Libreville, Wednesday August 23, 2023 (Infos Gabon) – Professor Albert Ondo Ossa has been nominated by the political group Alternance 2O23 as a consensual candidate for the presidential election of August 26, 2023. If this choice has sparked rallying, several voices are raised also against this designation which does not mobilize the entire Gabonese opposition. This is the case of the president of the Parti du Peuple Gabonais (PPG). Candidate for this presidential election, Jean Romain Fanguinoveny says he does not recognize himself in this choice and maintains his candidacy. He gives the reasons in this Interview he granted to Infos Gabon (infosgabon.com).
Gabon Info : WHAT do you think of the choice of Professor Albert Ondo Ossa to be the consensual candidate for the opposition?
Jean Romain Fanguinoveny : It must be said that this candidacy calls for several readings. At first, any regrouping is always a good thing, but a pity that this decision is taken so tamely. If it had been put in place before the start of the electoral campaign, it would have attracted several candidates. Beyond that was to be the general organization of the political camps. This is why I think that calling for a single candidacy from the opposition a few days before the vote seems uncertain to me.
Elsewhere, in this case, we have the principle of primaries. If the opposition primaries had been organized in such a way that all those with ambition would show up and come out with a consensus candidate, yes. Unfortunately what we see to regret it, people meet by affinity groups of friends such as the Alternance 2023 coalition which chose their friend Pr Albert Ondo Ossa, another PG41. And even worse, you have people who claim to be from the opposition but support the candidacy of Ali Bongo Omdimba, the M30 gang.
All this for what purpose? Common sense and intellectual honesty would like them to be clearly in the majority by fully playing their role, because this way of doing things gives no credibility and confuses our electorate.
Gabon Info : In view of the foregoing, can we speak of a Gabonese opposition, Gabonese oppositions or just an opposition to Ali Bongo Ondimba?
Jean Romain Fanguinoveny : In my opinion there are several oppositions, and it shows on the ground. I take the case of the consensual candidate Albert Ondo Ossa. Looking at the Alternance 23 group, they are all former ministers of the PDG who worked with the Bongos, compared to me who, for years, was behind a charismatic leader, the late Pierre Mamboudou. All these people were in front of us. Today, of course, they are in the opposition, but I do not believe that they can provide an alternative, for having been in the PDG (the party in power, editor’s note), therefore in solidarity and accountable for the situation that we are decrying all.
I do not expect much from them and I think that the Gabonese who do not want the former barons of the system will trust me, we have the impression that all the disappointments of the CEO find refuge in the opposition.
Gabon Info : You say you do not recognize yourself in the choice of the consensual candidacy of Alternance 2023, which means that you are maintaining your candidacy for the presidential election?
Jean Romain Fanguinoveny : Absolutely, as stated above, we who have been opposition conservatives since 1990. I have never collaborated with the authorities and with me you have several who are in the same position in the real opposition. Today, we observe that a number of political transhumanses from the PDG are converging in the ranks of the opposition by stifling and allowing themselves to play the leading roles. It is true that it is said that the fight is titanic and all forces are welcome, but to think that they have the solution for the change and the development of this country, I do not believe.
Gabon Info : You, elected President of the Republic on the evening of next August 26, what will the Gabonese concretely expect?
Jean Romain Fanguinoveny : We have a country, when we look at our GDP (Gross Domestic Product, editor’s note), there are discrepancies, which is why I propose on the social level to increase the amount of the family allowance by 8,000 FCFA at 25,000 per month, contrary to what is currently offered at 8,000 FCFA per quarter, that is to say 3,000 FCFA per month. What I find humiliating for our families and it is doable, give 25,000 francs.
Also, as a second measure that I will take, it is to grant an income of 50,000 francs to the head of the family. These people who are responsible for the children, besides that, I will give pride of place to the elderly, by providing support of 50,000 francs per month to enable them to regain their dignity, because many are destitute.
To overcome and reduce the unemployment rate (33%) of young people, a scholarship of 50,000 francs will be offered to all young people looking for work, on condition that they register with the national employment center to learn a job. And finally, I propose the merger of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) and the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS).
Gabon Info : To complete this interview, do you have anything else to add that we have not discussed in the context of these general elections in view of the messages of hatred that are conveyed?
Jean Romain Fanguinoveny : Our families know each other and we don’t need to get upset. This is why I proposed, as part of the political initiative, the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission. And I am delighted to see that many after me have supported this idea. This appeasement commission will aim to compensate the relatives of the victims, of the people who disappeared during the post-electoral demonstrations. It must be said that from 1993 to 2016, after each election, there were always deaths and parents suffered.
FIN/INFOSGABON/SM/2023
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