By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA—HUMAN rights group, West African Civil Society Forum, WACSOF, yesterday, endorsed a resolution by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, leaders to forcefully remove embattled Cote d’ Ivoiren President, Laurent Gbagbo, from office should he ignorescurrent soft-landing measures provided him.

WACSOF, which stated this through a statement issued by its Chairperson, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, in Abuja, however, enjoined the people of Cote d’Ivoire to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and combating the electoral coup d’état of Mr. Laurent Gbagbo.

Dr. Ibrahim said: “WACSOF supports the resolve of ECOWAS to use all possible means, including force, to enforce the principles of ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance.”

Commending efforts of ECOWAS and the international community to restore peace and democracy in Côte d’Ivoire, the group noted that “it is clear to the whole world that the decision of the Constitutional Council is not based on law.”

He said: “We, the West African Civil Society Forum, WACSOF, hope fervently that this first day of 2011 will open doors to a peaceful resolution of the crisis provoked by the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to step down after losing power in credible elections that took place last year.

“Since the final election results were declared on December 3 last year, the country has been plunged into unprecedented political crisis. The country has two ‘presidents,’ Alassane Dramane Ouattara who was declared winner of the second round with 54 per cent of the votes. This figure was confirmed by the United Nations Mission, which has the mandate to certify the results.

“In addition, the international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union, the United States, France and the European Union have accepted these results. The other is Laurent Gbagbo, declared winner by the Constitutional Council with 51 per cent of votes. Following the declaration, there has been an escalation of violence against supporters of Alassane D. Ouattara by forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo.

Economic crisis
“The consequences of these actions can be disastrous, according to the United Nations, 170 people have already been killed and many more people have disappeared. Economic crisis is worsening endemic poverty and social cohesion is being ruptured. Mediation efforts have been blocked by Gbagbo’s refusal to accept Ouattara’s victory.

“Of nine departments after the elections on grounds that irregularities occurred therein. However, the principle of annulment enshrined in Article 64, section one of Act N° 2000_514 of August 2000 on presidential elections is specific and allows only for the entire votes in the country to be annulled and not selective votes.

“Virtually the entire observers of the elections, national, regional, continental and international have been of the view the second round, like the first round of the election was credible. Following the second round, Laurent Gbagbo has blocked free access to state media and used them to promote hate speech and justify human rights abuses.

“WACSOF salutes the efforts of ECOWAS and the international community to restore peace and democracy in Côte d’Ivoire.