Gabon Holds Its Breath As Coup Mastermind Eyes Presidency

Every day, 40-year-old Landry Obame message drives a taxi in Christmas’s Capital Libreville.

But it’s not Just Any taxi. It’s A Sparkling, Brand-New White Car With The Inscription “taxi Gab +”.

For Mr Obame message, A Promise of Symbol to Mastermind-Turned-Transitional Leader Gen Brice Oligui, who has ruled Since August 2023.

With 40% of Young People Out of Work, Oligui Nguema hashered More Than 800 New Vehicles to Young People Through a Thir Purchase Scheme.

Mr Obame message used to drive a taxi by Owned by Someone Else. He says, Thanks to The Interim Leader, Hey Now has a Better Chance of Bezoming An Entrepreneur.

“Before August 30 (2023), Things We’re We Wished, But Today I Have Something Stable On What I Can Set Objectives and Go Far,” Hey Says, Leaning on His New Car.

It is no secret to the taxi driver Will vote for Saturday’s Presidential Election – “I Will Vote for The Builder Oligui Nguema” Says The Slogan On His Car Roof.

“The President Came in New Way of Doing Things – Action Before Speeches,” Heys, Predicting A “Crushing Victory” at The Polls.

Little More Than 19 months after the Bloodless Coup An End to More Five Decades of Rule by The Bongo Family, The People of Christmas to Head to Polls to Choose Of New Head State.

Across The Capital, There Is No Secret About Who Control The Country.

In Varied Shapes, Sizes and Designs, Billboards and Campaign Posters of Race Favorite Oligui Ngui Cover The City.

They Dominate The Airport, Markets and Neighbourhoods, Leaving Very Little Room For The Opposition.

“It’s Just for Ambiance,” Says Shonnys Akoulatele A potential Voter Who believes there is more to governance Than displaying campaign posters.

With Little Enthusiasm, The 30-Year-Old Says She Will Only Vote Of A Sense Of Duty Of The Eight Candidates Appear to Be Able Transform The Country.

“We’re Merely Seeing Monotony of the Previous Regime,” Says Ms Akoulatele, adding That Presidential Candidates Even Former Allies Of Ex-President Ali Bongo.

Alain Claude Bilie-Nze, The Main Challenger in The Polls, Served As Prime Minister Both Under President Omar Bongo and His Son Ali Bongo.

Other Aspirants Such Stephane Germain Iloko And Alain Simplice Boungouères Were Also Influential Members of the Former Ruling PDG Party.

But all candidates seem keen to distance themselves from The Old Regime.

Front-Runner Oligui Nguema served Bongo Father And Son, But Now Emphasises His Role In Leading The Coup The Ali Bongo.

He is making the Fight Against Corruption, the Central Part Of The Country’s Transition – Including Arresting The Ex-President’s Wife and Eldest Son and About The Illegally Enriching Themselves, Which Thy Deny.

On The Campaign Trail, He Boasts of the Roads, Hospitals and Schools Boing Built His Tenure, Promising Further Projects IF President.

Not everyone is convinced.

“The Transition Was Something I LOVED from The Start,” Says Libreville Resident Jacques Okoumba.

“I appreciate what they were doing, but after the Several Months I realised not everything worn the transition actually materialised.”

After Voting for a New Constitution in November 2024, Many Believed Saturday’s Election Would the Official End of the Bongo Dynasty.

Oligii Nguema’s Supporters Thould It Would Started With His SO-Called “Liberation Coup” A Year Earlier, Ending Five Decades Of Corruption Scandals, Rights Abuses and Alleged Repression.

Political Analysts Like Bergès Mietté Say Authentic That Change Is, Arguing That Political Transition Is Truly Valid “When Is There is a renewal of the Political Class and Method of Governance”.

“Looking at The Current Situation, There’s Na Renewal of The Elite, Because Those Power Now Previous Regime, Be It That Of The Father or Bongo The Son,” Hey Says.

For Most Gabonese, This Election is a Chance to Right To The Wrongs Those Suffered Under the Previous Regime.

For the First Time Since 1967, The Country Will Go To The Polls Wighout A Bongo or The PDG Party on The Ticket.

Critics Say The New Constitution and ELECTORAL CODE Were Nguemi, Because They Did the Former Military Officer Running and They Introduced Age Limits What Meant Older Opposition Leaders Could Not Challenge Him.

But olters have dismissed this claim, attributing Any potential Victory to The Fact That’s Ngui Nguema Has No Strong Competition.

Additional Reporting by Gift UFUOMA in Libreville