Emmanuel Adebayor Sparks Controversy with Endorsement of Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé
As Togo gears up for its presidential elections on April 25th, a statement made by Emmanuel Adebayor, the renowned Tottenham striker, has caused quite a stir. In a video released by the campaign team of President Faure Gnassingbé, Adebayor expressed his strong support for the incumbent leader, which has led to a wave of reactions from the public.
In the video, Adebayor, a key figure in Togolese football, stated:
“The country is happier, it has made a lot of progress. My confidence is in Faure Gnassingbé. He is capable of uniting the country to build a great nation.”
While Adebayor’s endorsement of Gnassingbé may be viewed by some as a patriotic gesture, it has sparked outrage on social media. A number of Togolese citizens, many of whom are disappointed by the political system in the country, took to platforms like Twitter to express their displeasure.
Some of the reactions included:
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Kelly Adediha tweeted: “It’s very ugly when people step out of character. Ex: King Mensah, Caro Lonlonyon, Adebayor…”
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Ms. Komassi added: “Anyway, Adebayor supports whoever he wants, it’s his right. But I just feel like I’m in the wrong country listening to them talk.”
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The Seventh Seal commented sarcastically: “Adebayor, it seems, even his French mistakes support Mr Gnassingbe.”
While Adebayor has the right to express his political views, the backlash highlights the polarization of the political climate in Togo. The reactions reflect how football stars can be both influential and controversial when they choose to enter the political realm.
The upcoming elections are bound to be a major point of discussion in Togo, and Adebayor’s support for the current president will likely continue to fuel debate in the lead-up to the vote.
