By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The ousted President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, has declined pressure to tender his resignation one year after a military coup led by Abdourahamane Tchiani ousted a democratically elected government.
Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, have been detained at the presidential residence since last October and isolated from the outside world except for regular visits from his doctor.
The military junta had stripped him of immunity, paving way for his trial for offences of treason, which is punishable by death, in addition to other alleged crimes.
But despite this, he has held on, refusing to officially resign from office.
Bazoum and his wife have also been denied access from telephone, in addition to restriction of visitors apart from his physician who also brings him food and books.
Despite these conditions, Bazoum is determined not to resign.
A former philosophy professor, he finds solace in reading extensively, from classic authors like Shakespeare and Tolstoy to contemporary writers like Romain Gary.
He also reads political works, such as Dominique Moïsi’s “The Triumph of Emotions.”
Even after a malaria bout weakened him in detention, Bazoum remains steadfast in his resolve.
The Tchiani-led junta has given no timeline for a return to civilian rule.
Heritage Times HT reports that Bazoum’s lawyer, Moussa Coulibaly, had raised concern that the former head of state could face death penalty.
The lifting of Bazoum’s immunity “possibly implies that he will be judged by a special court which will be neither independent nor impartial and he risks the death penalty by shooting if convicted”, the lawyer said.
