In Togo, ten years of opposition politics have been a failure. The party leaders still lack to assume their differences. The "Coalition of democratic forces" groups gather "administrative or opportunist" leaders who expect to be representative of Western capitalist interests and "sovereigns or nationalist " leaders fighting for democratic rule. More than political pathways and interpersonal conflicts between the former and the latter, Togolese politic leaders seem to be these political animals that are really sick of power. When announced, the presidential elections agenda excite their weakened strategies and calculations.
From the 5th to the 10th of November 2002, we have consulted Togolese opinion. We have addressed five questions to 250 grassroot adult people, 15 men and 10 women, living in the Regions (Tsévié, Atakpamé, Kara, Dapaong, Sokodé) and urban surroundings (Aného, Badou, Kpalimé, Lomé and Mango). Here are the results.
Question 1.- Should Togolese opposition boycott the 2003 Presidential election?
Response: Yes = 5%; No = 78%; Without opinion = 17%;
Question 2.- Must all party leaders be candidates to the 2003 Presidentials?
Response: Yes = 5%; No = 83%; None = 2%; Reforming = 4%; UFC = 61%; Without opinion = 3%;
Question 3.- Must the opposition be unified for the 2003 Presidentials?
Response: Yes = 92%; No = 2%; Without opinion = 6%;
Question 4.- Should there be only one candidate for the whole opposition parties?
Response: Yes 87% =; No = 4%; Without opinion = 9%;
Question 5.- The opposition candidate is a member of the following party:
Response: CAR = 9%; CDPA = 11%; CPP = 3; PDR = 7%; Reformers = 6%; UFC = 61%; Without opinion = 3%;
This consultation reveals that Togolese voters reject former politic leaders, as well as the RPT or the opposition parties. Historic leaders are disqualified politically speaking. Because of the failure of the opposition politics, we have completed above information with qualitative investigations. In regard to grassroot people's expectations, we undertook futuristic research, by enunciating optimist and negative hypotheses. In politics, as well as in economy, future is not raised by determinism or chance, but by anticipation (construction). To foresee political future, means " to raise up early ". This process supposes to enquiry passed in radical and anticipation way. So one give up flimsy and ambitionessless present. Then the future becomes possible as utopia or disillusion through anticipation, but not under passive expectation.
The experience of the last decade and the current situation in Togo compel opposition leaders to mobilize people, their main political resource, as soon as possible. Doing so, it would be possible to realize the wishes of change number of citizens now express. A lot of individuals aspire to be key actors in the democratic process. Nevertheless, because of multiple and contradictory interests, the Prospective approach must pronounce choices, priority and finality to be reached. The above analysis indicates the necessity to demystify the power of the state while starting with the leaders. Voters avoid historic leaders running the 2003 presidential election, as a way to sustain domestic peace. Opposition leaders have to mobilize people in favour of only one " elected " candidate. In fact the political power is in a way messianique, since it is an "Elected" that one confirms at the position of head of state during elections. To humiliate Africans, Western liberals use to "elect" and establish one servant to power. But, the oppressor enjoys the complicity of the oppressed. It is time oppositions stop constituting themselves as victims. We do publish prospective governance because of the cry coming from Togolese. Doing so, we expect Togo will indeed stand up against surrealism.
- Candidate as Head of State : M. Jean-Pierre FABRE (UFC)
- Minister of National Defense M. J-P.- FABRE (UFC)
- Minister of Interior and Decentralization: M. D. PERE (Rénovateurs)
- Minister of Finance and Economie M. A. FOLLY (UDS-Togo)
- Minister of National Education M. A. GOGUE (ADDI)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: M. H. KOLANI (PDR)
- Minister of Justice: M. G. AIDAM (CAR)
- Minister of Scientific Research M…………… (CPP)
- Minister of Trade and Transport M……………. (PDR)
- Minister of Work and Investment Cies M……………. (CPP)
- Minister of Public Health: M. ABI (PSR)
- Minister of Rural Development: M……………. (ADDI)
- Minister of Environment: M. E. GU-KONU (CDPA-BT)
- Minister of Professionnal Teaching M……………. (CPP)
- Minister of Informal Sector and Retraits M/Mme……… (Rénovateurs)
- Minister of Culture, Citizenship + Sport M……………. (CPP)
- Minister of Human Rights Mme ADUAYOM (CDPA-BT)
- Minister of Communication M. H. AFAN (CAR)
Geneva, Switzerland, November 25, 2002
N.O.R.A.T. (Nouvel Observatoire des Réalités Africaines et Togolaises)
