‘No force on earth can stop the inauguration except God’- Mai Fatty
Lawyer Mai Ahmed Fatty, a leading figure in the coalition team has said nothing can stop the inauguration of President-elect Barrow on the 19th January.
“There is no force on earth to stop the inauguration of President-elect Barrow not Jammeh or APRC supporters except God,” Lawyer Fatty insisted.
Speaking to journalist at a press conference held at Kairaba Beach, Lawyer Fatty argued that the ruling party may file a thousand injunctions in the court but it cannot stop the inauguration of President-elect Barrow from taking place.
Lawyer Fatty said the mandate of the people have shifted to the President-elect. He argued that the entire membership of the coalition have conducted itself in accordance with the law. He further argued that the failure of the outgoing President to empaneled the court which he said was not their difficulty but was the president’s own challenge, adding that the actions of the APRC supporters at the court was very illegal and disrespectful to the laws of the highest court of the country.
“The Supreme Court has its rules that are grounded. It states that at least five judges must preside over a matter,” Fatty pointed out.
The seasoned lawyer questioned the legality of a single judge to sit over a matter to the point of adjourning it. “How does he adjourn it? Did he have the jurisdiction? Jurisdiction is key in administering justice,” he stated.
However, Lawyer Fatty said he was not trying to interfere into the merits of the case which he said is not allow but noted that they were provoked by the remarks of the alleged Minister of Information Seedy Njie who has told the international media the filing of the petition has empowered the outgoing president to stay in power untill May. He rubbished his statements as baseless, unfounded and lacked wisdom.
“They are trying to preempt the court that is not yet empaneled and the law has specified that the petition should be treated not more than 30 days” he said.
Lawyer Fatty said the Supreme Court is not yet fully constituted as the judges are yet to arrive and sworn-in. He added that the matter cannot be heard until sometime in May by that time president-elect would be president as Jammeh’s term would expire in January 19th.
Lawyer Fatty has pointed out that the filing of petition is not different from ordinary petition in court, saying that filing thousand injunctions cannot stop the inauguration. He said the petition does not affect them because they are not party to the case.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Fatty called on supporters to prepare and come out in their large numbers to grace the occasion at the Independence Stadium on the 19th, 2017. He reminded that nothing would stop them not even a so-called state of emergency. He said they would respect the laws of the land but not directives or whatever from any individual.
Jammeh’s attorney files Court injunction to stop President-election Barrow been sworn-in
Edward Gomez, the Attorney of Defiant outgoing President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC party on Thursday, filed at the Supreme Court, an interlocutory injunction to stop the swearing in of the country’s President-elect Adama Barrow.
This is another attempt by outgoing President Jammeh and his party to stay in power after been defeated in the December polls. Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court which was supposed to sit over his election results petition announced that it could not proceed with the matter because there is no judge to constitute the court that has not been functioning for the past 2 years.
In an eight page interlocutory injunction, Outgoing President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC Party are seeking the Court to restrain the Chief Justice of The Gambia, his agents, servants, workers, employees or any person acting in judicial or quasi-judicial capacity from swearing-in and /or inaugurating Adama Barrow as President of the Republic of the Gambia on the 19th day of January 2017 or any other date pending the determination of the petition of the petitioner/Applicant before the Honourable Court.
The petitioner is also seeking for the court to restrain the President of the Republic of The Gambia, the government of the Republic of The Gambia, its agents, servants, workers, employees or any person acting in whatever capacity from preparing, arranging, organizing, conducting, partaking or participating in any manner or form in the swearing-in and /or inauguration of Adama Barrow as President of the Republic of The Gambia on the 19th day of January 2017 or any other date pending the determination of the petition of the petitioner/Applicant before the court.
“An order of interlocutory injunction restraining the National Assembly of The Gambia, its Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Honourable Members, Clerk of the National Assembly, agents servants, workers, employees of the National Assembly, or any person acting in whatever capacity from swearing-in and or inaugurating or preparing , arranging, organizing, conducting, partaking or participating in any manner of form in the swearing-in and /or inauguration of Adama Barrow as President of the Republic of The Gambia on the 19th day of January, 2017, or any other date pending the determination of the petition of the petitioner/Applicant before this Honorable Court” the petitioner is seeking from the Court.
The Petitioner is further seeking the court to restrain any organ of the government of the Republic of The Gambia, any domestic, regional or international body, group or organization, their agents, servants, workers, employees, any person acting in whatever capacity from swearing-in and or inaugurating or preparing, arranging, organizing, conducting, partaking or participating in any manner or form in the Republic of The Gambia on the 19th day of January, 2017 or any other date pending the determination of the petition of the petitioner/Applicant before the court.
“An order restraining Adama Barrow from Presenting himself before the Honourable Chief Justice of The Gambia or any judicial or quasi-judicial officer or any person in whatever capacity whatsoever for swearing-in or inauguration as President of the Republic of The Gambia on the 19th day of January, 2017, or any other date pending the determination of the petition of the petitioner/Applicant before this Honourable Court” the petition further stated.
Gambia: Opposition Spokesman Responds To Jammeh
Halifa Sallah, spokesman of the Gambia’s opposition coalition has again reminded President Yahya Jammeh that he has got no power under the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia to stop next week’s inauguration of Adama Barrow as the country’s third president.
Mr Jammeh’s mandate is due to expire on January 18th following his surprised defeat in last month’s election by former property developer, Adama Barrow.
The results are being challenge at the supreme court by Mr Jammeh after initially conceding defeat and praising the country’s electoral system as rigged proof.
Unfortunately for him, the court is unable to hold a hearing until May – as most of the judges come from neighbouring countries – and Mr Jammeh has said he is going nowhere until then.
But Halifa Sallah, spokesman of the opposition coalition said it is neither in line with law nor common sense for a loser to have the right to abrogate or suspend the right of the victor until an election petition is determined.
He said Mr Barrow was declared duly elected by the country’s electoral commission which is empowered by the constitution to hold elections and declare a winner.
“The office of President-elect Barrow has made it absolutely clear that the exercise of the right to file an election petition by the loser does not deprive the winner of the right to prepare for inauguration as president of the republic on 19 January 2017,” Mr Sallah said.
“The constitution states that the person declared elected as president shall take the prescribed oath and assume office on the day the term of office of the incumbent president expires. I think this is very clear. I think there is no possibility of distortion.
“The status of an election petition should be regarded as a peripheral issue and should, therefore, not hamper any preparation for the inauguration.”
Barrow’s office rectifies Jammeh over Constitution misquotations in Tuesday mid-night message
The Office of the President-elect Adama Barrow has put the records straights following incumbent Yahya Jammeh’s Tuesday’s late night national address in which he misquoted the constitution to suit him as he continues to insist on to power after been defeated in December Polls ending his 22 years in power.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the office of the incoming President said it deemed it important to put the record straight as the statement of President Yahya Jammeh has not distinguished technicality and fact and has not quoted what the Constitution says before drawing conclusions.
