Comrade Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has demanded that Guinea-Bissau opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira be released immediately and that the results of the country’s elections be made public.
Frank denounced the reported coup as “a dangerous assault on democracy” in a statement released on Saturday. He claimed that Pereira of the PAIGC was leading the effort to overthrow incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and that it was a part of a coordinated political-military plot to prevent a transfer of power.
He pointed out that rumors connecting General Biagino Nhanca to the situation heighten suspicions that the military intervention was orchestrated to sabotage the results of the election rather than protect the state.
Frank, who was just appointed Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, stated, “What we are seeing is not a coup but a calculated civilian-military conspiracy to overturn the people’s verdict.”
He emphasized that Africa must oppose any attempt to utilize fake crises to prevent election defeat and cautioned that the international community’s inaction would give leaders more confidence to undermine democracy.
“This becomes a manual for dictators: lose an election, announce a coup, detain the opponent, and suspend results if this goes unchallenged,” he stated.
Frank called on ECOWAS, the AU, the EU, the US, and other pro-democracy organizations to put pressure on Bissau’s government to make the results public and reinstate full civilian governance. Additionally, he urged Western allies to stop grants associated with the current regime, freeze assets, and impose sanctions.
Through voting, the people of Guinea-Bissau have expressed their opinions. Their voice has to be heard. “Free Domingos Simões Pereira and release the results,” he said.
Goodluck Jonathan, the former president who watched the election, also called for the results to be released on Friday.
