Last
Word! We are all sick and tired of Yaya Jammeh and his failed APRC
administration, but never again shall the Gambian people accept
forceful means of taking over state control.
As
we have less than 24 hours to the country’s red letter day, I thought
it fitting to use this medium and make a final appeal to our opposition
political leaders, Hon. Halifa Sallah of the National Alliance for
Democracy and Development (NADD) and Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the
Alliance for Regime Change ARC which comprises of the UDP/ NRP /GPDP,
the security forces and the general public.
My
appeal to the political leaders has been made in one of my write-ups in
the past on what favor you can do to us ordinary Gambians. You have
failed the Gambian people for not agreeing to unite under one umbrella
and contest the incumbent Yaya Jammeh and his APRC knowing fully that
it’s a simple majority system. In short there will be no second round
of voting. Your disintegration led him to easily win the elections
which will be formalised early next week by the IEC and the Attorney
General, Tijan Hydra. Now that you have shown us your true colors that
you cannot agree to form one bloc, I and many other desperate Gambians
want you to speak with one voice and reject the results. It is crystal
clear that Yaya Jammeh and his APRC are not popular and cannot win
under any true democratic means, other than through intimidation. This
is manifested by the huge influx of the so-called refugees from
Cassamance. This scenario was a well calculated move pre-meditated by
Yaya Jammeh, Salif Sadio, Alexandra Gibba and other rebel fighters in
the region. By creating unrest, they easily came to Banjul to seek
refuge and vote in the process. That objective has been fully realised.
Not mentioning of the gross human rights violations that have taken
place during the period. Your various party militants are in custody;
some may even die in detention or be released paralysed. By rejecting
the results, you would have done us the Gambian people a great favor.
That way you would have sent a message to the International community
exactly what you have been telling your electorate during the past 3
weeks. The ARC
have already issued a statement which suggests that the least they will
do this time round is to speak with one voice and denounce the results,
though there is a tendency that they may boycott the pools. Which ever
decision is taken, we wait and see. But jointly speaking with a single
voice and reject the results, will be more than enough for Gambisara
and many other Gambians. Darboe should NOT rush to the American Embassy to seek refuge or phone Jammeh to concede defeat as he did in 1996 and 2001 respectively.
My
appeal to the Gambian security forces headed by Chief of Defense Staff,
Col. Lang Tombong Tamba, Harry Sambou of the NIA and Ousman Sonko of
the Gambia Police Force is to remain neutral and be loyal to the public
whose taxes you get paid. You and your men should stay away from
partisan politics which you should have done ages ago. The Gambian
civilian population has the right to a peaceful demonstration like our
counterparts in Budapest , Hungary currently demonstrating demanding
the resignation of their Prime Minister who lied to get re-elected.
Yaya Jammeh too faces the same or more serious charges as he has lied
to the Gambian electorates on all matters of state. He has ordered the
killings of innocent people and a lot more with impunity. Should we
want to show our anger by organising a peaceful demonstration, we
should not be restricted. I vividly remember the outcome of the April 10th and 11th
2000 demonstrations which was meant to be peaceful, but turned bloody
by the blood thirsty security forces led by the current Interior
Secretary, Babucarr Jatta, then Army Commander. This time round, Yaya
Jammeh and the APRC have provoked the Gambian people and a peaceful
demonstration looks inevitable. In the past, he has instructed your
predecessors to kill and jail innocent people. He ended up sending
those lucky officers to jail. The unlucky ones, such as Daba Marena and
co. allegedly lost their lives while in active service. Some of those
fortunate officers where asked to go and apologies to those they
wronged. Among them, the disgraced Agriculture Secretary, Yankuba
Touray. Disgraced diplomat, Dr. Sedat Jobe was lured into an apology
after castigating the opposition to the satisfaction of Yaya Jammeh; he
was later arrested and to jailed. Remember, as you are all trained
officers to execute only lawful orders. It could be your turn on Monday
next week. I am fully aware that there are some disgruntle soldiers in
the Army and are ready to take the slightest opportunity available next
week. The Army and the entire security forces are divided keep your
cool and remain at your various units. We are all sick and tired of
Yaya Jammeh and his failed APRC administration, but never again shall
the Gambian people accept forceful means of taking over state control.
The African sub-region as a whole is suffering because of reckless
soldiers. No chance again.
To
myself and my innocent colleagues within the civilian population who
are without a weapon to fight like the security forces, I remind us
that we have the most dangerous weapon in this universe which is our
vote. Let us all deny Yaya Jammeh and his APRC, that way; he will be
sent packing from the State House on Saturday. I also pray to God the
Almighty to enable us go through the election period through his
benevolent protection as he alone can provide us the innocent with
adequate security, peace and harmony. Let us also remember our national
anthem, For the Gambia our homeland, we strive and work and pray for
its advancement and not its destruction. Have a peaceful election.
The author can be reached through
gambisara1@yahoo.com.
