(JollofNews) – A prominent Gambian businessman and strong supporter of President Yahya Jammeh and his APRC party has called on him to respect the verdict of the Gambian people and handover power to President-elect Adama Barrow.
Amadou Samba, president and chairman of Gacem Company Ltd (the only cement packaging company in the Gambia) and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gambia Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation, also implored Mr Jammeh to cooperate with President-elect Adama Barrow for a smooth transition and with fellow Ecowas presidents and members for the peace and stability of the Gambia.
Tension is high in the Gambia and security officers are put on stand-by after Mr Jammeh told state television GRTS on December 9th 2016 that he has rejected the totality of the December 1st election results and called for fresh elections.
Mr Jammeh, 51, who has ruled the Gambia since July 1994 had initially conceded defeat and praised the country’s electoral system as “the most transparent election in the whole world,” adding that he would not contest the result.
He later changed his mind and accused the electoral commission of committing serious errors which undermined the outcome of the final results.
But in a letter to the Gambian leader dated 16th December 2016, Mr Samba wrote: “I am writing to reiterate my thoughts and advice as a Gambian citizen and a private businessman who has been participating in national development over the past 35 years.
On December 2nd 2016, Your Excellency graciously conceded defeat in a televised conversation to your opponent President-elect Adama Barrow. This noble gesture of yours was applauded around the world. It generated many positive references from newspapers and statesmen around the world including President Barack Obama and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Since your statement of December 9th, many organisations including the UN Security Council, the USA, the EU, the African Union, ECOWAS, the Gambia Bar Association, the Gambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Gambia Teachers Union, the Muslim and Christian Religious Leaders and others have all asked that you respect the choice that the Gambian people made on the December 1st 2016 elections. Given the strong global reaction, it is important to reflect on the fact that the Gambian people have made their choice and the world community is strongly supporting this choice.
I write to affirm to you my conviction that the wisest course of action today is to undertake a process of respecting the commitment Your Excellency made on national television on December 2nd 2016 of cooperating with President-elect Adama Barrow for a smooth transition.
During my 35-year carer as a private businessman, I have achieved many success and endured many setbacks. I have been a supporter of the APRC from its earliest days. I have freely contributed to many projects undertaken by the APRC Administration out of my own pocket. I did all these things because of my love for my country and wanting to work hard so that my children and grandchildren can grow up in freedom and prosperity for all Gambians.
It is out of this same sentiment that I implore Your Excellency to cooperate with President-elect Adama Barrow for a smooth transition. I also urge you to cooperate your fellow ECOWAS presidents and members to ensure that peace and stability shall forever reign in our motherland.”
Well, that is it then, surely it is over for Jammeh. Muhammad Bazzi and all other Jammeh-Funders will take the same view as Amadou Samba. I hope Sheriff Bojang saw the wisdom of going across the border before this letter was published (as I am sure Amadou must have done – hence why it took six days for the letter to be published). Amadou is Sheriff’s God-father and if Amadou has abandoned Jammeh, jammeh would grab Sheriff.
It will be in the best interest of President Jammeh to give way to democracy. Standing in front of democracy, can be socidal. The waves of democratization is moving fast and it is time for dictators especially in Africa to not forget what democracy did to Johnny Paul Koroma of Sierra Leone, Dadis Kamara of Guinea, Lauren Gbagbo of Ivory Coast, Muhammad Ghadafi of Libya etc etc. President Jammeh please think wisely and hand over power to the president elect Amadu Barrow. After handing over, the president elect should set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission not a special court because Jammeh has never been involved in the mass killing of his people neither committed crime against humanity, war crimes or genocide. Long live democracy long live the people of Gambia. Democracy has it own wars please avoid them.
True talk my brother.