(JollofNews) – President Yahya Jammeh Tuesday told Gambians that he is ready to enter dialogue with the opposition and resolve the simmering political dispute in the country.
In a late televised address to the nation, Mr Jammeh said although he still strongly believes that he was cheated in the election, he is confident that Gambians can come together and resolve the election dispute and any other matter without external interference.
Mr Jammeh, 51, who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years last month suffered a surprised election defeat.
The election was called in favour of opposition candidate Adama Barrow who won more than 45% of the vote according to the country’s electoral commission.
Mr Jammeh had initially conceded defeat and praised the country’s electoral system as rigged proof. He changed his mind a week later and declared the results null and void citing huge and unacceptable mistakes by the electoral commission.
He later filed a suit at the supreme court asking judges to determine that Adama Barrow was not duly elected or returned as president, and that the said election was void.
But as tension continues with many civilians fleeing the urban area to the provinces and neighbouring countries, Mr Jammeh said he will personally take all possible steps within his conscience and law to end the standoff.
“I assure everyone that as a Gambian, a Muslim, and a family man, no foreigner can love this country and hold its highest interest at heart more than myself and the majority of Gambians. So I will also be taking all possible steps within the constitution and my conscience to do my part to resolve this impasse,” he said.
“Cabinet sat and we will continue to sit and liaise with the National Assembly to take all constitutional measures to make sure that the supremacy of the rule of law and the constitution in the next few days.”
Mr Jammeh added that to help find a solution to the impasse, he has tasked the country’s secretary-general and head of the civil service to meet with all stakeholders in the country and prepare a meeting so that all parties can be heard and resolve any mistrust and issues amongst themselves.
He added that the secretary-general will also work with the Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to draft a general amnesty bill to confirm and ensure that there is no witch-hunt in order restore a climate of confidence and security within constitutional mandate.
Mr Jammeh added: “In this connection, I hereby issue an executive order to that effect that nobody be arrested or prosecuted due to acts or omissions in the pre and post electoral period from November 1st 2016 to Jan 31st 2017.
“As the whole world has seen, we continue as a people to exhibit the highest degree of fraternity and despite the heated passions we have maintained to the highest degree the virtues of patience, tolerance and mutual respect across ethnic and faith lines.”
He appealed to Gambians to forgive each other especially the political leaders and ask them continue to work together to treat and consolidate peace and harmony in their beloved country.
He added: “As we are all human and bound to make mistakes, we therefore accept this as a test on our faith by Allah individually and collectively as believing people. I ask all Gambians and other nationals in the country to go about their business in peace and security and I assure you that Allah willing all will continue to be well and this will all be resolved in peace.”
Mr president could this be a back track or a tactic? Please endeavour to make an exact stand. Do you know that if you renege in your earlier stand you prove to be the coward you said you are not. We want to see history written in Africa where a nation or its ruler withstands the strength of external aggression as you have described the ECOWAS stand against you. By your rantings the days gone by you stand to be a hero to elements of my caliber but where you back pedal we still need to go searching for brave men.
Aliyu are you being sarcastic or serious? if it is the later, then you need to go and search for another hero. You may not be privy to all the facts and realities that Jammeh faces but I guess he knows that he has no legs to stand on. Most Gambians have not bought his silly rant about external threat because Gambians have wised up to his games.
The EVIL kanilai DOG finally getting its dirty tail down between its legs as a MURDEROUS DEVILISH COWARD it is & will always remain; after now realised that NO amount of DEVILLING can perpetuate the EVIL MANIPULATIVE kanilai FIEFDOM any longer…
The Gambia will continue to prevail against any EVIL & DEVILISH IDOLATROUS tendencies no matter what; Insha Allah…
Long live the Gambia…
Hope he dont act like burundian president, just b carefull, this kind of leader can do anything. They preach peace and freedom but the other hand is slaughting
Looks to me like he sees no way out and wants the National Assembly to enact a law to protect him from being prosecuted after the 19th. I guess he is not as stupid as he looks.
Too little too late! Had Jammeh stood by his first defeat- concession stance, he would have been highly respected the world over. Now he slowly seems to return to the same but after a tidious vicious circle. Its a high time he allows the will of the people to prevail. Meanwhile, I still wonder what Standoff Jammeh mentions as his only option is to relinquish power to the duly elected candidate. I hope he does not have the slightest idea of power-sharing. The writing is clearly on the wall. Peace be with all The Gambians countrywide.
