(JollofNews) – The daughter of a detained Gambian opposition sympathiser who led Thursday’s protest against the government of President Yahya Jammeh has lavished praise on her father for standing up to his political beliefs.
Ebrima Solo Sandeng, national organising secretary of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) was nicked on Thursday afternoon by security officers after he led a ‘unauthorised’ street protest at the busy Westfield junction some 12 kilometres away from the capital, Banjul, and displayed a banner with the slogan: “We Need Proper Electoral Reform”.
During the protest, they also chanted anti-government slogan and demanded the resignation of President Yahya Jammeh.
A government spokesman has since blamed the protest on a few ‘agitators’ who wanted to cause a breach of the peace and public order.
But Mr Sandeng’s daughter, PhaateMah Sandeng, she admired her fathers courage to stand up for her political beliefs.
“I admire my father because he is a hero,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
“I admire him because he is not part of the hypocrites who express their dissatisfaction in their bedrooms with [out] voicing them out.
“I am proud of him because he is a proud citizen who is aware of his rights and responsibilities and acts upon them.”
While calling on the Gambian regime to free her dad, Ms Sandeng said she will stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
“No matter what happens, I stand by you today and forever for you have not wronged anybody,” she added.
“If the Gambia is as democratic and peaceful as we claim, why on earth can’t its citizens embark on a peaceful demonstration to declare what they are in for or not.”
