Private legal practitioner Obiri Boahen
Private legal practitioner Obiri Boahen has described the coup in Guinea-Bissau as a positive action against authoritarian rule.
The lawyer indicated that the majority of countries where coups have been witnessed are due to authoritarian leadership, corruption, abuse of power, lack of transparency and the refusal by leaders to peacefully hand over power or step aside when their terms are over.
He explained that some African leaders are obsessed with power to the point that they manipulate electoral systems, the constitution, and rules to favour their greed for staying in power beyond term limits.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Boahen stated that ‘’those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable.’’
He said African leaders must become accountable, transparent and inspire hope.
He warned that more African countries will experience coups if their leaders refuse to be accountable to the people and relinquish power peacefully.
Boahen predicted that Nigeria, Tanzania and other countries should expect a coup.
‘’There will be more coups in Africa. As long as some African leaders have refused to hand over power peacefully after serving their term, we will see more coups in Africa.
“Tanzania will experience a coup. Nigeria should tread cautiously because they are likely to get a coup. Tinubu wants to be President again and if he rigs the elections, there will be a coup,’’ he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
He also slammed ECOWAS, describing it as a body that has lost its relevance, while stressing that ‘’there will be more coups in Africa if we fail to reform the continent. Cameroon will experience a coup.
“Uganda will not be left out. Benin has also made changes to the presidential term limit from 10 to 14 years and so they should also prepare for a coup. If anyone tells you that coups will be a thing of the past, just let them know that individual is mentally unstable and needs assessment.’’