Peaceful dialogue can fin with anything .Only cowards think blood to solve problems. If you have blood in your hands you pay it a day late or earlier.If the foreigners come to kill innocents only for in shit chair they will repent all but all like the current and the next. If all the politicians are equal what matters is the official car the difference is right and left and point so take time anytime to dialogue never think about the war,, remember Iraq Libya Syria or Liberia are still believing in the war??? In front of Allah Subhamahu Wataala You will pay for it
People have had blood on their hands since Hon. Koro Ceesay’s assasination, but just to mention one among numerous. I even met non-Gambian citizens in the diaspora entitle to Gambian passports by the Nia. They are always of the motion that Gambia is going perfectly well with dictatorship and only haters would be opposed to the status quo.
The looming war of actual gun smoke would be just the tip end of a despicable predicament. War in general have been meticulously incited by half.-minded sycophants and hypocrites of the Gambia from far way back 22years. Amasing why one would turn a peaceworker when one has vehemently expressed ethnic hate and religious intolerance in a constitutionally secular country.
Allah(SWT) doesn’t need human security personel deployed on other human beings. Allah(SWT) knows when my heart is stinking dirty and know as well when it is blessed with blessed love and grace. No one can trick Allah(all knowing), in order to win HIS friendship. The way a fellow human being will pay for their sins is no other human being’s business if not to cleanse their own hearts from hatred and religious intolerance toward others etc..
Mr Jammeh,your time is up ask yourself if you have done anything constitutional from July 22nd,1994 to 9th December,2016. Please repent for your sins,leave the interpretations of the constitution to the people Gambians voted for,pack and leave the state house period.
believe me this idiot ‘s corpse will be paraded in the streets of Banjul if he does not step down.this fool’s support base is the military. but with sanctions from ECOWAS, Gambia’s accounts will be frozen and he will face the same problem Gbagbo faced of failing to pay soldiers so they will defect and recognise Adama Barrow without a single bullet from ECOWAS.with no soldiers to protect him, he will be stoned and hz corpse paraded like Ghadafi the same person he advised to quit.
Mr Sonike u sound like a supporter of Jameh. no one wants blood to be spilt. so advice your Jameh to quit in peace koz wether ECOWAS sends in troops or not, we will kick yo foolish friend Jameh out. the Gambians of today are not the Gambians of yesterday whom Jameh and pipo like u manipulated for 22 years
with or without ECOWAS soldiers, we will kick out Jameh.
president jammeh go we do not need you please because we are suffering because of your actions. ARE u fooling,appologising or planning to murder us we are not fools any more to you. Just leave us on peace.Go anywhere you want but not here, if you stay here you will interfare in our transition.Muderer ,rapist etc goooo
Yaya Jammeh speaks with a forked tongue, he cannot be trusted. His speech was full of contradictions and his twisted view of the Gambian constitution. He claimed that only the supreme court can declare the winner of the election and that people should wait for that, this is bollocks because we all know that the supreme court has been none existent for the past year or so because he sacked some of the judges. After scrambling to put together some mercenary judges from Nigeria and Sierra Leone failed, he is trying to appear conciliatory and asking for forgiveness but not once did he accept any responsibility for placing the country on the brink of war and chaos. I for one will not relax until this man is caged with his gang of thugs.
You cannot say am ready for negotiation at the same time you beating your chest with complains. If u believed what you said you can contest the manner in court of competent lawb but at the time should not delay sworning incoming leader. As there is no silver bullet if competent court will ruke out any time soon. You either say i will concede or i will challenge results the choice is up to you, remember you cannot continue threaten or arresting people for their right.
Yaya,I know you will not allow external body to come into this politica instability in your beautiful country,you are a leader who preach and also maintain peace in your country, good move,Mr President,show good example, you will be criticised, some will call you some kind of names,remember God and peace that you always preach.
You are a brave man,wiser than many.long live Mr President
Please mr president jammeh, dont make another U turn.
CHIYBKE in reponse to your coment, this is a Gambian problem why don’t you put a sock in your pipe and smoke it. You are a fool and ignorant individual. Have you been watching the news lately how many gambians are leaving the country in mass exodus, thanks your yaya jammeh you are clueless to the plight of gambians. Do us all a favour and shut your Un democratic ranting mouth. Stop day dreaming and let gambians have peace from your lunatic leader who is very confused, reading from his comments this morning only supreme court can decide the presidency by his kangaroo court at the same time he will start the transition. You better read the lines. That’s what I call a very confused individual. It sounds like dog wagging tails between the legs. My advice to you is this stop interfering in other people’s business, only gambians and people who love our country are allowed to air their views. Not fools like you. Got it.