Below is the full statement;
STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT ELECT ADAMA BARROW ON THE 10th JANUARY STATEMENT OF THE INCUMBENT
The statement of the Outgoing President calling for dialogue is done at the right time. The Chief Justice had also added his voice to that of the National Assembly in calling for dialogue between stakeholders to settle differences before the expiration of the term of office of the incumbent.
It is, however, important to put the record straight. The statement of the incumbent has not distinguished technicality and fact and has not quoted what the Constitution says before drawing conclusions.
First and foremost, all polling and counting agents who were present at each polling station knew the results of the votes cast at each polling station and had the power to order the recounting of Ballot tokens before accepting any result from each of the polling stations. Parties had possibility of knowing the results before they were announced by the IEC. The fact is known to all the parties even if some have technical concerns.
The Office of President Elect Barrow, therefore, would like to convey to the general public, with sincerity and honesty, that he was declared a winner after the conduct of free and fair Presidential Election regardless of the technicalities that may have emerged in the declaration of the results.
The Courts could determine what led to the declaration of two results. However, it is evident that none of the results challenged the established fact that Adama Barrow won the 1st December 2016 Presidential Election.
The Second point that needs clarification is the following claim from the incumbent:
“As our Constitution provides, only the Supreme Court can review our challenge and only the Supreme Court can declare anyone President and so I ask each and everyone of us to respect the Supreme Law of the Republic and await the Supreme Court Review and Ruling on the Election Results.”
This statement is at variance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Section 43 (2) of the Constitution states without any ambiguity or uncertainty that:
“The commission shall announce the results of all elections and referendum for which it is responsible.”
This is why the IEC announced the results of the 1st December Presidential Elections and declared Adama Barrow the winner.
It goes without saying that Section 63 (2) of the Constitution unequivocally states that:
“The person declared elected as President shall take the prescribed oaths and assume office on the day the term of office of the incumbent President expires.”
It is therefore clear that the person who is declared Elected as President by the IEC should be sworn in when the term of office of the Outgoing President expires.
The term of Office is clearly stipulated in the Constitution.
“The term of Office of an Elected President shall, subjected to Subsections 3 and 6 be for a term of five years and the person Elected President shall before assuming office take the prescribed oaths’’.
Outgoing President Jammeh has a Five year mandate. He cannot exceed his mandate. He is not declared Elected and is not mandated to succeed himself. This is the simple and unalloyed truth.
The Gambia has gone through peaceful Elections as provided for by Section 46 of the constitution which states “There shall be an Election for the Office of President in the three months before the expiration of the term of the incumbent President”.
Election has taken place according to law. The winner has been declared according to law and Election petition is filed by the loser. The winner should prepare for inauguration while the loser prepares for Court. This is the fact that no Gambian should deny or put under the carpet.
Dialogue is necessary to reach mutual understanding on the peaceful way forward. The Office of the President Elect is now waiting for the initiatives of the Secretary General who is appointed Mediator General of the Government.
The decision to release those arrested in connection with political matters and the commitment not to effect new arrests are steps in the right direction.
It is hoped that this would be extended to all those in detention without trial prior to the Election period.
It is also hoped that all media houses that are closed down would be allowed to operate and cover the divergent views that would enrich the debate on the way forward.
The open arms extended to brother and sister Presidents from ECOWAS, the OIC, AU and the UN for their kind words and support to The Gambia will also facilitate mediation efforts from all sides.
The Office of President Elect Barrow is confident that if all adhere to the verdict of the Gambian people and put the National interest before personal or party interest peace will prevail in the Gambia at all times. The supreme interest of the people should be the guide of all our actions in order to maintain and consolidate national unity, peace and prosperity.
‘President-elect Barrow’s inauguration preparations in full gear’ – Committee chair
James Gomez, the Chairperson of the Inauguration Committee of Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow, has confirmed to The Fatu Network about the highest level of preparations for President-elect Barrow’s inauguration ceremony slated on the 19th January.
“President-elect has just signed the invitations letters to formally invite the foreign dignitaries. We are expecting all the ECOWAS Heads of States and South African President Jacob Zuma” said Gomez.
Gomez said already arrangement has been made with the management of the Independent Stadium for the inauguration and they are doing some renovations on the ground before the occasion. He said they are running against time.
Meanwhile, the country is going through difficult time as the preparation for the mediation between the parties is in good spirit.
Outgoing President Yahya Jammeh lost the elections of December 1st to opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow, ending his 22 years ruled. He initially conceded defeat, later made a U-turn declaring the results null and void and insisted he will not hand over power. He has since filed a petition to the country’s Supreme Court but last Tuesday, the Court ruled that it is totally impossible to rule on election results petition until May as there are no judges to constitute the court which has not been functioning for the past two years.
Since Mr Jammeh plunged the country into a political crisis, he has been under considerable external pressure, including ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN, to hand over power peacefully at the end of his term, which ends on 19 January, though he defiantly continue to denounce what he called an “unprecedented foreign interference” in the domestic in the internal affairs of the country.
Meanwhile, West African leaders has since started peaceful negotiations and visited the Gambia and met all parties in the crisis. Early this week, Nigerian President Muhammadou Buhari who is the chief negotiator to the crisis hosted a mediation meeting in Abuja where it was resolved that they will visit Banjul this Friday, January 13th in Banjul. The leaders are expected to tell Mr Jammeh that it is imperative for him to respect the constitution and the will of the Gambian people.
Benin President Talon confirms will attend Barrow’s inauguration with Ivorian Ouattara
By Alhagie Jobe: Benin President Patrice Talon has announced he will attend the inauguration of Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow on the 19th, January, in Banjul.
The Béninoise leaders made the confirmation during a visit to Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Wednesday saying he will travel into Banjul with Ivorian President Alassan Ouattara.
“We welcomed the statements of President Yahya Jammeh, who reassure us that we are emerging from the crisis. We will travel together to Banjul on the 19th and this fear will be behind us. We are finding definite ways of resolving this ‘small crisis’ in Gambia (…) and we will find solution very soon and I say very soon,” he insisted.
You may recall that President Yahya Jammeh lost the elections of December 1st to opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow, ending his 22 years ruled. He initially conceded defeat, later made a U-turn declaring the results null and void and insisted he will not hand over power. He has since filed a petition to the country’s Supreme Court but last Tuesday, the Court ruled that it is totally impossible to rule on election results petition until May as there are no judges to constitute the court which has not been functioning for the past two years.
Since Mr Jammeh plunged the country into a political crisis, he has been under considerable external pressure, including ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN, to hand over power peacefully at the end of his term, which ends on 19 January, though he defiantly continue to denounce what he called an “unprecedented foreign interference” in the domestic in the internal affairs of the country.
Meanwhile, West African leaders has since started peaceful negotiations and visited the Gambia and met all parties in the crisis. Early this week, Nigerian President Muhammadou Buhari who is the chief negotiator to the crisis hosted a mediation meeting in Abuja where it was resolved that they will visit Banjul this Friday, January 13th in Banjul. The leaders are expected to tell Mr Jammeh that it is imperative for him to respect the constitution and the will of the Gambian people.
