Following his ousting by the military, President Ali Bongo of Gabon has made a plea for his release.
In a video that has been circulated and viewed by GOOD EVENING NIGERIA, the embattled president can be heard calling on people to raise awareness about his situation.
The ousted leader, along with members of his family, has been placed under house arrest in the aftermath of the military coup.
The coup took place in the early hours of Wednesday, resulting in the annulment of the election held the previous Saturday, in which Bongo had been declared the winner.
The soldiers responsible for the coup proclaimed the dissolution of all republic institutions and the parliament.
They also closed off Gabon’s borders, citing their actions as a safeguard for the nation’s security and defense forces.
Speaking in the video, President Ali Bongo stated, “I am Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon. I want to send a message to all the friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise for the people here who have arrested me and my family.
“My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place, and I am at the residence. Right now, I am at the residence and nothing is happening.
“I don’t know what is going on, so I am calling you to make noise, to make noise really. I am thanking you.”
This video marks President Bongo’s first public appearance since the military coup unfolded early on Wednesday.
The video below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwktHnEIov6/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
