Buhar tells Garbon to respect democratic rules

*Says era of military coups long gone Following reports of attempted military takeover in Gabon, President Muhammadu Buhari has called for respect for constitutional provisions in the oil-rich west-central African nation. According to the Nigerian leader, “The military officers in Gabon should understand that the era of military coups and governments in Africa and indeed worldwide, is long gone. Senior Special Assistant to the President in Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu on Tuesday, quoted President Buhari as saying that democracy is supreme and the constitutional stipulations on the peaceful change of administration must be respected. That is the only way we can ensure peace and stability not only within the country but also in the region.” Buhari, who is also the ECOWAS Chairman, urges military officers with political ambitions to resign or face their constitutional role. He also enjoins the people of Gabon to remain on the side of peace, security, stability and democracy in their country. Gabon’s government had on Monday, thwarted an attempted military coup, retaining control of the oil-rich West African nation after two plotters were killed and other army officers were arrested, the government said. Authorities regained control of state broadcasting offices and a major thoroughfare in the capital, Libreville, which were the only areas taken over by the officers, government spokesman Guy-Betrand Mapangou told Radio France International. He said five army officers who took over state radio were arrested. Two other coup plotters were killed when security forces took over and freed some hostages, according to a presidential statement reported by RFI. A curfew was imposed over the capital, Libreville, and the internet was cut. The city on the Atlantic Ocean coast was being patrolled by military tanks and armed vehicles. Earlier Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lt. Obiang Ondo Kelly, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of Gabon’s government in order to “restore democracy.” He was flanked by two other soldiers holding weapons; all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets. Those soldiers have been taken into custody and President Ali Bongo’s government remains in control, government spokesman Mapangou said. Bongo, who has been in power since 2009, has been out of the country since October amid reports that he had a stroke. He recently addressed the country in a New Year’s message that was filmed in Morocco, where he has been receiving medical treatment. Gabon, sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest oil producer, has been ruled for more than half a century by Bongo and his father, Omar, who died in 2009. Critics have accused the family of profiting from the country’s natural resources while not investing enough in basic services for the population of more than 2 million. About one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. Mathew Dadiya, Abuja