In a televised statement late on Tuesday outgoing President Jammeh announced the appointment of a mediator general and ready to present a General Amnesty Bill to the National Assembly to pass into law to avoid any witch-hunt as a good start to find a lasting peaceful solution to the crisis.
Nigerian MPs ‘to consider asylum for Jammeh’
With six days to go until Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh’s constitutional term in office ends, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is to consider whether the country should grant asylum to him.
Mr Jammeh lost elections last month – and although he initially accepted defeat he has since lodged a case before the Supreme Court requesting the result be annulled. But the court is unable to hold a hearing until May – as most of the judges come from neighbouring countries – and Mr Jammeh has said he is going nowhere until then.
Nigeria’s President Muhammudu Buhari, as the chief regional mediator, is due in The Gambia tomorrow.
Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesperson of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, told the BBC Hausa Service the lower house will be debating the motion today.
Source: BBC
Ndiaye doss at Sen tv i wish he see this video…
Ndiaye doss at Sen tv i wish he see this video The way he was talking to Lawyer Salieu Taal was not nice. They were belittling, laughing at someone who’s more far educated than all of them.This game need to stop. Ndiaye doss sa hol rafett tut.
Jammeh opts to lean on Amnesty to end political standoff, softens position at last
By Alhagie Jobe: Gambia’s outgoing President Yahya Jammeh who has been defiant of not handing over power since he lost the December President election has finally soften his arrogant tone by simply calling for forgiveness, unity and hinting of amnesty, probably trying a possible safe route out to end the political nightmare.
In an unexpected mid-night address to the nation on Tuesday, Mr Jammeh announced that he has appointed his Secretary General and Head of the Civil Services, Musa Jallow, to be the Mediator General for this trying period of the country.
Mr Jammeh’s latest remarks came after the country’s Supreme Court said it has no sufficient judges to sit over his APRC Party’s election result petition until May 2017, thereby dashing away his hopes of staying in power.
He said he has mandated his Secretary General to work with the Minister of Justice and the National Assembly to draft a General Amnesty Bill to confide and ensure there is no witch-hunt so that Gambians can live in a climate of confidence and security within the constitutional mandate.
“I hereby appoint the Secretary General as Mediator General to ensure the public and Civil Servants continue to work proficiently and without fear or favour in an apolitical manner in the service of the country” Jammeh said in a very remorseful tone.
Mr Jammeh who never been ready for any negotiation and insisting on to power ever calling for re-election reverse his position again by opening arms to parties for peaceful negotiation to end the impasse.
“The Secretary General as Mediator General is also mandated to meet with all stakeholders in the country and prepare a meeting so that all can be heard and we resolve any mistrust and issue among ourselves” Mr Jammeh said in uncommon manner.
Unexpectedly preaching peace, Jammeh said he has issued an executive order that nobody be arrested or prosecuted due to acts or omissions in the pre and post election period with effective dates from November 1st 2016 to January 31st, 2017.
“I ask all Gambians to forgive each other especially us the political class and asked that we continue to work together to keep and consolidate peace and harmony in our beloved country. I ask all Gambians and residence in the Gambia to go about their business and I assure you that Inshaa Allah all will be well and this will soon be resolve in peace. I will do all within the constitutional means and my conscience to resolve the sad impasse” the ever-defiant Jammeh said.
After portraying as bias, the sub-regional body, ECOWAS, that is mediating the impasse, Mr Jammeh in this latest address thanked them, the African Union, UN and OIC for their kind words and support to the Gambia saying “even if some were mistaken and also assured than that we Gambians have not gotten to the level without learning to live and let live amongst ourselves”.
Meanwhile, Mr Jammeh’s scheduled Wednesday meeting with ECOWAS leaders has been pushed to Friday, January 13th in Banjul. The leaders are expected to tell Mr Jammeh that it is imperative for him to respect the constitution and the will of the Gambian people.
Defiant Yahya Jammeh ‘removes’ Youth minister
By Alhagie Jobe: Disgraced outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is still defiant and busy sacking and appointing minister despite few days to the end of his government on January 19th.
Yesterday, he fired his Minister of Communication and Information Infrastructure Sheriff Bojang and replaced him with nominated National Assembly Seedy Njie.
Today, he relieved Alieu K. Jammeh, Minister of Youth and Sports and replaced him with one John Gibril Gomez, according to a media release from the presidency read on state TV.
Meanwhile, reports are that Minister Jammeh is not in fact relieved of his office duties but tendered his resignation as the political crisis deepens.
Sources in the government have hinted that in coming days, more Cabinet minister and other senior government officials will jump over the sinking government of defiant Yahya Jammeh.
Yahya Jammeh lost the elections of December 1st to opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow, ending his 22 years ruled. Mr Jammeh initially conceded defeat, later made a U-turn declaring the results null and void and insisted he will not hand over power. This prompted an international condemnation and there is a rigorous ongoing effort by the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, to ensure a peaceful transfer of power by Mr Jammeh to Mr Barrow.
ECOWAS mediators scheduled mission to Banjul pushed to Friday
By Alhagie Jobe: The scheduled High level West African leaders mediation mission led by Nigeria’s President Buhari to visit Banjul on Wednesday, January 11th, has been pushed to Friday, 13th January at the request of President Yahya Jammeh, according to Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.
“At the instance of President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia, the High Level ECOWAS mediation mission led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has pushed forward its visit to Banjul, the capital of Gambia, to Friday” a press release signed by Mr Shehu stated.
Last Monday, January 9th, West African leaders met in Abuja under the invitation of President Buhari to discuss the political situation in the Gambia where they agreed that a high level Presidential delegation visit Gambia on Wednesday, January, 11th.
According to the Nigerian Presidency, in accepting to postpone the visit earlier planned to take place on Wednesday, President Buhari, who is mediating alongside Mr. John Mahama, the immediate past president of Ghana said the delay notwithstanding, the mandate of the ECOWAS will be accomplished.
President Buhari reiterated the appeal on Monday by ECOWAS leaders that the Gambian leaders do everything they can to douse the tension in the West African country, which has led citizens to leave the country due to political uncertainty.
The Nigerian leader said ECOWAS is committed to the resolution of the crisis through inclusive dialogue with respect to the constitution and the will of the people of Gambia.
Sallah: ‘Election petition outcome is peripheral issue & cannot hamper Barrow’s inauguration’
The Office of the Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow has issued a statement after today’s unsuccessful Supreme Court proceeding insisting that the status and outcome of the Election petition are unknown and indeterminable before the completion of any court process and should therefore be regarded as a peripheral issue which should not hamper any preparation for the inauguration.
At a Press Conference on Tuesday shortly after the Supreme Court message, Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of the Coalition who read the statement from the office of President-elect Barrow made it absolutely clear that the exercise of right to file an election petition by the loser does not deprive the winner the right to prepare for his inauguration as president of the Republic on 19th January 2017 when the term of the incumbent expires.
