Microkhan by Brendan I. Koerner

Old-School Strongman Sheds Mortal Coil

June 8th, 2009 · 3 Comments

gabonlimo
Microkhan is big enough to admit when we were wrong. And so we must eat a bit of humble pie regarding Gabonese president Omar Bongo, who apparently wasn’t faking his illness. Last month, we opined that the timing of Bongo’s medical leave seemed curiously perfect, given that he was under French investigation.

Given Bongo’s horrendously kleptocratic ways, we expect a bevy of acerbic British obits (much like the Economist‘s devastating farewell to Prabhakaran). Until that happens, though, let’s shed a single tear for fans of the Stutz Royale Limousine; Bongo owned one of only two in existence. How he managed such luxury while ruling one of the planet’s poorest nation is a question for the ages.

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3 Comments so far ↓

  • Gramsci

    I don’t in any way wish to make light of Gabon’s troubles under Bongo, but with sufficient hydraulics that limo could have put the “It Was a Good Day” video into the stratosphere.

  • Brendan I. Koerner

    @Gramsci: I know, I know–definitely one of the sweetest rides I’ve ever seen. The man may have been greedy and heartless, but he certainly knew how to live in style. Though I’m sure that fact is cold comfort to the citizens of Gabon.

  • Dibs on Miss Peru

    […] as we’d hoped, The Economist decided to memorialize the late Gabonese president Omar Bongo in its current issue. […]