Members
of various youth groups in the country yesterday held a protest before the
National Assembly Building in Banjul, and called for the resignation of
National Assembly Members.
The
youths from diverse groups held placards and posters indicating that the
National Assembly Members had failed to represent the interest of the Gambian
people, hence they are calling for their “resignation”.
They
accused the country’s lawmakers of acting against democracy by declaring the
State of Public Emergency, which the youths deemed as “unconstitutional”.
Modou
Lamin Bah, Secretary General of Hopes of Tomorrow (HOT), said they were
exercising their constitutional right by calling on the country’s lawmakers to
resign, as they had disappointed the people of The Gambia by declaring a State
of Public Emergency, which led to the fleeing of thousands of Gambians from the
country during the recent political impasse.
The
interest of the Gambian people should be the number one priority of National
Assembly Members, Bah said.
“Instead
they put their interest ahead of that of the people of The Gambia, which is
disappointing,” he added.
Another
youth activist, who showed his disappointment about the actions of the
lawmakers, also asked for their immediate resignation.
Baboucarr
Kebbeh said: “We are really saddened and angry with the National Assembly
Members for declaring a State of Public Emergency on January 17, which led to
the suffering of thousands of Gambians and even loss of lives in the process of
fleeing the country.”
“The
Gambian people have seen and known their intentions towards their own people,
hence there is no need for them to maintain their positions,” Kebbeh added, and
called on the country’s lawmakers to talk to the young people about the matter
to avoid more embarrassment.