According to President-elect Barrow’s office, the current effort by the loser to use the court case as a tool to mobilise his supporters to give the impression that they have been cheated of victory is contributing to the fear that he is not ready for a peaceful transfer of power.
The Office of the President- Elect stands by the principle that Adama Barrow’s Election as President of the Republic of The Gambia and is calling on the general mobilisation of the people in preparation for the inauguration on 19th January.
Below is the full statement;
STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AS UPDATE ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION 8th JANUARY 2017
The office of President Elect Barrow wishes to convey its highest esteem to Ex–President John Dramani Mahama for demonstrating the political will to uphold the verdict of the Ghanaian people, after losing the 7th December 2016 polls by handing over Executive power to President Nana Akufo Addo in a peaceful manner within 30 days transition provided by the Ghanaian Constitution. This is the Democratic culture of peaceful transfer of Executive power that is being nurtured in the member states of ECOWAS.
In contrast, the peaceful transfer of Executive power in Gambia, which held its Presidential Elections on 1st December 2016 and which should take place when the term of office of the incumbent ends, is still a subject of discussion by Gambians, in particular, and the International Community, at large.
The Office of the President-Elect has made it absolutely clear that the exercise of right to file an election petition by the loser does not deprive the winner the right to prepare for his inauguration as president of the Republic on 19th January 2017 when the term of the incumbent expires. It should be abundantly clear that it is neither in line with law nor commonsense for a loser to have the right of the victor suspended until an election petition is heard. The right of a victor to be sworn in as President and the duty of an incumbent to leave office when one’s term ends are not invalidated by filing an Election Petition.
The Office of the President- Elect stands by the principle that Adama Barrow’s Election as President of the Republic of The Gambia stands and is calling on the general mobilisation of the people in preparation for the inauguration on 19th January. The status and outcome of an Election petition are unknown and indeterminable before the completion of any court process and should therefore be regarded as a peripheral issue which should not hamper any preparation for the inauguration.
The current effort by the loser to use the court case as a tool to mobilise his supporters to give the impression that they have been cheated of victory is contributing to the fear that he is not ready for a peaceful transfer of power. This is why some countries are issuing travel advice and some people are also relocating. The ECOWAS Authority, however, has clarified its position so that no one would claim that they are siding with anyone in The Gambia other than the Gambian people whose verdict must be respected.
The Chairperson of the Authority stated among other things at the inauguration of President Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana that “ECOWAS perhaps faces the most difficult situation in The Gambia….After accepting he lost the election, President Jammeh….. and questioned the results of the election. He has submitted his grievances to the Supreme Court which will start its review process on January 10. ECOWAS is closely following the process and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is leading the effort as ECOWAS mediator.
We call on the people of Gambia to follow the example of Ghana and put the interest of the nation above all personal interests. ECOWAS stands by the people of Gambia and will exercise every effort to sustain peace and democracy. We stand by the people of The Gambia and want to assure them of our unwavering adherence to the principles of democracy in our entire region.” It is clear that the ECOWAS stands for mediation. Force only comes when Gambians are at each other’s throat and when power is taken or maintained unconstitutionally.
Hence, the Office of the President-Elect is calling on ECOWAS to speed up the coming of President Buhari to explore peaceful ways of solving the impasse. It is evident from the visits of the Religious, Civic, Business, Traditional and Community leaders, the solidarity messages from NGOs, the demonstration of political will by Gambian Ambassadors and the general mood of the people in the street that most Gambians want the incumbent to hand over political office in peace.
The first duty of the incumbent to prove that he stands for peace is to tell the people that he will leave office when his term expires and would hand over to the elected president when that comes. He should then add that he has filed a petition in court whose outcome and effect would be communicated to the public in due course. This should have been followed by declaration by security chiefs of readiness to pay obedience to any civil authority that emerges out of Electoral processes in the Gambia. Such messages would have gone down well with the Gambian population and the world.
The current mobilisation for an uncertain court case is sending the wrong signal. The travel advice issued by the US Department of State reads: “The U.S. Department of State has warned U.S. citizens against travel to The Gambia because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future. On January 7, 2017, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members and authorised the departure of all employees who need to accompany those individuals from the country. The security situation in The Gambia remains uncertain following December 1, 2016 presidential elections. On January 10, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the current president’s petition contesting the election results, which is a potential flashpoint that could lead to civil unrest.
The sitting government has begun taking restrictive measures, which include shutting down and restricting radio stations, and making politically motivated arrests. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated it may intervene if the president does not step down by January 18. U.S. citizens should consider departing on commercial flights and other transportation options now, as airports and ferry terminals may close unexpectedly in the event of unrest.”
The Office of the President-Elect therefore is of the view that no Gambian would have the moral authority to claim to love the Gambia by subjecting her people to unrest while other nationals are safeguarding their own people from unrest. No single Gambian could violate the peace of the country if all Gambians civilian and military stand for peace. Only the commitment of each to the principle of One Gambia, One Nation and One People could ensure the peace of the country based on democracy and justice. Our citizens have no other home to run to. Gambia is their home land. Leaders come and go but Gambia remains. The road to peace is clear.
The incumbent should recognise the right of the President-Elect to assume office whenever his term expires while pursuing his court case as a private matter. He should also prepare all state institutions and agents to acknowledge such reality by paying due regard to the concerns of the Incoming administration. It is already judicial precedence to swear in a president while an Election Petition is filed challenging the validity of an Election. This is what happened in the case of John Dramani Mahama after the December 2012 presidential election in Ghana.
The petition was ultimately dismissed after he was already sworn in as president. Some people have alleged that the incumbent has security concerns. The Office of the President-Elect has demonstrated that any future Ex-President would have the same status as Ex-President Jawara. Hence, no excuse should be given for derailing the verdict of the people. It wants to assure the Gambian people its firm allegiance to the Gambia and vows to be ever true to the homeland.
Forward Ever; Backward Never!!
Supreme Court adjourns Jammeh’s petition case, urges him to embrace ECOWAS negotiation
By Alhagie Jobe: Emmanuel Fagbenle, the Chief Justice of The Gambia has adjourned the bogus election results petition case of Yahya Jammeh and his APRC party saying there are no judges to constitute the panel that is needed to hear the petition.
He announced that the Nigerian and Sierra Leanean hired judges who where supposed to travel in the country would not come until May 2017, insisting that without a full panel, there cannot be any proceeding on the petition case file.
Chief Justice Fagbenle recommended to Outgoing President Jammeh and his APRC party election petitioners to embrace the offer by the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, to peacefully solve the political deadlock.
“Parties should consider alternative resolution of the political conflict through Ecowas or the committee of political parties. Gambia should not be a place where peace cannot be found. All men of good will, all peace loving and God fearing should assist the Gambia at the time of need” he said.