Let’s be civil, difficult as it may seem to some. Not everyone has to support the party, issue or agenda we support. Yaya Jammeh and his supporters have as much right as anyone to express their opinion. I happen to be non partisan, but of the opinion that a Forensic examination of the Supposedly Interposed or whatever was done to the 62, 000 plus Votes by All Stakeholders, including ECOWAS, Negotiators, and Members of the Coalition Alliance Leadership and President Yaya Jammeh and his Selected Representatives. An MOU between the Parties especially, the Gambians need to be signed Binding the Findings of such Adhoc Group as the Final Arbiter. If IEC was right, the Truth would vindicate it. On the other hand, if there was some “Hanky-panky deeds by the IEC, the Independent Adhoc Group would settle the matter and help Gambia and Gambians from engaging in a destructive Civil disturbance that could turn ugly and last for decades. Tolerance is a virtue and not a Commodity to be traded among friends and family. It is to be extended to those who disagree and see things differently. Please have a helping handful of it and pass it on to be passed on throughout our families, compounds and Country, the Gambia.
Sidi I welcome you non partisan contribution but please do not forget that the very constitution that Jammeh is claiming to have given him the right to petition the election results also requires him to step down at the expiration of his presidency. Therefore he should step down and pursue his petition in court. If he wins then Barrow will be stripped of the presidency? Yahya Jammeh cannot claim to be following the dictates of the constitution and also protecting it but at the same time violate the constitution. No one should be allowed to cherry pick the provisions of the constitution to respect because no Gambian is above the law. He cannot eat his cake and have is.
A word is enough for the wise. JUST TEL EVERYONE THAT YOU WERE JOKING TRYING TO REFUSE THE CREDIBLE ELECTION RESULT. We would all smile at your humourous gesture and see you as a HERO!. Just go and do it!
It’s not too late to accept the fact and recognise the expressed will of the people of The Gambia. Mr President, you can still leave office with some degree of respect if you stand down at the end of your term come the 18th of January 2017 and oversee the peaceful transfer of power to president elect Barrow and avoid any perceived disturbance from within and outside the country. Mr president accept it’s over, the voice of the people is the voice God, so go now if you have any consideration for the country and her people. To The Gambia ever true.
Traitors behave just like how Sheriff Bojang and Alieu K Jammeh and others do.
Yahya expect that many of their tribesmen will abandon you, but remain steadfast and reaffirm your position “backward never forward ever. God is ever powerful and Inshallah they will all regret their acts. As the wollof saying goes “Sosseh du sosal ken” they are devillish and only want to see your downfall but they will never live to see that. Note that with their treacherous plans in their defections none will ever survive to see your downfall. It is now clear to you that with all what they were saying in niceties and praise singing they were undermining you just to see your downfall but God the all knowing and everpowerful is and will continue to.protect you from their evil machination. INSHALLAH.
LONGLIVE YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH
LONGLIVE THE GAMBIA
I find such tribalism and bigotry unacceptable, especially when it may be an attempt by someone who wants to inflame an already combustible environment. Stop. Please, stop fanning the flame with Fake representations. It is utterly evil and irresponsible. Stop. One Gambia, One People United under one Roof.
This is the trait of every revolution. Expect traitors and sellouts. When the tough gets going, there are some weak elements that would easily fade out.
They are afraid of Adama Barrow and his clique of selfish elements. Remember the 12 renegade ambassadors. These people were never sincere to President Jammeh’s revolution from the onset. That’s why they quickly jumped ship, as normal in the behaviour of sellouts and reactionaries.
However, the Wollof saying: “Sosseh du sosal ken” should never be assimilated within our cultural tendencies.Though the two renegades are SOSSEHs, I believe it has nothing to do with the good nature of the SOSSEH( Mandinka).
These two are reactionary and counterevolutionary. They have fear!
