President Yahya Jammeh’s claim that the alleged coupists were victims of an outside influence is a cause for concern. Interestingly, Jammeh did not tell the nation which country was trying to instigate the military to be rebellious against his repressive regime. Or is this yet another Jammeh “black mail” against the men of The Gambia National Army? As usual, Jammeh kept on rambling, while addressing the nation. We thought that he was going to come out with material evidence to indict the alleged coupsits, but no evidence was advanced by the Presidency. Perhaps, they will import evidence from the Italian mafia Caso, who was used as a star witness in the Lalo Jaiteh and others treason trial. The said case was dismissed by the courts due to lack of evidence.

In a span of eleven years, Jammeh claimed to have survived about ten failed coup attempts. Interestingly, a good number of the alleged coupists were either discharged by the courts or pardoned by the government of the day. Now a days coup stories are no longer news in The Gambia. The people don’t tend to believe in the stories advanced by this administration.

Jammeh, came through a coup and will not hesitate to crush as he mentioned in his statement people he suspects of being disloyal to his dictatorial government.

We at the Freedom Newspaper, are totally opposed to force change of government. We believe that the voters should determine the destiny of their country and not the military. Jammeh started this unconstitutional move by toppling Jawara’s government. He Jammeh had cultivated a bad omen in our body politics by coming to power by force. The military have nothing to offer to the continent. They brought underdevelopment and political hardship.

Today, nobody is safe in The Gambian military. These reports of alleged foiled coups and counter coups are hindering development in The Gambia. Such news will no doubt have an adverse effect on our fragile economy. Serious investors will not target an unstable country like The Gambia. The APRC government is not a stable government. Hardly a year passes without hearing such anti democracy actions.

It is time for Jammeh to take stock of his government and ask himself when shall these stories of foiled coup seized? Why are the military trying him, as he claimed time and time? What will lead to such trials? The situation is indeed worrying. The Gambian military is divided today. It would be fool hardy for Jammeh and his cohorts to think that these officers don’t have loyalists in the army. The fact of the matter is that Jammeh is caught between the devil and the sea. He had succeeded in making more enemies than friends.

Our military is suffering from brain drain. Most of the trained officers were either killed, jailed or exiled. The government spent a significant amount of money to train these officers who are today accused of trying to topple Jammeh’s. Each year the government will recruit new intakes into the army, but by year end most of these recruits are behind bars or sacked. This administration is failing in the way and manner it presides over the affairs of the state.

Imagine Jammeh dressed in a military uniform shortly after his return from Mauritania. Angry Jammeh was said to have confronted the soldiers at Yundum and vowed to deal with those trying topple his government. Why the threats and the military dress? Is Jammeh trying to introduce another transition period or was he bent on scaring the soldiers?

The truth be told, these soldiers are not happy. They are pissed off with Jammeh and Jammeh is aware of the growing discontent in the military. We were made to understand that the state guards were angrier than these soldiers in Yundum.

The government should pay these poor soldiers who served in Sudan as peacekeepers. Jammeh is hell bent on traveling while our soldiers are yet to be paid. This is unacceptable. These soldiers worked very hard for their money and the government’s failure to pay them their money will no doubt worsen the already strained relationship.

It was good news to hear that Jammeh had decided to cut his unfinished overseas trips. Our economy suffers a lot from such travels. Stay home and work. You have been playing a lot. Jammeh is a failure and his followers should consider advising him not to bid for a third term. The military are giving him sleepless nights these days. Was it a foiled coup or cooked foiled coup? Nobody knows what these failed coup attempts will lead to. Only God Knows. God save poor Gambia and her people.