Councillor
Pa Amadou Manneh, Ward Councillor for Nyambai Ward, has made a humble appeal
for President Jammeh to peacefully hand over the reins of government to
President-elect Adama Barrow.
The
following is the full statement of Councillor Pa Amadou Manneh:
HUMBLE
APPEAL FOR PRESIDENT JAMMEH TO HAND OVER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BARROW
One
among numerous concepts I learnt from my Waa Juwara’s school of political
thought, is that in any multi-party democracy when you are overcomed with what
is your wish in a democratic process, you have to accept, on the contrary to
when you are overcomed with what is not your wish you must accept.
It
is under this backdrop that I, honourable Pa Amadou Manneh, an elected ward
councillor under the APRC would add my voice onto the many God-fearing and
peace-loving people of The Gambia to call on President Jammeh to hand over the
baton of leadership to President-elect Barrow.
I
am saying this even though my wish and efforts were for Jammeh to win this
election and continue with his development agenda for The Gambia for the next
five years.
My
loyalty to Jammeh and the APRC is unquestionable. I have been an advocate for
the continuity of the APRC regime in many ways, means and manner up to this
recent election.
Apart
from my countless political activities at regional level, I used my popular TV
program on GRTS with Jali nghaly Mbye called “Yamaro” to canvass for Jammeh and
my party.
I
was on a political broadcast twice during the campaign period. But one thing I
believe and have accepted in good faith is that we were unable to convince the
Gambian people to vote and entrust their faith in us this time around even
though they have been doing so since 1996.
And
with all honesty it is their civic and political right to decide whosoever to
vote for. The Gambian people have spoken and their language must be heard. If
we can honestly reflect a little the writings were on the wall.
My
journey towards being an APRC member was not accidental but a calculated move.
Way back in the days of my activism in school, I got my political inspiration
from PDOIS to become a sympathizer of the NCP under S.M. Dibba, then to the UDP
during the second republic, then to become a founding member of the National
Democratic Action Movement (NDAM), where I was the national youth president.
Towards
the 2006 general elections my party (NDAM) joined with all the other existing
opposition political parties to form an alliance called The National Alliance
For Democracy and Development (NADD) when NADD fails the Gambian people at the
dawn of the elections my confidence in the credibility of the leadership of
those parties including my own, dwindles, then I decided to have a second
thought about my perception of Jammeh as a president. I became convinced that
the love, pride, patriotism and intentions he has for the Gambia can only be
achieved through the collective efforts, contributions and collaborations of
all Gambians home and abroad. This is basically why I joined the APRC. I
contested local government elections in 2013 and won for Nyambai Ward. This is
my political journey though short but has endowed me with an experience of
understanding who Jammeh is. This is why I still appeal with reluctance, due
respect and honour to my comrade leader, founder and architect of the July 22
revolution to reconsider his decision, recognize and reaccept the will of God
that nobody can teach him to kindly and willingly for the sake of peace and
continued stability do the wish of the majority of the Gambian people.
We
under the leadership of Jammeh are eager to back to the drawing board to start
afresh to be able to maintain and sustain his legacy. And in so doing, we need
you Jammeh on the other side of the coin for guidance towards the achievement
of your vision for the Gambia our home land.
Long
live GDC
Long live APRC
Long live coalition 2016
Long live the Gambia
Signed
Honorable
Pa Amadou Manneh