Chief Justice Fagbenle warned outgoing President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC petitioners that they should not expect any changes in position that he cannot hear the case without a full panel of judges insisting that the Nigerian judges are not travelling into the country until May 2017.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Edward Gomez who represents Yahya Jammeh and his APRC’s is very upset and disappointed with the Chief Justice decision.
You may recalled that The Gambia went to the polls on December 1st, 2016 in which incumbent President Yahya Jammeh conceded defeat, congratulated President-elect Adama Barrow but later made a U-turn, rejecting the results and calling the results ‘null and void’.
Mr Jammeh and his APRC Party has since filed a petition at the Supreme Court and last month, the court mentioned the petition case but without enough sitting judges, the case was adjourned until today, January 10th, 2017.
The case resumes on Monday, January 16th, 2017.
How Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh lost his grip on power
Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh surprised the world on 2 December by accepting that he had lost elections to the relatively unknown Adama Barrow – though he now says he will contest the result. The BBC’s Umaru Fofana looks at the reasons why the strongman lost his 22-year grip on power.
The Darboe effect
Perhaps Mr Jammeh’s biggest mistake was the detention of the main opposition leader, Usainou Darboe, of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
For many years, Mr Darboe had been an albatross round Mr Jammeh’s neck – the biggest challenge to his presidency.
Under Mr Darboe, the opposition tried and failed many times to have a united front. As leader of the biggest opposition party, he always wanted to be the presidential candidate.
Businessman Adama Barrow, the unique opposition candidate challenging President Jammeh in the December presidential vote
Image copyrightAFP
Image captionAdama Barrow was helped by the many mistakes of Yahya Jammeh
He and Halifa Sallah, another consistently critical voice of Jammeh now touted as the next vice-president, were always in disagreement about who should head a possible coalition of their two parties.
With Mr Darboe out of the scene and in a prison cell, the UDP and Mr Sallah’s party – as well as other parties – found it easy to hammer out a deal for a united front.
The result was the unexpected candidacy of Mr Barrow.
Mr Darboe has since been freed on bail.
Ousainou Darboe was due to serve a three-year prison term
Image copyrightAFP
Image captionMr Darboe caused Yahya Jammeh more political harm as a prisoner than a free man
Ethnic alienation
In addition to accidentally pushing the opposition into a united front against him, Mr Jammeh managed to alienate the Mandinkas, the largest ethnic group in The Gambia.
The Mandinkas were very bitter at what they deemed as derogatory remarks made by the president, who comes from a minority group. This galvanised them to vote for the opposition.
I heard anti-Jammeh remarks from Mandinkas across the country, all citing statements he reportedly made, indicating that they would never rule the country.
Youths demand freedom and jobs
Perhaps Mr Jammeh could have been shrewd enough to avoid pushing his opposition into an unbeatable coalition or to avoid galvanising the Mandinkas into a hostile electoral force.
But after 22 years in power, he could do nothing in the face of another factor behind his defeat: The unquenchable desire for change among young Gambians, like Fatoumata Bojang, who have known no other leader.
Gambians celebrate the victory of opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow in the streets of Serrekunda, Gambia,on 2 December 2016
Image copyrightAP
Image captionThe high rate of unemployment turned Gambia’s youth against Mr Jammeh
The median age of Gambia’s population is 19.9 years. They cite a lack of jobs, saying this is why so many Gambians have tried to make the perilous journey to Europe by boat.
At opposition rallies, it was mostly young people.
At a rally in Brikama, Momodou Ceesay demanded “freedom” saying he and his peers had never fully “enjoyed our rights”.
That resonated everywhere I went. Students I met at the University of Gambia said the same thing.
Such is the generational divide that two families I met were sharply divided.
A woman who wanted to be known only as Njai said her parents were supporting Mr Jammeh, while she and her other siblings were voting for Mr Barrow.
She cited freedom and jobs, or the lack of both, as the main factors.
The economy worsened matters. Senegal’s economic blockade earlier this yeareffectively killed a dying man.
Virtually all The Gambia’s imports come through Senegal.
The blockade was severely felt and drew rage from the citizenry.
Counting the votes
There were allegations of cheating at the 2011 polls which President Jammeh won, although I was there at the time and did not see any sign of that and he denied it.
This time, such was his confidence that he agreed to calls for an electoral system to allow on-the-spot counting of votes.
Votes were counted at each and every polling station and figures published instantly.
A poll worker counts votes cast by marbles after the close of voting during the presidential election in Banjul, Gambia, 1 December 2016.
Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionThe marble voting system was praised by Mr Jammeh as “rig-proof”
Tallying was also done at nearby centres, in the open. And counting the marbles in a specially-designed tray was very quick.
This reduced the possibility of cheating.
Gambia’s electoral commission has received less praise than it deserves, I think.
It is rare in Africa for an opposition challenger to heap as much praise on the head of the electoral commission as did Mr Barrow before the polls.
He told the BBC in the run-up to voting day that the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission Alieu Momarr Njai was trustworthy and honest.
The quiet self-effacing 82-year-old says the system does not allow for rigging.
“It will easily be noticed,” he told me.
Women power
The role of women was huge. In the early queues at Sukuta, Banjul and Serekunda, there were more women than men, many of them young.
Women supporting rival candidates in Gambia’s presidential election
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionAll sides encouraged Gambia’s women to turn out and vote
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invested a lot in them.
Its programme specialist Bashirou Jahumpa says in addition to building the capacity of the electoral commission through training for their staff, it also funded the National Council on its civic awareness programme and voter education.
It also helped mobilise women to vote.
Gender activist Fatoumata Jallow was also a huge pillar in this regard, campaigning for women to vote.
But it is also true that Mr Jammeh’s government put women impositions of trust and engaged them to be politically active.
The last straw – the army
Perhaps, Mr Jammeh could have found a way to win despite all the adverse factors if he had the support of the army.
He came to power through the army. He stayed in power through the army. He relied on the army for everything.
Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh sits on a sofa surrounded by military men at a rally in Banjul, Gambia on 29 November 2016
Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionThe Gambia’s army let down the man they carried to power 22 year ago
Even though soldiers were seen clad in Jammeh T-shirts and transporting party paraphernalia during campaigning, they shook hands with civilians during celebrations marking his defeat.
Intelligence and diplomatic sources say he tried to compromise the results but the top echelons of the army warned him against it.
That would prove to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
A Jammeh-inspired coup or other military interference could have denied Mr Barrow the presidency.
But instead, the army stood by and let the democratic process carry on, as it is supposed to do.
The Use of State Apparatus as an Instrument of Sycophancy in Jammeh’s Governemnt: GRTS, The Gambia National Army and the Legal institutions, take Lessons from Rwanda and Libya
By Lamin Keita: Media is a powerful instrument that can provoke a war because people can be susceptible to the information it spreads about a particular subject like the current political situation in the Gambia. Media is historically alleged to have been complicit in facilitating problems in the world, as in the case of Rwandan genocide where it was used by the government as a political and social instrument to influence the peoples’ behaviors, attitudes and belief system to engage in criminal activities and hatred for the oppositions.
