(JollofNews) – President Adama Barrow has called on the people of Foni to work together to turn the country around positively.
The President made the call today when members of a a Foni reconciliation team paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Fajara. The team has been working on national reconciliation, especially between the people of Foni and the Barrow administration.
President Barrow assured the group that the concerns raised in a report they presented to him would be reviewed. He decried tribalism and commended the group for courageously engaging in dialogue to solve the problem. He said that while citizens had worn their party colours during elections, it was the national colours that took precedence once elections were over.
The President stressed that he would continue to work based on principles and not on personal sentiments. He assured the group of his commitment to The Gambia, without discriminating against any sector or region of the country.
Mr Barrow said Gambians should take pride in the mature manner in which the political impasse had been handled, adding that it had become best practice worthy of emulation across the world. He commended the Foni team for its maturity and said their visit and the spirit in which they came was “a demonstration that we can resolve our own problems.”
He told them that while in office, he intended to make best use of his time and he emphasised: “It is not the period you are in office, but what you are able to do during the time you are there that is important. I am convinced that together we can change the colour of Foni. It is part of our country. Remain strong and brave and the truth will remain.”
Speaking for the delegation, Retired General Lang Tombong Tamba said that being received by the President was indicative of the interest President Barrow had in the people. He spoke about why reconciliation was necessary, why the efforts had been made to send a message of peace and to call on the people of Foni to support government of the day.
General Tamba said Foni had always been a support base for the government in power, and that was why its people did not accept Yahya Jammeh for two years, because of their support for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime. He said a similar scenario presented itself when the Barrow government came to power. 
He assured the president that the people of Foni had no major issues with his government or himself personally but he did share a few concerns. These included an appeal to drop the charges against the protesters in Kafenda and Sibanor; reinstatement of those wrongfully dismissed; and access to fertilizers for the farmers. General Tamba assured Mr Barrow that the people of Foni were ready to support him, and urged him to address them.
Presidential Political Adviser Yusupha Cham – who President Barrow had earlier sent on a mission to Foni –thanked the people of Foni for warmly receiving him during his visit. He said the protests there had been unfortunate and were not supported by the majority.
Mr Cham noted that the people who spoke when he visited Foni, like those who visiting the president today, accepted Mr Barrow as President, and were aware of his family link in Foni. He said that despite the fact that many women support the APRC party, they would want President Barrow to go there and address them. Mr Cham encouraged the reconciliation team to continue their efforts to foster peace in the area.
The efforts to bring peace and reconciliation in Foni have involved many actors, including National Assembly representatives from Foni, the youth of Sibanor, Foni Jarrol, the Peace Ambassadors group and the local authorities from the West Coast Region.
The Gambia is for all of us let’s think positive, uniquely for the betterment all Irrespective of tribal grounds …..One Gambia , One people
World it beginning to respect Gambia because of peace.
These so-called elders of foni all have blood in their hands. They all once served the dictator and did carried out tortures, arrests and killings for Jammeh. Knowing they can’t escape the TRC,this is a tactical move to fool us.
Let’s accept that the environment we lived under Jammeh was a very difficult one for many, and not many behaved exemplarily well, especially in public office. The Gambia has decided to renew itself when we voted Jammeh out. Let that new Gambia be guided by the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness, and in that regard, the efforts of the Foni elders should be commended. And I believe Lang Tombong’s presence in this mediation body is very, very significant.
May their efforts bear the required fruits, so that the people of Foni and Kaninlai in particular, can feel at ease and have confidence that they are not viewed and treated differently by their own government.
This is exactly what the situation called for; Congratulations Mr President. I think some people on here, took a ride on a Ghost Train, called Dictatorship, and forgot to get off. God Bless ’em.
Not Withstanding some Detractors of this Positive Move or Motion Forward by President Barrow meeting with the “Foni Elders”, My modest and sincere thanks and best regards to President Barrow and the “Peace Makers” from Foni. As it is said in the Good book, “Blessed are the Peace Makers, For they Shall Inherit the Earth…However, The Proof of the “Bafitabb”, “Domoda” and Jolof Rice” are in the eating and Sharing. Let us Collectively Pray For Sincerity and Honesty taking Center Stage in all of the Meetings and Talks and they Build TRUST, RECONCILIATION AND PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. Maturity and Common Sense Should Prevail Upon all involved without Manipulation or Political Shenanigans of any kind. Only one or two things Concern caught my attention while reading the account of the Meeting. President Barrow was quoted to have said, “I am convinced that together, we can change the Color of Foni”. Question, what color is Foni? What is the color it is going to change into? In Politics and especially, in situations like the One being dealt with, every Word and Phrase Matters. Mr. Cham was also quoted to have said, “despite the fact that many Women Support APRC, President Barrow Should visit Foni and Speak to them”. This is a Statement from an Adviser of the President? I am not sure if I should be offering advise to an Adviser. I will anyway. At a Sensitive and Tense Times such as this, it is not a good thing to Negatively Label a Significant number of a Sub-section of a Cross Section of the Population you are Negotiating or Comnunicating with for Peace. Diplomatic Approach and language require Phrases such as, “there is some Work to be done with some in Foni to build Trust and Progress toward a Common Good”. If that is too long, the old stand by such as “We made Progress and intent to Double our efforts” will do. As a Whole however, Be bold, brave and determined to be an Inclusive, Tolerant President for All Gambians. Critics such as I and others are going to express their Opinions whether sought for or not. Listen and Make Hard Choices and Decisions that Make a Difference you can Can be Proud of Decades from Now. One People, One Destiny.
Organizing one or two rallies didn’t make these “elders ” to be speaking for all the people residing in fonis. They are the very ones who are seeking for reconciliation and forgiveness because of their past crimes when all of them were heading institution of toture and murder. We have the event evidence. Let them first apologize to the people before we can reconcile.