By Lamin Njie
Top Islamic scholar Bakawsu Fofana has warned President Adama Barrow against insisting on staying in office beyond this coming December.
Seven political parties backed President Adama Barrow at the 2016 presidential election but Mr Barrow has run roughshod on every tenet of the political grouping. A key tenet is for him to do three years and step aside but President Barrow has expressed his desire to be in office for five years ‘whether one likes it or not.’
Bakawsu Fofana in an audio message on Tuesday, August 13 said President Barrow could end up humiliating himself like other African presidents in the past if he insists on staying in power. Mr Fofana who was speaking in Mandinka, addressed President Barrow directly.
The fiery cleric said: “There are three solutions to the Three Years Jotna issue but it’s all up to you (President Barrow). The first two solutions are pro-peace.
“I want to call on the president and his supporters to listen to me with their minds. The issue of three years is not a political issue, it’s an issue of conflict but dialogue can solve it. But everything is up to the president.
“I do not know the people behind Three Years but there are only three ways out of it and it’s all up to President Barrow. The first option for you (President Barrow) is to resign and call elections at the end of three years. You (President Barrow) should not take part in the elections and you shouldn’t support anyone.
“The second option is for you (President Barrow) to form a party and stand in the elections at the end of the three years. If you truly believe in yourself and if your supporters believe in you. If you win, your government will be an independent one free from coalition control.
“There is a third option. Just that that option can breed conflict. That option is for you (President Barrow) to refuse to step down. People could take to the streets demanding you leave power. There will be a back and forth, ‘leave power, I will not leave power.’ There will then be two things; either you flee into exile like Yahya Jammeh or you get arrested and taken to Mile 2.”
