In a heated speech, General Brice Oligui Nguema, the new strongman of Gabon, denounced corruption among state contractors and exhorted corporate executives to contribute to the “development of the country.”
Next Monday, the military who toppled Gabon’s 55-year Bongo dynasty will take office as interim president.
He called a gathering of 200 Gabonese businessmen on Thursday when he railed against companies who overcharge for their services. On Friday, state television aired the remarks.
In order to pay high-ranking government officials bribes in exchange for state contracts, opponents of the overthrown regime sometimes accused contractors with ties to the administration of grossly overbilling.
When it comes to the progress that our countrymen anticipate, it is impossible to discern your dedication or patriotism at this point, Nguema remarked, promising to see to it that the money that was overcharged “comes back to the state.”
“I will not tolerate this situation,” you said. “It cannot go on like this.”
The ousted president’s son Noureddin Bongo Valentin and other jailed officials were also seen on national television standing in front of luggage purportedly containing cash that had been taken from their residences.
They have been charged by the military with treason, theft, corruption, and forging the president’s signature, among other offences.
