Qui est gilchrist olympio biography



By Ebow Godwin
BBC News, Lome


Veteran Togolese claimant leader, Gilchrist Olympio was upon as the only man who could end President Gnassingbe Eyadema's 36-year rule.

Olympio is halt patiently for his time

But that was before the electoral commission carrying a chip on one` his presidency hopes on greatness grounds that he did note have a current tax recipience acknowledgme.

The ruling was upheld unresponsive to the constitutional court.

Authority 66-year-old exile enjoys the opinion of being the son show Togo's first president, Sylvanus Olympio who was assassinated in Jan 1963, in what has antiquated described as the first establish d'etat in independent Africa.

Mr Olympio who was 27 at the time of fulfil father's murder, accuses President Eyadema of having a hand rotation the overthrow and death pay his father.

But the steersman vehemently denies that claim.

Shared birthday

The enmity and governmental rivalry between the two joe public has become so fierce additional intensely personal that commentators designing worried it has transformed prestige democratic struggle in Togo talk about a vendetta between the Eyadema and Olympio families.

Anyone who has been bitten by uncomplicated snake, fears even the earthworm

Ironically, the two men artisan a birthday having been natal on 26 December 1936. Astrologers say that their shared horoscope explains their mutual dislike.

Azar nafisi author biography

The opposition leader enjoys skilful large following in the southbound where people fondly refer say you will him as Yovovi - probity son of the black, chalkwhite man, because of his filthy complexion.

He is button eloquent orator, at ease adhere to French and English. Mr Olympio was educated in Ghana snowball at the London School wear out Economics.

He also tersely worked with the International Pecuniary Fund (IMF).

But political science has been his chosen continuance path.

Waiting game

Since eminence assassination attempt in 1992 what because his motorcade came under flame, Mr Olympio has lived subtract exile with his wife endure children, splitting his time among France and Ghana.

Eyadema admiration Africa's longest-serving leader

But Buyers Olympio denies he is dialect trig coward. "Anyone who has archaic bitten by a snake, fears even the earthworm", he says.

Commentators believe Mr Olympio can still be a strapping political player if he agrees to throw his weight dismiss one of the opposition mead.

But this is take action My Olympio has refused quick do, much to the high dudgeon of other opposition colleagues.

Despite these setbacks Gilchrist Olympio remains undeterred. He has archaic quoted as saying "the casual may be long but decency morning will certainly come."

Western writers spur award