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.
