(JollofNews) – A former Gambian Minister of Information, Communication and Technology who fled into neighbouring Senegal has justified his decision for ditching President Jammeh.
Sheriff Bojang said his resignation was triggered by President Yahya Jammeh’s decision to annul the results of last month’s election, which were called in favour of opposition candidate, Adama Barrow.
He accused Mr Jammeh of trying to subvert the express will of the Gambian electorate.
In a statement issued in Dakar, the renown newspaper journalist who was appointed to the top job in January 2015 said: “I begin this statement by hereby announcing that I have taken the decision, and written to the relevant high authority to the effect that I have resigned from the Government and the Cabinet as Minister of Information & Communication Infrastructure with immediate effect.
I hereby wish to thank His Excellency, President Yahya AJJ Jammeh for according me the onerous opportunity to serve my country in the high office of Minister of State for exactly the past two years this month. On 1st December 2016, the people of The Gambia went to the polls to elect a new head of state. After the final tally of votes Mr Adama Barrow of the Coalition was duly announced winner and declared president-elect. President Jammeh conceded defeat and pledged to work with Mr Barrow on a transition.
However on 5th December 2016, the electoral commission issued a statement clarifying that when the total votes per region were being tallied, certain figures were “inadvertently transposed”. The error was corrected and did not change the status quo. On 9th December 2016, President Jammeh announced his rejection of the results. Subsequently, petitions were filed at the Supreme Court, which among other things call for a declaration of the nullification of the results, a rerun of the polls. It is my considered opinion and stance that the results of the December 1st election represent a true reflection of the sovereign will of the Gambian people. The current attempts while appearing to have a veneer of constitutionalism are in fact an attempt to subvert the express will of the Gambian electorate.
The people have spoken and they could not have spoken louder and clearer. They want change. A disaggregation of results shows that apart from the Fonis, the APRC and President Jammeh secured a 50+ per cent majority in only 3 out of 53 constituencies. The APRC has no one to blame but itself for its dismal performance at the polls. We took very impolitic decisions from mid-2015 which led to a haemorrhaging of support from our traditional bases and made the party unappealing to new millennial voters. The Gambia has decided and we must accept and respect this decision. This is the time for clear thinking and not burying of heads in the sand.
To remain relevant, the APRC must take the hard decisions and make the necessary systemic and structural changes within the party. The first of these hard decisions should be the dropping of petitions at the apex court, re-engaging President-elect Barrow and his Coalition team and expediting the transition arrangement. I hereby appeal to my colleagues in cabinet, among them some of the finest ladies and gentlemen of the first order, and of course including His Excellency President Jammeh, to look into their conscience and take the right decision within the most reasonable time for the present and future of our vulnerable little Gambia. It is never too late to do the right thing.
I want to apologise to my colleagues in Cabinet that since the President’s December 9th announcement, my refusal to attend all cabinet meetings despite some of their entreaties was not meant as an affront or rebuff to anyone but a symbolic gesture of my opposition to what is taking place. Finally, I have been heartened by comments – with the exception of one (an interview granted to The Guardian of London by a senior member of the Coalition) – from President-elect Barrow, Halifa Sallah, Ousainou Darboe and others on their vision of the post-Jammeh Gambia.
I hereby acknowledge Mr Adama Barrow as the President-elect of The Gambia stemming from the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah. I also call on President Jammeh to respect the wishes of Gambians and the will of the Almighty Allah he so much expressly believes in, and start the transition and hand over power within the stipulated 60 days from the elections. In taking this decision and making this statement I have not sought the undue advice or help of anyone within or outside The Gambia and I am not seeking the validation or otherwise of any person or group.“
This is the right thing to do. A lot us continued with the Jammeh regime on his promise for Accountability and Transparency. It then became the most opaque and ruthless regime.
Thanks
Ex – Minister: A humble man indeed. May GOD continue to blessed you more and more.
