The Gambian community in Belgium on Tuesday handed over a petition to H.E Tenneng Mba Jaiteh, Head of Mission in Brussels, calling on outgoing President Yahya Jammeh to accept the will of the people and facilitate a smooth handover of power to President-elect Adama Barrow on January 19th, 2017.
It could be recalled that the Brussels Mission and its head Tenneng Mba Jaiteh is among the 11 Gambian Ambassadors who jointly sent a letter to Mr Jammeh calling him to step down when his term ends on January 19th, 2017.
Handing over the petition on behalf of the Association, Pa Modou Faal, Secretary General of the Association also raised concern over the recent announcement by the Inspector General of Police that people should demand permit for convoys on the public roads saying they find it troubling and bias and called on the IGP to reverse such decision.
Below is the full message contained in the petition;
PETITION: GAMBIA HAS DECIDED
The Gambian Community in Belgium hereby join the rest of the world in condemning the statement made by the outgoing President of The Republic of The Gambia calling for the nullification of the December 2nd election results. As Gambians living in the Diaspora and could not vote, we stand in solidarity with the Gambian electorates recognizing the results as the will of the Gambian people.
It is the sole responsibility of the outgoing President to avoid chaos in the country and should therefore facilitate a smooth transition of power to President Elect Adama Barrow. As the country’s peace and stability hangs in the balance, threats of military intervention from regional institutions are eminent and will result in so many casualties.
The recent announcement by the Inspector General of Police demanding permit for any convoy on the public roads has come to all concerned Gambians as a surprise since it is only the Coalition who drives in a convoy at the moment. This we find troubling and bias and therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police to reverse such decision.
We also expect professionalism and patriotism from members of the security. They should know that Gambians have decided to change leadership and the will of the people remains unchanged. The Only resort was at the Supreme Court and The Gambia Bar Association has made it clear that there had been no sitting judges since May 2015. Members of the Bar have pending cases at the Supreme Court and it has never come to their attention that judges have been appointed.
The peace and tranquility of The Gambia supersedes all other interest of any individual or group. The history we write today will be irreversible and indelible hence the need to continue to nurture the peace and stability the Gambia is known for. In order to achieve this, it is in the best interest of outgoing President Yahya Jammeh, his Executive, the APRC party, the Supreme Court and all Gambians to accept the December 2nd results and work towards inaugurating President Elect Adama Barrow on January 19th 2017.
We hope that this petition can bring change in the current political impasse of our dear motherland and touch the hearts of those who wants bring the Gambia into turmoil.
For The Gambia, Our Homeland…..Let Justice Guide Our Actions….To The Gambia Ever True.
By Alhagie Jobe
