Monday, July 27, 2009

"Where is the money of the people?"

"Where is the money of the people? The people of Lopongo is struggling, but our leaders are not spending the oil money we were promised to receive? Global recession? Trade collapse? It doesn't matter! It is the earth of Lopongo; it is the oil of Lopongo; it is the money of the people! Where is the money?"

In an unprecedented indictment of the the political leadership of the country, Ovisto Laluche, spiritual leader of the LECCA Party, denounced today the delays in implementing the oil deal which was supposed to be signed months ago between Lopongo and the multinational Canistracci Oil. Apparently, despite a tentative agreement reached in December, the parties failed to sign a contract in the first half of 2009; authorities in Banda has maintained a strict "no comment" on the status of the relationship between Kwanto Sei Bruto's government and Canistracci. There is no evidence that any payment associated with the deal has ever been paid to the African country.

Today, in a sermon of unusual verbal violence, Ovisto Laluche denounced the silence by the government, and the ambiguities that followed December announcement. Analysts do not expect such a pronouncement to remain without a follow-up, and expect soon development on Lopongo political scene, after the complete paralysis that followed the December 2008 announcement.

In particular, the leaders of the Makeni party LAID, Mo Kefai and Mobuto Labomba, are likely to react vigorosuly to what appears like an attempt by Laluche to shift the political balance in favor of LECCA. The weakening of the economy, and the failure to execute the oil deal that was supposed to be a boon for the the economy of Eastern Lopongo, have resulted in widespread disappointment in the leadership of LAID. Anecdotal reports suggest that public support in the Makeni region (Ouidah, Port Durame, Parakou) is now turning toward Ovisto Laluche and the LECCA Party, which is not represented in Banda's parliament. Apparently, in today's sermon, Ovisto is rolling the dice and preparing an open challenge to LAID and to president Kwanto.