Admittedly, GRTS and all the other media outlets that promote Jammeh’s undemocratic approaches must bear in mind that they can be legally liable for their role of justifying an illegitimate course and perpetuating violence (in accordance with the international law). GRTS and other print medias in the Gambia have a track record of facilitating, implementing and broadcasting Jammeh’s genocidal speeches for 21 years, while entirely denying the opposition’s access to national Television and Radio. Retrospectively, both the national army and the Gambian court system have explored the same unconstitutional approaches. They have a legacy of succumbing to dictator Jammeh’s whims and caprices because of their job security and personal gains against the collective interest of Gambians.
Unarguably, these actions have ostensibly helped to shape and direct the perpetuation of hatred, misrepresentation of facts and destruction of the consumptions of critical perspective of vital information, needed for a productive and a democratic society. However, it worth to bring the Rwandan and Libyan experience into context because it can serve as a moral guideline for our dear brothers who are working not only for GRTS and other media personnel, but also for other people presently working for Jammeh to be aware of their roles and its consequences on the public.
Additionally, under no circumstance the employees of the state media should broadcast Jammeh’s threats and loud-mouthed speeches against a particular tribe or sections of our society. These actions would be unpardonable in the international criminal court because the state media employees have options to resign or quit, but doing these dirty jobs for Jammeh with the flimsy excuse that you were forced or under command will not exempt them from prosecution. The same condition will apply to soldiers who will succumb to Jammeh’s tyranny and refuse to execute the will of the majority of Gambians on January 19, 2017.
Theoretically, and by extensions, the same laws will amply be applicable to prosecute any Gambian Judge or Nigerian Judges who knowingly pursue miscarry of justice against the will of Gambians with the intend to fraudulently obviate the December 1, 2016 election result in favor of Yahya Jammeh. Because these failures and actions are deliberate acts that can exacerbate the scale of the conflict and perpetuate chaos, resulting to genocidal actions. This is why is imperative to remind all those people presently working for Jammeh to avoid actions that will help to entrench dictatorship and being used as a tool to repress Gambians. These are crimes against humanity and punishable under international law.
The Media Lessons from Rwanda:
The role of state media significantly shaped and directed the perpetuation of hatred in Rwandan genocide because the reason why the Hutu ethnic group got so much attention was due to conducive environment provided by the media in sensationalizing tribal hatred among the people. Notably, Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM) and Journal Kangura, which were used as propaganda tool to incite violence. It worth note that various forms of media that range from Radio, print and Television contributed in spreading information that tend to construct verbal and visual caricatures of the Tutsis, the minority ethnic group through political, cultural and social exclusion.
As Bromley (20000, p. 39) claims that media tolerably helped mobilizing Hutu militias to massacre and rape hundreds of thousands of Tutsi men, women and children and their Hutu supporters in a period of three months because of the role of RTLM and Journal Kangura. He further states that RTLM exploited the assassination of Rwanda president, Habyriyamna as a means to resort to the idea of “premordialism as a form of strategy of reductionism and essentialism to eliminate,” and describe the minority Tutsi as vermin, beast, and insects (pp. 51, 53). This implies that the media method of broadcasting aggravated deep hatred between the Hutu and Tutsi because it communicated and conveyed message of propaganda that tend to lend credence to wide spread violence. Similarly, Yanagizawa-Drott (2011, p. 27, 30) findings also confirms that RTLM was very effective in persuading the militia to attack the minority who were less capable of defending themselves and also acknowledges that ten percent of the Rwandan genocide perpetrators were relatively due to radio station’s transmissions of distorted information, and two third of the militia, police, gendarmerie and other organized violence were caused by the same radio station. For these reasons the international criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found the state media, RTLM, the Newspaper and Radio to be complicit of Rwandan genocide because they demonized the Tutsi as evil and equating it with enemy and also representing its women as seductive agents, thereby calling for complete annihilation of the Tutsi ethnic group (Thompson, 2007, pp. 2 – 3). Moreover, the state media hatred also exacerbate the scale of violence because Television and radio presenters such as Valerie Bemeriki of RTLM were often seen wearing the Interahamwe’s uniform to denounce the Tutsis. Accordingly, similar scenario is seen in Libya, where we saw state TV. personnel supporting dictator, Gadhafi, however, this does not prevent his looming fall. On the other hand, this argument is not to draw a contrast between the Gambia and Rwanda or Libya, but to highlight the negative impact of the state controlled media and individual initiatives that supported a kind of government propaganda-calling for preemptive violence against the oppositions. Admittedly, this reasonably suggests that the Gambia government use of GRTS and exclusion of the coalition access to state media prepared a fertile ground to implement Jammeh’s ideology of hatred against the oppositions. This also explains Jammeh ambition in constructing an image of irreconcilable difference, and entirely vilifying the coalition, and more so, the Mandinkas as the enemies of democracy as well as his own supporters who want peaceful transfer of power.
Unarguably, the GRTS Television and radio and the Observer print, heedlessly continue to misrepresent and spread fear, rumor and panic of Jammeh’s invectives against his perceive enemies, the Mandinkas for years and most recently the coalition members. The Jammeh’s government skillfully and pragmatically employs this through framing and projecting issues of the genocidal speeches, specifically to influence and instill fear in public opinion at the same time to garner support from certain elements of the society. Certainly, this media framing and agenda setting by Jammeh result to empowering and consolidating his power and also infringes on the rights of ordinary citizens of the Gambia. Inevitably, the state media indelibly enable Jammeh to become the ‘alpha and omega’ of our society, and presented a mere ‘marshmallows man’ as mysterious and indomitable who loves the Gambia more than any Gambian, yet to be born. More descriptively, state media usually presents Jammeh as Pan-Africanist who is devoid of powers to harm any Gambian, and aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all people of African descent. Ironically, Jammeh’s 22 years of rule was marred by continues maiming, torturing, silencing, disappearance without trace, using kangaroo courts to jail and kill his opponents and even his close associates. Rhetorically, is Jammeh’s Pan-Africanism sincere and authentic? May be not because 44 Ghanaians would not have been killed and their bodies decapitated for ritual purposes to meet Jammeh’s insatiable desire to stay in power. Yet, for years, many people tend to trust the news content, especially from the so-called reputable GRTS because the Television and radio appear to be a medium that reproduces accurate news for such people. The targeted audience for this propaganda is often illiterates and semi-illiterates population who increasingly depend on the available government news since all independent news mediums were not allowed to operate.
As the current situation unfolds in the Gambian, the state apparatus in the form of media, the army or the civil society, the legislatures and the executives and courts must immediately desist from actions that will blatantly destroy the prospect of the new democratic process that is about to begin in the Gambia. Furthermore, the state media continuous coverage of Jammeh’s threats and violence against the wishes of Gambians would only compromise their integrity and hold them to be accountable to their actions in the future. While keeping its media coverage exclusively from the activities of the coalition would be synonymous to propagating Jammeh’s propaganda of disseminating false information and prolonging his illegitimate rule. Overall, the state media’s attempt to censure the coalition will fundamentally destroy any components of the chance to critically assesse differences between Jammeh and the Gambians as a whole. Similarly, Jammeh’s new year’s speech on GRTS for holding fresh election and his attempt to close Taranga FM and other independent medias, coupled with his future plan to clamp down on the oppositions in the subsequent weeks to come will undoubtedly result to his impending down fall as in the case of his shut down of the internet and international calls on election day.
