(JollofNews) – Supporters of Gambia’s former longterm ruler Yahya Jammeh will next Friday commemorate the anniversary of the military coup which brought him to power.
Mr Jammeh came to power on 22 July 1994 and ruled the Gambia until December 2016 when he was defeated in the polls by Adama Barrow.
Although the new administration has accused his APRC regime of committing gross right violations, corruption and ruining the hopes and aspirations of Gambians, Mr Jammeh’s supporters have credited him for bringing development to the doorsteps of Gambians including, hospitals and health centres, good road networks, schools, a national university and modern airport.
Musa Amul Nyassi, APRC National Assembly member for Foni Kansala, said the party has obtained a written permit from the office of the Inspector General of Police to mark the event.
“The Party militants will come together to celebrate the day in grand style and we want the whole Gambia to know that APRC is alive and the militants are still loyal to the Party,” he told the independent Standard Newspaper.
“I don’t want to say much because the Party has structures; we have an interim leader who is the chairman of the national coordinating committee.
“There are plans for a press briefing at which lot of issues will be highlighted about the celebrations.”
Mr Nyassi said the APRC although the party has had some failures, it has made a lot success across the country.
He added that although the party’s founder is in exile as part of a deal brokered by regional leaders, the party militants in the country will consolidates on its successes, rectify its mistakes, weaknesses and keep the party alive and relevant to the Gambian people.
Gambia police force should not give them permit. Who are they to celebrated the coup. APRC is a over throwing government. Who ever celebrate shall all be arrested
I am shocked that the IGP has granted a permit for the celebrations to mark July 22nd. What message are we sending: that if you are going to borrow indiscriminately (over D35 billion in 2 decades) and build a few roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, then it’s alright to overthrow a democratically elected government and impose yourself on the people? Is this what we have fought for? Is this what lives have been lost for? Is this how we seek justice for the victims? Is this how we understand protecting the fundamental rights to freedom of expression.
July 22nd was a military act of treason against the state by our Armed Forces and has got nothing to do with the APRC, as it did not even exist at the time.
President Barrow’s Administration should revoke this permit and issue a non compromising statement against celebrating July 22nd, now that the last of the criminals have been driven out of the power he seized illegally on 22nd July 1994.
It is definitely a hard decision but we should to account those who usherEd in the 1994 coup in the first place. Because Sir Dawda’ credentials in terms of the dignity and rights of the human being in the first place,should not have been neglected thereby ushering in or aborting to the 1994 coup.
After chairing the Ecomog in 1990 to send forces into Liberia in which he was instrumental in supporting the course for lasting peace in the region, his efforts should have been at least rewarded if not accorded it’s rightly earned dues, by foiling the 1994 coup.
The ideology behind the military putsch is nothing but mere spontaneity and lack of educational background as the countrys state of academic Tertiary was .
That coup has reap the Gambian especially the youths off a very valuable treasure, and that is the foundation stone of a democratic administration,way of thinking and how to incorporate and value our cultural norms.
If they want to mark this date; It should take the form of a memorial to all those lost souls, cheated out of a life. >> accompanied by an all night vigil>>with prayers and flowers. lest we forget, at the going down of the sun, we shall remember them.