(JollofNews) – Following widespread allegations and mischaracterization of President Adama Barrow’s remarks in the North Bank Region about the planned construction of 60 mosques, The Gambia Government makes it categorically clear, that the reports were twisted and grossly exaggerated to instill fear and deep divisions in Gambian society and to potentially, malign the good reputation of the President and his democratic Government.
Therefore, The Gambia Government hereby reminds citizens, visitors, resident aliens, representatives of foreign governments and their diplomatic missions as well as members of all religious denominations, that The Republic of The Gambia remains a secular, constitutional democracy where all are free to believe and practice their faith and it is not Government’s business to interfere in people’s religious beliefs.
Equally, Government wants to make it abundantly clear, that the construction of religious houses was not its policy agenda nor development programme. Instead, President Barrow’s vision for The Gambia is to radically transform a country that endured two decades of dictatorship and maladministration to a nation of hope and progress that respects and protects constitutional due process, the rule of law and promotes a culture of religious tolerance and guarantees citizens of their unfettered freedoms.
The Government acknowledges that some volunteer youth groups among them, the Barrow Youth Movement and NGOs, have availed themselves to the President with promises of boreholes, farming implements, seeds and fertilizer to support his development initiatives as well as the voluntary construction of village mosques following requests by local worshippers.
However, these pledges and pronouncements by volunteers must not be confused nor misconstrued as a deliberate policy by the Barrow government to build mosques.
President Adama Barrow remains focussed on his National Development Plans.
The Government once again reiterates its commitment to the secularity of the state where all are equal before the law.
Signed:
Ebrima G. Sankareh
Spokesperson of Government of The Republic of The Gambia.
President Barrow should avoid associating himself with, or making promises based on, projects initiated by voluntary groups or community based organisations.
I think going around the country and making promises to build projects that are not budgeted for by the Government is ill advised, particularly when these are in urgent need by communities up country, like Bore holes.
What is he going to tell the people if the funding for the 60 bore holes he promised wasn’t provided?
Ebrima,
you are turning into everything you’ve fought against with your online newspaper; your tone and choice of words are becoming condescending on the one hand towards people with genuine concerns and sycophantic in nature towards a leadership hungry for compliments on the other.
Furthermore, you have failed to allay the fears of people who only want assurances that Adama will not go Jammeh on them. I have the same worries because for far too long, every minute of our wretched existence, has been brought on us first and foremost through Islam and Christianity. Constantly from Jawara to Jammeh, religion is used to hold us hostage to ideological positions by those who control state power and resources so that they can wine and dine at our expense.
Adama and his green boys and girls want to take us the same route. We will raise our voices against it and our hands if necessary.
Ebrima your self righteous statements that are conceived and produced by you ALONE cannot change that because they are devoid of honesty and integrity.
As spokes person of the government, I will advice you to remodel your communication strategies with the populace. This current one alienates.
Yours in the service of The Gambia and the Black Nation, I remain.
I believe that Presidrnt Barrow’s statement is taken way out of context. Where are those voices condemning him when Jammeh was abusing state resources and using it to build mosques everywhere even in the police stations.
Contextualize it, if it’s been taken out of context. That’s the whole point of these interactions.
And please, many are tired of that boring, old song, “Where were you when…..” All who didn’t agree with Jammeh did their little bits, in their own ways, to highlight the plight of Gambians and others under his rule.
Just because they didn’t put on party colours and speak from PA systems doesn’t mean that their efforts should be questioned.
Who are we to question and judge people, anyway?
The “Barrow youth movement” are an established movement already; & will have to spend their funds raised anyhow they chose, regardless of how we opine; the president, among examples, have been allocated a “donation” fund under the last budgetary allocations, which he’s “entitled to support any groups” (he may think are on good causes) including the Barrow youth movement amongst; alongside the youth movement’s receipts of other donations from other philanthropic personnel, institutions & Political players, locally & internationally….
I (for one) will rather have part of the funds spent on Mosques, churches & the like, maintain & keeping them to good standards, than on some July 22nd movement merry making infidelities, for example….