GRTS and more specifically, the Nigerian Judges should take lessons as they continue their vital task of informing the publics about the recent political problems in the Gambia and executing Jammeh’s unconstitutional demands. Moreover, GRTS coverage in Gambia abysmally failed to reflect objective realities and it has delusional motives that tend to serve and promote Jammeh’s political violence, irrational and immoral agenda. This tends to further distort the ability of many ordinary people to discern the truth from fictions. It also illustrates the state employee’s ignorance of serving a national interest instead of being an instrument of sycophancy. Veritably, for 21 years now the state media have proven to be an epitome of prejudice, discrimination and labeling oppositions and other media outlets that fail to promote president Jammeh’s political ideologies as enemies of the state. By this time, it would have been ideal and more patriotic for all GRTS personnel, the national army and the facade judges to resign their positions when confronted with Jammeh’s undemocratic and unconstitutional demands against the will of Gambians.
The Appointment of Seedy Njie as Minister is Gross Violation of the Constitution
First Things First
The Republic
The Gambia is a constitutional democracy, meaning we are not a monarchy. Rather it means we are all equal citizens with equal rights as Gambians belonging to this republic. Section 1 Subsection 1 establishes the Gambia as a ‘secular sovereign republic’. Section 1 Subsection 2, states that the legitimacy of the Gambia lies in the people of the Gambia. It went further to state that the State derives its legitimacy and authority from the people and that the State functions on behalf of the people. Then Chapter 4 of our constitution identifies and guarantees our sovereign rights as inviolable and sacrosanct.
…Based on Accountability
As a republic under a constitutional democratic dispensation, it means no single Gambian has more power than any other citizen hence the constitution created various checks and balances to ensure that everything in this republic shall be conducted according to the rule of law. This is to make sure no individual takes the law into his or her hands. It also means the State is not under the control of one person or a group of people who run things according to their whims and caprices. In other words the constitution created laws, processes and institutions to restrain individuals as public officers and citizens so that there is peace and stability. This is what is called accountability.
…Based on Separation of Powers
In that regard, and knowing the power of the State, the constitution divided the State into three arms. The first arm is the Executive (which is generally called the Government) headed by a president whose composition and functions are well specified under Chapter 6. The second arm is the Legislature (or National Assembly) headed by the Speaker whose composition and functions are well specified under Chapter 7. The third and final arm of the state is the Judicature (or the Courts) headed by the Chief Justice whose composition and functions are well defined under Chapter 8. The constitution divided the State into three arms to make sure no one institution or the head of that institution has too much power onto itself. Rather the three arms are to check each other in order to curtail abuse and corruption and ensure efficiency, justice and transparency. For that purpose an Executive member cannot be a member of the Legislature or Judicature, likewise a National Assembly Member cannot be a member of Cabinet or Judicature, etc. This is what is called Separation of Powers, which is the foundational principle of a republican system of governance or constitutional democracy.
Appointment of Ministers
The Executive comprises the president, vice president and ministers. The authority to appointment ministers lies with the president. Section 71(1) states that the president determines the number of ministers. Section 71(2) states who can be appointed minister. Here is what the constitution says in that sub-section 2:
“A person shall not be qualified to be appointed or hold the office of a Minister if, he or she is a member of the National Assembly or if he or she holds the citizenship or nationality of any country other than The Gambia. In addition, a person shall not be qualified to be appointed Attorney General unless he or she is a legal practitioner of at least five years standing at the Gambian bar.”
In light of the above, it is therefore crystal clear that Seedy Njie is a Nominated Member of the National Assembly hence he is not qualified to be appointed as a cabinet minister. This appointment is unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers principle and the very nature and foundation of a constitutional democratic republic.
My Clarion Call
In the heat of the war of liberation in Guinea Bissau against the fascist Portuguese colonialists in the 1960s, the Great African Patriot Amilcar Cabral told the glorious freedom fighters that our people must be led by our best sons and daughters. Increasingly it is dawning on Gambians that we have to become the best sons and daughters of our people in order to salvage our country. In that regard, the blatant misconduct and disrespect of Yaya Jammeh have reached alarming proportions and Gambians must put a stop this nonsense. I therefore remind the Members of the National Assembly that they are under oath to defend our constitution and sovereignty. For far too long Yaya Jammeh has trampled on our sovereignty into the mud and flouted our constitution like toilet paper. I call on our National Assembly Members to demonstrate that they are among the best sons and daughters of the Gambia and completely and immediately abandon Yaya Jammeh and seek his urgent impeachment before January 19. In like manner, I call on the Vice President and all Cabinet ministers to immediately resign and condemn the unconstitutional behaviour of Yaya Jammeh. Failure to take this urgent action let these National Assembly Members and Cabinet ministers know that they are active and direct accomplices in the abuse of the sovereignty and constitution of the Gambia, which is a treasonable offence.
To Seedy Njie
Seedy Njie, return this position and resign. Now! First of all, you are a victim. But you are a very annoying victim. You are a victim because as a young boy who just came out of secondary school, you were thrust into the National Assembly. You lack the required education and experience of life and overall capacity to understand even your purpose of life. A Grade 12 schoolboy is a child. Hence when you were thrown into the national Bantaba, the pomp and pageantry overwhelmed you to the point that you lost your bearings. You saw yourself in the midst of happenings and at the same level with far older Gambians and representing the country at world stages to your bewilderment. Your lack of maturity because of your young age has gotten into your head to think that indeed you are power itself. This is not surprising because at the helm of our state itself, sits a man who also was a product of Form 5. Without any experience of life, he was thrust to the highest office in the land. Lacking the capacity to understand and appreciate the enormity of the Office of the President, Yaya Jammeh fumbled as he was overwhelmed by this position and the power around that position. But instead of seeing the interest of his people in that power and use it to solve national issues with humility, he greedily went for the goodies of that power and position hence his dictatorship for 22 years.
Thus when we come this far, I wish to tell you that you are damaging your future in your society. You have already raised the wrath of your people to unbearable proportions against you. Seedy, you are too young and most of your life is ahead of you. It is already late for you to cleanse yourself, but better late than never. I do not get angry with you. I feel sorry for you. This is because I see a very tough life of shame and ostracism awaiting you in your society. This is going to be painful because you have many more years to live. I cannot imagine how you can ever more live with rebuke and ridicule in the Gambia having disrespected, provoked, insulted and disappointed so many fellow citizens. I do not envy you, my brother. Resign. Do not allow Yaya Jammeh to take you down as he is certainly going down in a matter of few days! #GambiaHasDecided
……………………………………………..
