Obasanjo, Kufuor urge AU, ECOWAS to intervene in Benin Republic crisis

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Ghanaian counterpart, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, yesterday tasked the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to immediately act on the political situation in Republic of Benin.

According to a statement, signed by the former presidents in Abeokuta and made available by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant (Media), Kehinde Akinyemi, the two elder statesmen stressed an urgent need for intervention in the “festering” political situation in that country before it escalates.

The statement read in part: “In the follow up to the parliamentary election that took place on April 28, 2019, which was considered to be exclusive for not accommodating the opposition parties in the electoral process, there is a general feeling of violation of the individual and collective liberties which have invariably culminated into the restriction currently imposed on former President Boni Yayi and some other opposition leaders.”

Obasanjo and Kufuor, according to the statement, insisted that contrary to the general principle, which stipulates that elections should be inclusive of all political stakeholders to ensure fairness, justice and equity, the prevailing situation in Benin Republic appears not to be in line with the aforementioned.

“The crisis in Republic of Benin calls for urgent action by ECOWAS and African Union (AU) to avert the escalation of the festering political unrest. All stakeholders should be carried along in the electoral process,” the leaders said.

They, therefore, recommended a strong delegation to appeal to President Talon to release his immediate predecessor who needs medical attention abroad.