In a scathing open letter addressed to the mayor of Port-Bouët, Sylvestre Emmou, citizen Oupoh Laurent vigorously defends the Autonomous District of Abidjan. He denounces what he calls "bad faith" and political manipulation surrounding the sensitive issue of evictions.

Administrative arithmetic versus political posturing

For Oupoh Laurent, the recent media appearance of the mayor of Port-Bouët is a staged event. Reviewing the timeline of correspondence between the town hall and the District, the author sets the record straight: a letter submitted on June 1, 2026, by the mayor received an official response from the District on Monday, June 8, after only four business days of processing.

"Four working days to read and process one piece of mail among hundreds of others is a perfectly respectable diligence," the contributor points out, noting that the District of Abidjan manages a much larger flow of correspondence than a municipality.

The double game of silence

What the author criticizes is the contrast between the elected official's public outrage and the reality of his actions. While Sylvestre Emmou welcomed the District's response, he simultaneously continued to fuel the controversy in the media, denouncing alleged "contempt" and a "lack of dialogue."

Even worse, Oupoh Laurent points out a blatant contradiction: while the mayor accuses the District of having delayed, he himself has remained silent for more than 48 hours in response to the reply received, preferring to speak in front of microphones rather than through official administrative channels.

The urgency of the substance in the face of the theater of public opinion

Beyond the administrative turf war, the article highlights the real issues at stake in this confrontation: the management of flood zones, the safety of Abidjan's population during the rainy season, and the relocation of affected families.

By assuming the role of "defender of the oppressed" in the face of a District portrayed as insensitive, the mayor of Port-Bouët would, according to the author, be engaging in "petty politics" to the detriment of the general interest.

In conclusion, Oupoh Laurent invites the mayor to show "wisdom and maturity", reminding him that public opinion knows how to differentiate between media hype and genuine public service.