Madi Jobarteh
Skype: madi.jobarteh
Twitter: @jobartehmadi
LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh
Phone: +220 9995093
“Africa needs a new type of citizen: A dedicated, modest, honest, informed man and woman who submerge self in service to the nation and mankind. A man and woman who abhor greed and detest vanity. A new type of man and woman whose humility is his and her strength and whose integrity is his and her greatness” – Nkrumah.
“To protect the Treasury from being defrauded, let all money be issued openly in front of the whole city (country), and let copies of the accounts be deposited in various wards (regions).” Aristotle
Former Information Minister Sheriff Bojang jumps down from Jammeh’s sinking gov’t
By Alhagie Jobe: Sheriff Bojang, Gambia’s former Minister of Information and Communication who left the country to neighbouring Senegal jumping from the sinking government of defiant President Yahya Jammeh, has finally cleared the air.
In a statement confirming his position on the political impasse in the country, Mr Bojang said it is his considered opinion and stance that the results of the December 1st election represent a true reflection of the sovereign will of the Gambian people. He said the current attempts while appearing to have a veneer of constitutionalism are in fact an attempt to subvert the express will of the Gambian electorate saying, the people have spoken and they could not have spoken louder and clearer.
Mr Bojang who was on Monday replaced on his Cabinet position by National Assembly member Seedy Njie, acknowledged Adama Barrow as the President-elect of The Gambia stemming from the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah. He then called on President Jammeh to respect the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah he so much expressly believes in, and start the transition and hand over power within the stipulated 60 days from the elections.
Below is the full message by Mr Bojang
Statement by the Former Minister of Information & Communication,
Sheriff Bojang on the Political Impasse in The Gambia
أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ (A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytaan-ir-rajeem)
I begin in the name of Allah the Most High, the Most Clement and the Giver of Wisdom.
I begin this statement by hereby announcing that I have taken the decision, and written to the relevant high authority to the effect that I have resigned from the Government and the Cabinet as Minister of Information & Communication Infrastructure with immediate effect.
I hereby wish to thank His Excellency, President Yahya AJJ Jammeh for according me the onerous opportunity to serve my country in the high office of Minister of State for exactly the past two years this month.
On 1st December 2016, the people of The Gambia went to the polls to elect a new head of state. After the final tally of votes Mr Adama Barrow of the Coalition was duly announced winner and declared president-elect. President Jammeh conceded defeat and pledged to work with Mr Barrow on a transition.
However on 5th December 2016, the electoral commission issued a statement clarifying that when the total votes per region were being tallied, certain figures were “inadvertently transposed”. The error was corrected and did not change the status quo.
On 9th December 2016, President Jammeh announced his rejection of the results. Subsequently, petitions were filed at the Supreme Court, which among other things call for a declaration of the nullification of the results, a rerun of the polls.
It is my considered opinion and stance that the results of the December 1st election represent a true reflection of the sovereign will of the Gambian people. The current attempts while appearing to have a veneer of constitutionalism are in fact an attempt to subvert the express will of the Gambian electorate. The people have spoken and they could not have spoken louder and clearer. They want change. A disaggregation of results shows that apart from the Fonis, the APRC and President Jammeh secured a 50+ per cent majority in only 3 out of 53 constituencies.
The APRC has no one to blame but itself for its dismal performance at the polls. We took very impolitic decisions from mid-2015 which led to a haemorrhaging of support from our traditional bases and made the party unappealing to new millennial voters. The Gambia has decided and we must accept and respect this decision.
This is the time for clear thinking and not burying of heads in the sand. To remain relevant, the APRC must take the hard decisions and make the necessary systemic and structural changes within the party.
The first of these hard decisions should be the dropping of petitions at the apex court, re-engaging President-elect Barrow and his Coalition team and expediting the transition arrangement.
I hereby appeal to my colleagues in cabinet, among them some of the finest ladies and gentlemen of the first order, and of course including His Excellency President Jammeh, to look into their conscience and take the right decision within the most reasonable time for the present and future of our vulnerable little Gambia. It is never too late to do the right thing.
I want to apologise to my colleagues in Cabinet that since the President’s December 9th announcement, my refusal to attend all cabinet meetings despite some of their entreaties was not meant as an affront or rebuff to anyone but a symbolic gesture of my opposition to what is taking place.
Finally, I have been heartened by comments – with the exception of one (an interview granted to The Guardian of London by a senior member of the Coalition) – from President-elect Barrow, Halifa Sallah, Ousainou Darboe and others on their vision of the post-Jammeh Gambia.
I hereby acknowledge Mr Adama Barrow as the President-elect of The Gambia stemming from the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah. I also call on President Jammeh to respect the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah he so much expressly believes in, and start the transition and hand over power within the stipulated 60 days from the elections.
In taking this decision and making this statement I have not sought the undue advice or help of anyone within or outside The Gambia and I am not seeking the validation or otherwise of any person or group.
Baba Sheriff Bojang
Issued in Dakar
Monday 9th December 2016
Defiant Jammeh appoints MP Seedy Njie as new Information minister
By Alhagie Jobe: Gambia’s outgoing President Yahya Jammeh has appointed a Nominated National Assembly member as the new Minister of Communication and Information Infrastructure with immediate effect, a Press Release read on State TV reveals.
Seedy Njie, who for the past years has been a nominated member in the bogus and rubber stamp National Assembly of The Gambia replaces Sheriff Bojang who jumped down from the sinking regime of Defiant Dictator Yahya Jammeh who refuses to handover power peacefully to the democratically elected President Adama Barrow.
Mr Bojang is indeed the first Cabinet minister to desert from the government since the political drama began in December when Mr Jammeh lost the election, conceded defeat and later reverse his decision prompting international condemnation.
Meanwhile, as Jammeh is still defiant busy appointing and sacking civil servants, the sub-regional bloc on the other hand is also working to ensure that Mr Jammeh leaves on January 19th when his term ends. Today, a meeting was convened in Nigeria hosted by President Buhari who is also the chief mediator in the political crisis.
At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that President Buhari leads a delegation to Banjul on Wednesday, January 11th, 2017, to meet defiant outgoing President Jammeh for what they called ‘a final effort’ in resolving the political impasse.
Paradise FM radio licences revoked
Paradise FM, a private radio station, in The Gambia has confirmed that the Ministry of Information has revoked its licenses to operate.
The move came barely 24 hours after the authorities ordered for its shut down as the sinking Yahya Jammeh government is all out on a major media crackdown as the political impasse heightens.
A one line letter signed by one Saul Njie of the Ministry of Information and Communication and Infrastructure addressed to the Management of the radio station, dated 9th January 2017 reads: “I am directed to inform you that your licence to operate has been revoked with immediate effect. Thanks for your cooperation”.
Earlier, all three other radio stations namely Taranga FM, Hiltop FM, Afriradio FM where all ordered to seize operation as the political drama in the country intensifies. It is though not confirmed if they equally have their licence been revoke.
