(JollofNews) – Fellow Gambians, my first preoccupation, as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and a patriot and the most sacred at that is to preserve at every instance and in every circumstance the lives of Gambians and this is a duty I hold sacrosanct.
I have always pride for peace and security of our nation and Africa. During this entire time that Allah (SWT) in His infinite wisdom has permitted me to exercise power and throughout the time that the sovereign people of the Gambia have put their confidence in me, my primary preoccupation has been to uphold the dignity of our people and the sovereignty of this great nation.
As a result of all the numerous sacrifices that we and those before us have made as a nation, the Gambia has affirmed it desire to determine its own future and destiny. This is a cause that I have always been ready to defend and even with my life.
All the actions we have taken towards building this nation up to this point have distinguished us among the community of nations and given us a pride of place in history. All this while, as a Muslim and a patriot, I believe it is not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed.
Since the beginning of this political impasse that our dear nation is going through, I promise before Allah (SWT) and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face will be resolved peacefully. I am indeed thankful to Allah (SWT) that until now not even a single casualty has been registered.
I believe in the importance of dialogue and the capacity of Africans to resolve amongst themselves all the challenges on the way towards democracy, economic and social development. It is as a result of this that I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with infinite gratitude to all Gambians, women, children, youth and men and friends of the Gambia who have supported me for 22 years in the building of a modern Gambian.
I put above all and everything the independence of the free and proud people of the Gambia and I will always together with you defend this independence that we so dearly fought for and won.
My decision today was not dictated by anything else but by the supreme interest of you the Gambian people and our dear country taking into consideration my prayer and desire that peace and security continues to rain in the Gambia.
At a time when we are witnessing chaos and trouble in other parts of African and the world, the peace and security of the Gambia is our collective heritage which we must jealously guard and defend.
I am proud and honoured to have served our country the Gambia. While thanking all of you men, women and children, members of the armed and security services, humble citizens and all those who have supported me or were against me during this period, I implore them all to put the supreme interest of our nation, the Gambia above all partisan interest and endeavour working together as one nation to continue to preserve the highly cherished achievements of the country, its sovereignty, peace, stability and integrity as well as the economic achievements realised during these years.
I pray that the Gambia our homeland, continues to be united and prosperous for the welfare of each and every one of us and be the pride of all.
I submit myself only to the judgement of Allah (SWT) Whose judgement is above and beyond man, time and history. The Almighty Allah (SWT) is the only Guarantor of truth and justice.
Finally, I am truly and sincerely proud to have been of service to you and our noble nation. I wish to thank each and every one of the security forces, members of government present and past, my party militants and most importantly you the Gambian people and the National Assembly members past and present for the confidence vested in me and your loyal support.
I pray that Allah (SWT) continues to guide and light our path and to shower His blessings and mercy on our great and beautiful country.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank my mother, my wife and children for all their prayers and support throughout the past 22 years. I thank you all and may Allah (SWT) continue to bless our motherland.
For all his faults and mistakes he did the right thing in the end.
Had he done it in realization of his mistakes and for the sake of what’s right it would be the right thing. But I assure you he did it for no other reason than the fact he was simply backed into a corner with no other way to benefit himself. He was selfish right to the end, mate
He had no real choice. The first to leave his absolute rule were the majority of the people many years ago. The election committee were the next in line to have had enough, then the judges and now finally the army, but if it had not been for Senegal’s impeccable use of massively superior force, he would still be there.
He and a handful of thugs at the end were the only ones that could have chosen any other course and it would have ended in their imminent demise. So yes he had Hobson’s choice to take which is why there are reports of him arguing with his wife before he agreed to finally go.
He had no option
History would have been kind to you had you done this earlier. Nonetheless it’s a relief that you have finally come to your senses for the first time in 22 years!
Other than all the stuff he has stolen….
Jammeh came in and out as president by force but no bloodshed. It as gone into history.
And he’s entitled to less than (pan Africans) Marcus Garvey, Nkuruma, Sankara, lumumba, Mandela, Mugabe, King, MalcomX etc.
May peace reign in Gambia and Africa.
yaya jammeh should have caught and taken straight to prison for he been so stubborn in turning power over to his fellow country man.why should African leader be so greedy for power.
@belleh
But Jammeh is to be blamed for sacking judges and not replacing them. ECOWAS blocked the judges who should decide on his “strong” case in court.
ECOWAS didn’t want 5 more years if they released the judges and he win in court and reelection. The best was to block access.
GREAT CONSPIRACY
He has no better than to quit power.
I congratulate the people of The Gambia with the good news. You have overcome great difficulties in putting aside your differences and elect the president of your choice and finally in transferring the power.
Now, the greatest difficulties may well lay ahead, to take the country in a new direction. This will not happen soon – expectations are high, but resources are low. I hope for the best.
I have always said that, ‘the best way to read someone is from his deeds’. The Attempt to Cling to power by the Former President Jammeh was not his own choice…I read it from his previous statement of concede defeat and later denouncement of the Victory of President Barrow. In this I commend him (Former President) for the late decision which is a wisdom guided move to cede and relinquish power in accordance with the wishes of the Gambian people.
