As Guinea Faces 2nd Round ElectionsCourtesy Zegbela Togba Pivi, aminata.com
African strongmen sometimes left bitter feelings on the minds of those who might have opposed them politically. In Most, if not all, human societies, the deeds of a man may live long after him to hunt his children and relatives or become embarrassment to them. In political terms, such past wrongs are easily forgiven when remorse is shown and pardon sought. This is rarely the case as people are found of the habit to justifying the past or conceal the embarrassment their revelation may cause. As our Staff reports on, the First President of Guinea is viewed by others, especially those who might have opposed him, or on whose toes he might have stepped, as a less favorable figure. His son is now said to be wrapped up in a court case that was filed against the family for his alleged challenge of those who claimed being victims of his late father.
Reports coming from Guinea suggest a number of developments in that country since the publication of the final results of presidential elections on 27 June by the Supreme Court, two days ago, as public opinion continues to churn out questions about the date of the second round.
Legally, it must act on the fifteenth day after the ruling of the Supreme Court
This would lead us to Wednesday, August 4, 2010
But precisely at this level, debates have raged between the different actors.
At the INEC, the designated organizer of the poll, the willingness to respect the date is clearly displayed.
One of the officials said on Wednesday, that the campaigns “for the second round is legally open since the day after the announcement of the results set. In the view of this, there remains the publication of a writ of voters by the President of the transition and regulation by the CNC of airtime between the two candidates.
And back to the day itself, many people involved in the process believe that on August 8 that occurs in the old month of Ramadan, would be indicated, failing to reduce it by 1 August. The INEC, failing to meet legal deadlines, wants the poll to take place in a period as short as possible. The Chief of Department of information and awareness, Mr Bayo, told reporters.
One the other, he displays a genuine desire to finish with the transition in the shortest time possible. But meanwhile, the end of recess should be hissed at government level to stop the financial drain and the settling of accounts between senior managers through personal decrees and other orders or decrees-cons, likely to tarnish the image of the nation and create problems for the next Government.
The candidates themselves, according to the different staffs, are waiting for the date laid down on the ground for the campaign, before they sharpen the weapons of campaigns, to win back voters. It wants the best win for the good of the country.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Toure, the son of the late Ahmed Sekou Toure, the first president of independent Guinea, was arrested recently at the Court of First Instance (CFI) Mafanco.
He was summoned to a hearing on the complaint of a daughter of the late Barry Diawandou, a victim of the revolution.
According to report, it all started with one of the statements allegedly made by Mohamed Toure recently that he would reply to all the facts that anyone who accuses his late father. It was after this remark, according to the report, that the daughter of Barry Diawandou has decided to complain to the CFI for crimes of Mafanco.
The case looks at once banal and trivial. If goods which constitute the legacy are bequeathed to a son easily and with fame, could the same hold for atrocities allegedly committed by a father?
And then, in this case, the story goes back, the murder of Barry Diawandou in 1968, while Mohamed Toure was only 6 years old, he who was born in 1962. The case is ongoing. The CFI Mafanco faces an unusual situation.
