(independantexpress.net)
Brief celebration, no particular enthusiasm, political tension is electric, the social atmosphere is gloomy, the colors of the celebration of the national holiday in Togo are dull. This is not new. Independence in Togo has never experienced a celebration worthy of the name except in the first two years unlike other countries where popular jubilation shakes the populations in various localities. This simply makes observers of the Togolese scene simply say that April 27 in Togo seems to be unlucky. This year at least that the spirits should agree to offer this day its credentials, the health pandemic comes to question once again everything.
Monday was a public holiday, ordinary. No special stamp. You have to watch national television on the 8 p.m. news last Sunday to see the timid solemnity. Head of state Faure Gnassingbé lit the flame of independence with a select group of guests. COVID-19 obliges, distancing itself has prevailed. They were scattered in front of the Monument of Independence to follow the performance of Faure Gnassingbé, in a few minutes. After he got back in his car to take refuge in his comforts, avoiding like any citizen of the present world to be approached to catch the coronavirus.
Monday to the new presidency, same scenario, same sparse setting. Ministers, the office of the National Assembly, heads of institutions of the Republic were the only ones to have been invited to this ceremony of symbolic celebration of the Independence Day.
This year, togo has 60 years of international sovereignty. 60 years of celebration should be the subject of a special stamp. 60 years in the life of a nation deserve to be celebrated in a grand way.
COVID-19 chose this time again to prevent the celebration. An exogenous factor of a day that has always suffered in Togo because of the dissension that animates it.
Sylvanus Olympio is the father of Togo's Independence. It was he who fought against the settlers to obtain international sovereignty in Togo. It was he who raised the Togolese flag in front of a jubilant people and a re-founding international community.
He is the first president of the Republic of Togo whose fate was cut short by Gnassingbé Eyadéma. It was in his manoeuvres on 13 January 1963 that the very first President of the Republic was assassinated. Four years later, he took power to rule with an iron fist for 38 years. It was in 2005 that Mother Nature decided to tear it off to allow Togo to turn the page on a dictatorship harmful to citizens and development.
To consecrate the victory of the assassination, which was brandished as a feat, Gnassingbé Eyadéma made January 13 a national holiday. A "national liberation" festival, it was claimed.
For 38 years, the Togolese people were treated to this bulging celebration that was held in place for independence day.
On April 27, which enshrined the true liberation of Togo, was put on a switch off. Timidly celebrated, sometimes without any particular stamp.
Even after the death of General Eyadema, Togo struggled to get rid of this budgetivorous celebration which was the feast of all fantasies and provocations.
In 2006, after the signing of the comprehensive political agreement between political actors after the electoral folklore after Eyadéma's death, the power of Faure Gnassingbé decided to put the Independence Day back in the saddle by diversifying the celebration by region. The project will be a straw fire. Only one celebrated in Dapaong in a big mess summed up the project.
Since then, despite the 13 January break-in, independence day has always suffered from difficulties in being celebrated.
It is often marred by violence following the double celebration, that of the power in the stands with the parades, and that of the opposition in the streets that blow the tear gas thrown by the security forces.
While the government is today under the sign of festivity and cohesion, the opposition puts it under the sign of protest and demonstrations.
The fathers of independence will probably not have welcomed this cacophony of the celebration of togo's national holiday.
Too many controversies, too many disagreements and misunderstandings, too much quiproquo entur on April 27 in Togo.
Many are wondering how to get by one day.
2020, an election year, is expected to benefit a special 60-year celebration of Togo's independence.
While the political atmosphere is tainted by a badly licked electoral challenge, the health pandemic is coming.
Since 2 April 2020, a state of emergency has been declared in Togo and distancing measures have been taken. Coronavirus obliges, it is almost impossible to gather more than 100 people and clump together. However, a festival, especially national, is celebrated in a popular joy where joys and rejoicings are shared and expressed. The distancing conditions do not allow this. Do not allow April 27, 2020 to be entitled to city.
The day is a public holiday, of course, when everyone should go home from 8 p.m. to respect the curfew.
On 27 April 2020, Togo's Independence Day, it was once again a victim of modesty not to be celebrated. This time under the natural effect of the global pandemic.
Decidedly, togo's Independence Day is unlucky and refuses to please itself.
The Togolese authorities should put back on a pedestal this celebration which should bring together and reconcile all Togolese.
The general states of Togo's independence should allow us to think about how to celebrate the holiday. What are the cumbersome factors of the celebration, what are the negative burdens, what steps should be taken to ward off the bad luck that prevents the festive celebration of Togo's independence.
An evaluation involving researchers, political figures, historians, guarantors of customs and customs, men and women in love with patriotism who should therefore sit down and reflect on April 27, the date of Togo's independence.
Otherwise, it is a curse that the date of a country's independence, 60 years later continues to suffer the spectre of bad luck that compromises its celebration.
www.independantexpress.net
Carlos KETOHOU