Politically too, an (added advantage) edge for president Barrow, in the politicking football field; attempt on banishment & reassurance to the population against the notions sold by some supreme Islamic Council members sometime back, who campaigned & equated on allowing permission for the Ahmadiyya TV licensing, for example, to current government being tantamount to, go against the mainstream sunni Muslims sect, etc, etc….
Another different approach could be; for the other non-Muslims currently in the Barrow youth movement, (if any) &/ Gambian youths in other faiths too, can form similar youth movements &/ action groups, & go after to ask the president, for their slices of the cake too; & build churches & shrines, etc, etc….
⭐The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said; “Whoever builds a masjid for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” ⭐
That’s to say if the money that is used to build the mosque is yours, not stolen or gained through deceptive ways and means.
Having said that, who voted for Adama to office for him to be a religious guide and benefactor?
Rather than building mosques, why can’t he build small scale peanut processing outlets that will help the farmers to add value to their products and earn more money for their needs and the needs of their families.
Nations are built through wise decisions that are implemented with the requisite know-how to enhance a peoples standard of living.
Religion should be left to the individual and groups of such. The state and its affiliates have no business in it.
The same Prophet also destroys a mosque already built for a good reason. So is not all those who build a mosque will be rewarded a house in Jannah; that is what we should also bear in mind. The intention is very important aside from the source of funding.
I don’t think anyone in their right minds will come out here to blow their own trumpet on how they fought against Yaya and his thugs. Or worst still how they single handedly dislodge him from power.
Even Gambians who have never uttered a word against Yaya have the bloody right to criticize and castigate the current leadership if they feel they have not been well represented. Why you, Keluntang, would like to silence anyone who says Adama is gutless and clueless is baffling to me, to say the least.
If I, or anyone else for that matter, happen to take Adamas speech out of context, the onus is then on him and him alone to come out and make clarifications. But even at that, he has failed, because without counting checking the childish statement that was put out by Ebrima Sankareh, the president has again demonstrated his inability to run a flawless administration.
Indeed Mwalimu, the state has NO business in building or lauding houses of worship.
This government must work diligently to remove the finger of government in every pot if it means business going forward.
At this rate, The Gambia would be swiftly going back to the same poverty culture nurtured by the PPP and APRC.
Points noted gentlemen.
@Andy: Has poverty ever left our shores? Or did you mean something else?
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Well I am under the impression that the more the populace toil under the yoke of bad leadership and neocolonial influences, the poorer we get. The needle of the measuring gadget has never shifted upwards as far as I can tell, under all these three “regimes“. Kumba taneewut Degen!
Upward mobility in The Gambia and by extension many African countries, is more often than not, achieved through blatant daylight stealing of public funds and other material resources. Those who make it to the most “profitable“ positions use it as an insurance by stealing and investing in business interests and their families who are suppose to pay back (geestu), if the benefactor loses his/her privileges.
Put religion into that equation and you have a bad poison capable of condemning two million people to eternal poverty and endless social chaos.
As Halifa Sallah will say, to be born in poverty, live in poverty and die in poverty. From the cradle to the grave, misery accompanies many a soul that deserve better.
In answer to your question Mwalimu, NO poverty of various forms has been endemic on our shores for as long as I can recall.
Grins…..
thank you!
Hey Jack, I’m good with my CHURAA GERRTEH/TIYA KERREH SATO for breakfast and dinner but the bulk of Gambians aren’t so lucky.
First they have to till the soil, struggle to gain access to seeds and fertilizer, hope that the Almighty keeps the showers coming, worry sick about pests and diseases, pray that they don’t get sick along the way and then……..What’s the and then again? Maybe OJ the miracle worker can provide some answers. That’s what we’ve got at our feet Jack!
Now we have lying spin masters and misuses serving at the pleasure of a President that’s also groping about in the dark with the notion that the wholesale construction of mosques will bring back Allah’s Word Bank.