Traitors behave just like how Sheriff Bojang 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
You are out of your mind, yaya jammeh daffa danu beh julatu bapareh sizu so Sheriff bojang has done the right thing and all those still with yaya should follow if they are good citizens
And it’s the other way round you should’ve said God the almighty will protect gambians from killer lier yahya’s evil ho
You Better Read And Understand His Reasons Of Leaving Before U Said This Nonsense. I Dont Know Why People Like U Are Selfish And Stupid.This Has Nothing To Do With Tribelism. Sheriff Is A True Muslim And God Fearing And Loves His Country More Than Yaya Jammeh. He Thinks Of Judgement Here After Which Jammeh Cannot Defend Him. If Jammeh Doesnt Want To Admit The Truth That He Loss So Dont Accuse Someone Of Been Tribelist. Jammeh Is Not Bigger Than Gambia. This Type Of Comment Creates Violence Pls Think Before You Write This Is Social Media.
XXXXXX , you used a lot of threaten languages you cannot use that language if we are suppose to be open society, people should be free and decided not to be dictated.
Mr xxxxxx. Hmmmm you better repent and advice your bogus and dictator outgoing president to respect the voices of Gambian before it’s too late.
Mr xxxxxx. Hmmmm you better repent and advice your bogus and dictator outgoing president to respect the voices of Gambian before it’s too late. Jammed will end like gbagboo or Gaddafi if he fails to step down.
Mr. Sheriff Bojang is nt a fool and thats y he quit fom group of fools
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx I’m Wollof, but I have more Mandingko, Jola and Fulani friends. We Gambians have been living together for decades if not centuries without ethnic conflicts, and we will continue to live in peace. Shame on you for even thinking of tribalism. Is a no no no.
MR XXXXXXXXXX. Y don’t u identify yourself,let me ask are u a patriotic citizen?did u love yor country? wat GOD have decided is wat happens.respect da will of GOD.do not talk about tribe,if it was tribe jammeh will neva won those past election. we r GAMBIANS that wat is important.THE GAMBIA HAS DECIDES N GOD ALSO DECIDES,this is our destiny.ONE GAMBIA ,ONE SMILING COAST EVA IN THIS WORLD,PEACE LOVE N UNITY THE GAMBIA EVA TRUE.
You sound devlishly ignorant…
I know Sheriff and his values personally, and your “Sosseh Quote” is simply a fake, reminds me of a saying I heard in the States. : stupid is what stupid do” You are plagiarizing
Mr Sheriff Bonjang is a man of integrity n i commend him dat for been a true Gambian..we expect more like in d coming days inshallah. Long live the Gambia
You now see the truth way mr bojang this what has to be done as stated in the constitution jammehs time is over.
“…Yirribaa Boytaa, Kunnolu Bhe Janjang Kang…” Mandinka adage…
The EVIL kanilai MANIPULATIVE FIEFDOM is perished & crumbling in our very eyes; DEVIL yaya KILLER Jammeh can turn to its idols at kanilai, sacrifice it’s mother Fatou Bojang, the PROSTITUTE concubine Zeinab & children Mariam & Mohammed & see with their blood if the idols can stop & reverse what the True God (SWT) have blessed Gambia with already on December 1st, in responding to our untold suffering & fervent prayers for past 22 MURDEROUS years in this Dark-Age in the history of our peaceful country but which is now stopping for good & for better by January 19; Insha Allah…
Long live the Gambia…
Well Done! Sheriff has acted honourably. I hope the rest will see the wisdom and patriotism in his decision and follow suit.
All praises due to Allah. Sheriffo Bojang well done for leaving a sinking ship before you get perished along. You are from a very good background and you just show that to the wall. I don’t know you but what my grandfather used to tell me was that when you see your grandfather you see a man of truth and he will say it even it will cause his life. May Allah continue to bless Gambia and her sons and daughters from this Saitan. Ameen.
WE GAMBIAN NEED CHANGE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YAHYA JAMMEH IS GOING INSHALLAH!!