Babu soil , i think you may be infected by jammehs tribalism, Before jammeh gambia was a pure lovely country, reason why people of gambia tolerate each other no tribes feels neglect from another tribe this is why when you visit to another compound which different from your tribe will welcome you, and provide you what ever they can afford. Before jammeh there was no historical issues about tribalism in the gambia, lets talk factually gambia was ranking in the first to ten human right records, if you were born after 1994 then am sorry you may not witness these days am talking about. But those who born well before 1994 will knows what am talking about. Jammeh infects many about his tribal hatred which nearly cause fragment in our society, this damage should be fix before he dissappear in political arena,i feel very disturb when i saw jammeh speaking about other tribes on television this when on viral on U tube, left gambia at my early age well before jammeh, now i am 52 years old residing in europe, i visited gambia in 2010 after 30 years, gambia was not like the gambia that i left past 30 years ago. I am very disturb about this tribal problem that jammeh invent it.
Me George I’m saying that a peaceful dialogue can finish with everything that violence actions that no means I’m supporting mr Jammeh no at all you sounds like fake democract I’m saying what I think like or not, who’s claim war in The Gambia because he has no family friends or relatives in The Gambia I prefer years of negotiations than useless war,, only stupid people fix things with violence.
Jammeh mandate will end on the 18.
So he cannot issue any executive order that have effects after the 18.
We want change without blood,,,Jammeh is going , will go have to go peacefully, first peace dialogue, if one leader has no communications or allies will tire without a shot , and I hate the military action around the world because what they do in wars is to violate the woman’s the minors and steal in The houses and businesses ,I’m sure that they can kick Mr Jammeh out of power but it will be very late and there will be no young people alive That why war has no benefits, think about life before the chair love Gambia and Gambian people we don’t want years of useless conflict and violence specially from outside. Sorry guys it’s no fair
Hello Fellow Gambian,
I, Adama Barrow Independent Candidate representing the Coalition of eight parties hereby declare that the planned innaugration schuled for 19th January be postponed until when the ruling can be made on Petition filed by the APRC Party.
The reason is, i want to go into office with a clean sheet. If i had known that the self exiled Gambians in the Diaspora had bribed the corrupt IEC Chairman Alieu Momar Njie before December 1st election i would have withdrawn my candidature. Democracy is not about cheating its all about being clean and to clean the mess other people left. On that note i am declaring the scheduled innaugration be halted until further notice. No urge for ascending to the presidency when the peace and tranquility of our beloved Gambia can be endangered.
Many thanks for your cooperarion.
Yours
ADAMA BARROW
Candidate Independent Coalition.
Hello Fellow Gambians,
I, Adama Barrow Independent Candidate representing the Coalition of eight parties hereby declare that the planned innaugration schuled for 19th January be postponed until when the ruling can be made on Petition filed by the APRC Party.
The reason is, i want to go into office with a clean sheet. If i had known that the self exiled Gambians in the Diaspora had bribed the corrupt IEC Chairman Alieu Momar Njie before December 1st election i would have withdrawn my candidature. Democracy is not about cheating its all about being clean and to clean the mess other people left. On that note i am declaring the scheduled innaugration be halted until further notice. No urge for ascending to the presidency when the peace and tranquility of our beloved Gambia can be endangered.
Many thanks for your cooperarion.
Yours
ADAMA BARROW
Candidate Independent Coalition.
I Yaya Jammeh, having stolen power 22yrs ago and being told by Gambian people they don’t want my ruthless bloody dictatorship, the state looting of the country’s wealth, prostitution, idol worshipping do hear ask for amnesty, i don’t have a place to go— I cannot go to Nigeria I stole money from former president Abbacher, I cannot go Bissau i kill Nino Viera and i am told the feds got General Bubu to talk. I cannot go to Liberia- my hands were in their civil war. I cannot go to Senegal i have for 20 yrs been supporting the casa mace rebels with weapons i bought from Iran in the name of Kanilia Group( by the way i have been hiding in a bunker at State House, who is presently running my businesses- sales and i hope aprc is depositing my sales for me)
Mr Sanyang, by Jammeh’s thunderous ferocity it occurred to me as unlike Gbagbos, Amin’s, Mobutu’s, Ghadafis, Does and even the Germany’s Hitler, we are eventually blessed this time with some one in Africa who can start a fight and lives to see it to the end, but only to be disappointed by his sudden retract
Aliyu, all that “thunderous Ferocity” was fake. The man is all hot air and nothing else. And his fate will be like all those you mentioned above unless he runs like the coward he is with his tail between his legs. Sorry to disappoint you my brother but you will not find your hero in Jammeh.