I furthermore recommend that, President Barrow to consider treating all the Former Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Gambia with dignity and honour they deserve for serving the people of Gambia.
All the Best the People of Gambia, enjoy peace
So who’s choice was it that Jammeh tried to cling to power?
Gambia is secular society. There is no ‘Islamic Republic of the Gambia’. It is, REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA!
Nobody’s choice for him to cling to power atb all but himself. I saw it in his twisty leers of his big mouth that he’ll be out again with another mishievious foolish game to play for Gambians.
Gambia will survive love from Ukraine
He is a disgrace pathetic dictator and have no intention of leaving power.He called Muhammad Ibn Chambers and his friends to save his ass as the ECOWAS intervention Forces inched close to the state house and the reluctance of our soldiers to sacrifice their lives for him. He is a coward.He must have been shaking in his pants.
He would be remembered as one of those African despots who subjugate his people in a state of terror and plunder their resources and riches leaving them in misery and abj ect poverty.
Its an insult to associate him with great African leaders the likes of Patrick Lumumba,Sankara,Nkrumah and even our great Sir Dawda Jawara.he will be haunted by the ghost of great men and women he slaughtered,the cries of innocent children he orphaned,the women he widowed,the mothers he childless, and his cruelty and barbarity visited upon innocent and peace loving Gambians.
Allah will judge him accordingly.
Thanks. Well said.
Jammeh is a disgrace and disappointment to his family, Gambians and African. God must surely judge him.
The value Jammeh has brought to The Gambia can not and will never be underestimated……we thank God there was no bloodshed….whether we like it or not criticize him or not he created so much values for The Gambia….insults ,calling for his head now ….blames is not what The Gambia needs now…but a deliberate attempt to surpass the values he Jammeh has created….the best man in the world will and can never be without enemies ….Jammeh can never be without faults or weakness…bbc he is s human ….22 years keeping Gambia without chaos as experienced in the world…is not an easy one….my point is this the time for Gambians to rise ….and create to build the new Gambia they want…..nobody can do it for them but them…..like it or not you never neglect….ignore the growth of Gambia for 22years without mentioning Jammeh….I remain a big fan of Jammeh….I over look his frailties and pick his strengths…..I think he achieved and accomplished to a large extent ….irrespective of his mistakes.Gambians there is a good side and f Jammeh ….find it…grow it …it will help you as a person and as a nation.selah.
Well done! Yaya jammeh.
Well done! Yaya jammeh.
Good idea!
A precident has been set for all African dectors…no need to cling to power…he almost did the Gabgo style…by was wise at the end.
Jammeh May Allah SWA protect you and your families where ever you may found yourself.
You hv done it all for Gambians.
God bless you Jammeh we missed you.
It prick’s my bitter parts of man when people praised jammeh for throwing in the towel, he had no choice, if not,he wouldn’t have stepped dawn. He could not go to war either considering what he will loose in the process. He is not Wise to say, if he was, he would have accepted defeat and maintained his integrity rather he Left with disgrace. His story is a lesson to African leaders. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupt absolutely. God is in control.
the lieutenant jammeh is finally gone. He nas never been a doctor, nor a professor but always a fake, fraud and most of all a thief. All his wealth is stolen from the gambian people and ought to be confiscated and returned to them. Lieutenant jammeh should be transported to Haag. I am sure there is a single room suitable for him there. I do hope they can collect sufficient information to build a case. Ousman Sonko might want to help in that process? Many questions need answers. Who killed Deyda Hydara is one of them!
His last address before he left Gambia is obviously belated. He is a shameless man. If has more options he would have stayed in power. A bitter lesson for other African leaders who are still in power for decades like Mugabe of Zimbabwe. It is disheartening to see most African leaders cling go power greedily .
Jammeh stepped down not because he cares about Gambia or because he loves Gambians, he stepped down because he knew he was going to be killed or jailed and publicly humiliated. He, like all cowards was driven and motivated by fear.
Those who believed that he contributed to the development of Gambia are being misled, his only legacy is human rights abuses and disregard and utter disrespect for law and order. He is an opportunist, a thief and liar.
His 22 years of misrule left the country without basic infrastructure and up till the last moment he continued to empty the country’s treasury.
He does not deserve any credit or accolades. He is evil and Gambia best days are ahead of us with him out of the picture.
My hope is that the opposition don’t make the fatal mistake of starting internal fights and disagreements that will distract from the awesome responsibility of nation building. You can see signs already of power struggle and jostling for relevance within the aides. There are many wolves in sheep clothes.
@ Isatou Sarr. I could not agree more with everything you said. He essentially brought himself time whilst the ECOWAS negotiations were underway.
Have you read Alieu Jagne’s article, below? The content really resonated. How equity will be achieved will be anyones guess.
https://jollofnews.gm/2017/01/18/gambia-the-three-year-programme-for-the-coalition/
I do hope Ya Ya Jammeh is brought to justice- it is unfair. He seems to live in another reality and clearly believes he is entitled to public money…..