Exactly, Gambians need a change if after over twenty years the head of state can’t improve the lives of the Gambian people he is incapable of doing so.
Gambians have a great opportunity in front of them and should embrace the future as it can only get better.
I am a Nigerian and in good touch with development in Gambia, African leaders should tread carefully else Jammeh will put them to shame. After all some of them are also products of fraudulent elections and as such should not intimidate Jammeh. Since he said Only Allah the Most High can remove him, they should not see such a declaration as a child play. I suggest that if he intends to down play the Gambians decision the God is watching him and will not spare him to the 19/1/2017.
Traitors behave just like how Sheriff Bojang 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
Like the journalist that he is Sheriff is busy writing here using different names. But the FACTS of what he did AS MINISTER condemn him, NOT his “Allah this, Allah that”. Please keep Allah out of your deviousness!!!! The FACTS are these:-
1. Sheriff IS ON RECORDING dismissing the State Murder of the Trade Union Leader;
2. Sheriff IS ON RECORD dismissing the State Murder of Solo Sandeng and the torture of the UDP women. Sheriff’s EXACT words on BBC were these: “THEY STARTED IT” – i.e. the victims “started” the demonstrations and therefore they deserved to be killed and tortured.
3. Sheriff IS ON REORDING justifying the unlawful jailing of Ousainou Darboe and the UDP Executive – “THEY STARTED IT”.
4. Mr. SHERIFF “they started it” Bojang DID NOT DUMP JAMMEH!!!!!!!!!!
5. SHERIFF RAN AWAY BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS JAMMEH MUST GO!!!!!! SHERIFF HAS REMAINED STEADILY BY JAMMEH’S SIDE SINCE JAMMEH DECIDED TO ANNUL THE ELECTION – SHERIFF DID NOT RUN AWAY THEN. HE WAITED 33 DAYS AFTER THE ANNULMENT, AND ONLY 8 DAYS BEFORE JAMMEH’S DEPARTURE, TO RUN.
6. Mr. “They Started It” Bojang even condemned his own UDP’s Uncle Bojang to persuade Bakau to vote for Jammeh!!!
7. The Gambian electorate, whom Sheriff is on record persuading to vote for Jammeh WHILE OUSAINOU & CO were in Mile 2, DUMPED Jammeh and Mr. Sheriff “they started it” Bojang.
You are NOT going to ERASE these facts from the mind of Gambians, Mr. Sheriff “they started it” Bojang. So, take a rest from your keyboard, and enjoy Amadou Samba’s LOOT as you hide away in Dakar. Gambians being Gambians, they will “forgive” you even your justification of Solo’s murder – but don’t make a mistake of considering yourself a “Free-Born” of Brikama and Bakau. They are more likely to LYNCH you in a dark alley there – and some “amnesty agreement” will NOT prevent the truly Free-Born Gambians (like Solo Sandeng” from LYNCHING you.
RiP Sheriff Bojang “Gambia’s Pen”; Welcome “Baba” Sheriff “they started it” Bojang.
PS: Please forget the Allah this, Allah that BS! Gambians are a godly people and devils like you and Jammeh and Amadou Samba took advantage of that. Barrow, Halifa, Darboe and Touray are too smart for “Baba” Sheriff “they started it” Bojang’s CRAP!
Dida Halake (aka Luntango Suun Gann Gi).
Just noticed The Devil’s final sentence: “… I am not seeking the validation or otherwise of any person or group”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very wise, very wise because they are more likely to “validate” you by LYNCHING you!!!!!!!!!!!!
True talk Dida,Sheriff was one of the critics of the then AFPRC,during his days at the observer,when it was REALLY the Observer,but suddenly changed when he realized that to be part of the “tinted vehicle” class,you have to do away with your professionalism,and be rallying support from shadow Presidents.With the demise of the system and the cooling of heels in Dakar of the shadow president what do you expect him to do?
I for one never take Sheriff seriously, the moment he mortgaged his professionalism.