Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti, has lauded Gabon mutineers for ousting President Ali Bongo.

“I am very happy with what happened in Gabon. I don’t like military inclusion in politics,” Mr Fayose said, adding that Nigeria is a stabilised country where democracy is adhered to. 

Mr Fayose further justified the ouster of Mr Bongo by coup plotters, saying, “In a country where one man is spending 30, 40 years, they must boot him out of the place.”

Mr Fayose, a Peoples Democratic Party member, made this statement in an interview with Channels TV on Friday.

Mr Bongo’s government was toppled on Wednesday, shortly after he was declared winner of another election that would see him stay in office for the third term.

In 2009, Mr Bongo took over power from his father, Omar Bongo, who died in office ruling Gabon for over 40 years.

International communities have condemned Mr Bongo’s ouster. However, hundreds of Gabonese thronged the streets to celebrate the end of Mr Bongo’s family’s decades-long grip on power in the country. His family ruled for 53 years.

From detention, Mr Bongo cried out for help, asking friends and international communities to “make noise,” raising the alarm about development in his country.

Though Mr Bongo suffered a stroke in 2018, sparking calls for him to step down, he held on to power, conducted another election and was declared winner last Saturday.