Hey, Jack, Bax, Mwalimu, Demba and Pateh, at least we’ve got our heads together.
Bajaw, SAA BEH KOR DOMO LALEH DEH (Manding).
“SAA BEH KOR DOMO LALEH DEH”
#Andrew, Saa beh kor domo kan neh birring….
We just have to keep the tab on; as we critique & criticise along continously; ‘politics’ is a decent word coined for ‘deception’; there’re no saints in politics, though there can be some (very) few politicians who can shine on the brim….
Andrew, what’s “Alunkaabo” or something sound like it in Karoninka?
Jack, I meant to to answer with a NO and then add that poverty of various forms has been endemic on our shores…
I hope the comment is clear now as we may both be on to the same point.
Awuiye Bajaw. Alunkaabo is a Karoninka greeting that’s similar to Dimbaayalu Beh Di in Manding. So you do dabble with the language? Bajaw’s got too much savvy under his sleeves. So I can be your Saa Muta Nyo? Right?
Hey Bajaw, so you must know a popular Karoninka wrestler called Folay Jaa from Kombo Jambanjelly?
How about Alieu Seben (7) Ton? Haha.
Cha cha cha cha Foley jah, aning sebbing tonoh (7 ton), oh yes Andrew I surely can; all were very fond memories then in kombo & Gambia at large; this were ‘happy days’, but how “times quickly turned phoney” all of sudden, along….¿¿¿
Yes, I do remember, this greetings being said in exchanges between karoninka fluent conversants, from memories…
Oh yes, mbeh saa mutalla nyofé leh, moo beh (we/us all); & continue to be critical & critique & criticise those mandated to rule, as we are doing, for the betterment alleviation of the community together….
Could be frustrating, with our (Gambia) situation at all times but nothing is impossible with resilient efforts; together, we can move mountains, literally…
God bless Gambia….
Rectification please – Could be frustrating, with our (Gambia) situation at times but nothing is impossible with resilient efforts…
Thank you.
Oh yes Bajaw! Folay became a transporter thereafter with several vehicles plying the Jambanjelly route. Here’s a humble, hard working and self made man.
Mwalimu may also recall the old trick of entering the wrestling grounds for free in Kombo. What one had to do was carry a bucket of water for the wrestlers to tip on themselves and you’d be waved to go in for free. Mwalimu appears to possess a good dose of Kombonka savvy tucked away somewhere. So Bajaw, that’s where old Andy learned the art of KOROSI-RO, Chonchongo and peace making. You can also bet that Andy knows exactly how to engage members of this medium in a wrestling match that may earn someone a nasty BUSULO. Aah yes, the NYO BORING SANSANGO (wrestling grounds). I’m itching to engage one Mr Presidential Spokesperson, Sidibeh ning Sankaa in a bout (LEW-TO CHI LAMBA JI as in Wolof) Haha.
Laughs………
I knew there was something behind the intermittent lurking Andy.
Yes, a bucket of water for entry at the Babung Fatty Arena or the S/K East park when the kirinting was still there. Been there, done that.
Mind you, I too have some Busulu tricks under my sleeves. I go for sisibaa though because am a Badibunka. They are reserved for now until called into action.
Andy have you read the new installment by the man with the mystical pen, GambianO?
He flipped and flopped me through a mighty suspense, only for Mai to show up and break all hell loose.
Damn! this guy has got his hands on the literary pulse of the political schemings of a ruling group that has lost orientation.
No Mwalimu I haven’t read the installment by Gambiano but will do so this weekend.
On the subject of Nyo Boringo, I’ve never heard of a Badibunka Mbiro and Bajaw may play referee here. Sisibaa Mwalimu? In Badibu? Even the Badibu capital of Salikeni or Chaaku Bantang didn’t have a Nyo Boring Sansango. So your Sisibaa may be just that. One that comes after a Firr Firro in a tussle.
Remember that the Sisibaa never worked with the agile Fula wrestlers. It’s more like a Lippo together with the Juu Kunkung Selendo that does the trick. Your big Laugh!!