He had invoked the privilege of age to justify giving his speech from his seat. Certainly a good speech, very well led, which had drawn the parallel between the policy followed in terms of welcoming foreigners by the initiator of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny prize and the last winner of this prize, the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She had welcomed more than a million refugees to her country in 2015. We were all about to applaud this beautiful speech when… Kpo! We heard what is called in Ivory Coast a "kokota". It is a sharp blow given on the head of someone with the folded middle finger. It usually hurts a lot. He said: "I also have a thought for my country, Ivory Coast, which is still struggling to engage in a frank and sincere dialogue between all its sons and daughters, to build a lasting peace, at the service of the happiness of its populations and those of West Africa." And Bam ! Obviously, the group of his activists who were present in the room applauded him wildly. Some would have called it a lack of elegance. Because all over the world, there are times, like this February 8, when all of Ivory Coast was gathered around the memory of the "founding father", when political politics is left aside. Especially when it is totally unproductive. But Grandpa couldn't help it. Privilege of age again or just to savor the “kokota” he had just given? He began to dance during the performance of Magic System. As he had done when Guillaume Soro visited him in his principality of Daoukro.
In all regions of our country, grandchildren can play with grandfather, chat with him, heckle him. So, privilege of age, let's talk to him. Grandpa, since the end of the crisis in 2011, past the attempts to destabilize power orchestrated by relatives of the old regime who lived in exile, what has endangered peace in this country? It was your coup attempt disguised as civil disobedience, with the creation of a surreal National Transitional Council that you led. All the chancelleries you contacted at the time told you that they could not support such a grotesque thing as this CNT, which in all countries of the world would have led its authors to prison. But, privilege of age obliges, Grandpa, you were left free. What threatens peace in this country today, which requires the establishment of this frank and sincere dialogue of which you speak? The next elections? How do municipal and regional governments threaten our restored tranquility? For a long time we were told about the necessary dialogue, the necessary release of Simone Gbagbo, the necessary return of Laurent Gbagbo, then of Blé Goudé, so that there is the necessary reconciliation in this country. All of this has been achieved. Akossi Bendjo, Mabri Toikeusse and all those who had left the country have returned. We talked about the rent that had to be paid to Laurent Gbagbo. He pocketed it. What else now? The return of Guillaume Soro? Does he want it himself? Has he taken any steps in this direction, he who, according to certain information, would have recently visited Russia? My own impression is that he only wishes to return triumphantly, as the new caliph in place of the caliph. What is the other big problem that remains to be solved, Grandpa?
So stop blackmailing us with dialogue and reconciliation. All that some are really looking for is that we end up with a unity government so that everyone is … at the restaurant. Stop distracting us and speak loudly so we can hear you. Otherwise, since Grandpa wants his dialogue, he therefore uses the privilege of his age to establish a dialogue between his ally Laurent Gbagbo and Simone his legitimate wife, as well as between him and the one who was considered his son, Blé Goudé, and also with his former Prime Minister and President of his party, Affi N'guessan. If Grandpa wants to become president again, let him say so too and prepare for 2025. But above all, let him work to stop the bleeding that is emptying his party. To his supporters who speak of the pressure suffered by those who leave their ship, let us explain to them that no one, apart from the migrants who want to flee their countries at all costs, no one wants to sail on an old tub that takes water from all sides and which visibly will flow. Objectively, who still believes in the chances of the PDCI led by Papi or in those of the PPA-CI of Laurent Gbagbo to win the presidential election of 2025? For what reason does a grassroots militant, or an executive of a party, militate? Because he hopes for a possible victory for his party that would change the life of the nation and his own. Why do we want him to stay in a party that no longer offers him that hope? What hope do the PDCI and the PPA-CI offer today, when everyone sees what Alassane Ouattara is doing? And we are surprised that senior executives of these parties go to the party of Alassane Ouattara? You too !
By Venance Konan
*This article has been translated from French into English by Marcus Boni Teiga
