Gambian youths ask Assembly Speaker to apologise publicly

Gambian youths have called on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Abdoulie Bojang, to apologise publicly to Gambians.

Diverse youth groups protested on Tuesday outside the National Assembly Building in Banjul demanding the resignation of the country’s lawmakers for declaring a state of public emergency, which the protesters deemed “unconstitutional”.

Baboucarr Kebbeh, a youth activist, said the Speaker of the Assembly should apologise publicly to Gambians concerning the state of public emergency they imposed on Gambians on January 17, which was ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘undemocratic’ “or else he should resign immediate.”

He added that there was only one lawmaker who apologised publicly to Gambians about the declaration, and the same should apply to the rest of the National Assembly Members, especially the Speaker.

“We are really saddened and angry towards the National Assembly Members, particularly the Speaker, as their action had led to the suffering of thousands of Gambians, some of whom even lost their lives in the process of fleeing.”

The youths said that they want the National Assembly Members to call them and discuss the issue, and see how best the matter will be solved; otherwise they are planning something bigger than what was done on Tuesday outside the Assembly.

Members of other youth groups re-echoed similar sentiments, and demanded that the Speaker apologises to Gambians for the problems they suffered.