Togo's opposition parties strategise for elections

Lome, March 07, GNA - Some supporters of Togo's opposition parties have expressed scepticism about the ability of opposition forces to unite and win the April elections.

These supporters are of the view that the opposition forces should merge and support one presidential candidate or the opportunity could be lost.

In a survey the GNA conducted in the Togolese capital on Saturday, respondents said separate candidates would divide the opposition front and create a leeway for the Togo Peoples Rally (RPT) to win the elections.

Atchoukli Donatiene, a teacher, said what was important now was annexing power from the RPT to pave way for restructuring the Togolese political system.

"Individualism among our political parties must quickly give way to concrete agenda to save the Togolese people," he said. Madam Justin Akpakli, a trader, said efforts of ECOWAS and the African Union would not make much difference if the opposition failed to get stronger under a single candidate.

She said the opposition in Togo should take a cue from countries where opposition unity led to the defeat of entrenched leaders. Simone Okoe, a university student, appealed to neighbouring countries to play a more proactive role in making sure the transitional process was clean and devoid of any machinations.

He said Ghana and Burkina Faso, for example, would be doing disservice to themselves if they failed to guide the Togolese transition process to a successful end.

An attempt to seek the view of Prof Leopold Gninivin, a spokesman of the opposition forces, could not materialise, as he was not available at his Democratic Convention of African People (CDPA) secretariat at Ahanoukope.

A source close to the party, who wants to remain anonymous, said opposition parties were avoiding mistakes made in the past in order to win the elections.

"The consideration for a single candidate is strong on the table," he said.

He said the inability of ECOWAS to insist on the reinstatement of Prof Ouatara Natchaba, the deposed Speaker of the Togolese Parliament, was a major setback to the transitional process.

The source said the installation of Mr Abass Bonfoh as the interim President was orchestrated by the RPT with the intention of manipulating the process to the advantage of Faure Gnassingbe, son of late President Gnassingbe Eyadema.

"Natchaba was opposed because he was incongruous to their course. ECOWAS must be resolute so as to win the admiration of the entire world at the end of the day".

Prof Natchaba, who returned to Togo at the weekend accompanied by Mathiew Kerekou, President of the Republic of Benin, where he was held up for a month, was said to have indicated his readiness to assume the position of Interim President.

Under Togo's constitution, the Speaker of Parliament is to become interim President on the death of the President and presidential elections held within 60 days.

However, on the death of President Eyadema the military installed Faure but intense international pressure forced him to step down. 07 March 05