A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said he is “very happy” with the developments in Gabon after soldiers seized power in the oil-rich Central African nation.

Fayose, who does not support military intervention in politics, blamed the recent wave of coups on the continent on the “sit-tight syndrome” of African leaders.

“In a country where one man is spending 30, 40 years, they must boot him out of the place,” he said.

Fayose also said that Nigeria’s uninterrupted democracy is due to the smooth transition and reasonable democracy practiced in the country.

The coup in Gabon took place on August 30, just minutes after the election commission announced that President Ali Bongo Ondimba had won a third term.

Bongo, whose family has held power for more than half a century, has faced accusations of election fraud and corruption.

Following the coup, residents in the capital, Libreville, were seen celebrating and embracing soldiers on the street. However, much remains uncertain, with Bongo reportedly under house arrest, his son arrested, all borders closed and the government ostensibly shut down.

The coup in Gabon is the latest in a series of military takeovers in Africa in recent years. In 2020, there were coups in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Sudan.