Togo: Gnassingbe must have exhausted his ideas – Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe to step down “unless he has something new” for his people.

This is following the continued protest against the 12-year rule of President Gnassingbe by some Togolese in the country’s opposition party.

The Owu Chief made this known in an interview with BBC, adding that the county should have a new constitution that will reduce the years or term a President will stay in power.

The former President’s position is in tandem with the demands of the protesters who are seeking a review of the country’s constitution to limit the terms a President will be in power.

Recall that President Gnassingbe who has been in power for 12 years in power took over from his father ruled Togo for 38 years. Thus, Chief Obasanjo advised the Togolese President to step down, saying he believes President Gnassingbe “must have exhausted whatever ideas he has.”

According to Obasanjo, “I believe that President Gnassingbe will have to do something about it (the protests),” he said.

“I believe they should have a new constitution that will have a limit to the number of terms anybody can be president and he should abide by that.

“I [also] believe whatever he has to do in terms of development, whatever ideas he has, he must have exhausted them by now. Unless he has something new that we don’t know.

“After twelve to fifteen years, some of them (African leaders) up to thirty…and maybe, if you don’t leave office, office will leave you.”