister of the Word of God. A political economist and political leader. He is President of the TREASURE WRITERS CLUB in Nigeria (http://treasurewriters.50megs.com). He is also the current President of the National Democratic Forum (N.D.F). He was National Mobilisation Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (N.A.N.S) for several years. A revolutionary of over two decades, he was also the political secretary of the defunct Nigerian Labour Party in 1991.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWe have read about the unemployment rate being high. Really... Read More
The People's Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet in 1949.... Read More
There are many mines around the world, which are owned... Read More
We know that in Maryland, which some call "Merry Land"... Read More
In an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the... Read More
The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More
The number-one question people ask us is, "What possessed you... Read More
Recently a friend insisted that I read a book by... Read More
Legislation is getting legs to further curtail your use of... Read More
Maybe some of the people complaining ought to go to... Read More
There are so many problems with our perceived perfect checks... Read More
The European Court of Justice ("ECJ") ruled in Praktiker Bau-... Read More
Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More
In what the Americans love to describe as the war... Read More
For years we've suffered under recession, prompting us to ask,... Read More
Many people who are expert in the issue of the... Read More
Three years ago I published a book of short stories... Read More
Please read through this quick thought and discussion as if... Read More
Richard Nixon was by far a most fascinating and colorful... Read More
The recent Jakarta summit of Asia and Africa brought remembrance... Read More
The price at the gas pump is certainly on everyone's... Read More
I would like to pose a question. I am unsure... Read More
We are having a problem in America with Public Notaries,... Read More
In years past California Mutual Assistance Program and emergency response... Read More
SYNOD OF DRUM CEATT (494 - 5):It is interesting to... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..City Governments is their quest for; "quality of life" often... Read More
Without the flow of fuel our very mobile society comes... Read More
After arranging the Armistice that ended or settled outstanding issues... Read More
Policemen in many US cities are taking their new authority... Read More
America must implement a policy on Election Reform that is... Read More
You know we have sent many, many army tanks with... Read More
A governing.com report blast one of the major grassroots initiatives... Read More
Forest Vegetation Simulations for Fire Prevention, Healthy Forest and Saving... Read More
We can all see the issues involved in the cloning... Read More
"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
Recently I met a man in a coffee shop, a... Read More
Question: Dr. Vaknin ? is it true that you are... Read More
Are the junior attorneys in the Attorney General's office leaving... Read More
The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More
We have brain drain issues in Silicon Valley, we have... Read More
The great leader and Senator from New York and wife... Read More
Continued thoughts while driving down the road in a huge... Read More
The RSS is getting feedback from its 140 pracharaks or... Read More
As the death toll in the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir... Read More
Previously Senator Dick Armey and his staff in 2000 to... Read More
Well we have certainly been reading a lot about prison... Read More
Three years ago I published a book of short stories... Read More
Americans pride themselves on being the best, that's a fact.... Read More
The NSA failed the American people and allowed the attack... Read More
If a farmer plants the same crop three seasons in... Read More
Political |