Prince
Ebrahim Sanyang has called on all political leaders to engage in an urgent
dialogue to resolve the current political impasse, so as to free the nation of
uncertainty and anxiety.
He
said: “As a one-family nation, Gambia’s political leaders owe it to our people
to sit round a table, see eye to eye and dialogue for a peaceful resolution.
“This
is no time for bi-partisan politics.
This is a time when the nations interest supersedes all. Our nation is at a fundamental crossroad;
therefore, leaders must all prioritise urgent peaceful dialogue for history to
judge them accordingly.
“The
citizens frustrations on current political impasse is very unfortunately
manifested; others especially many of our old folks are terrified by all these
uncertainties and are leaving our beloved nation. This is not nice.”
Prince
Ebrahim called for urgent dialogue among all stakeholders; an initiative he is
prepared to sponsor in the interest of sustainable peace and stability in the
country.
He
noted that under the under current political situation, no single leader, party
or even interest group or nation can manage the reaction of the majority, come
19 January and beyond.
In
this vein, Prince Sanyang appealed to both the civilians and security services
to safeguard the peace.
He
said: “I am appealing to the people to
maintain maximum restraint, civil order and promote spirit of one nation and
people, and not to engage into anything that will vex the current peace.
“I
am equally appealing to all security forces to be extremely sensitive in
execution of their duties, and not act in any way that may question their impartiality
or that could bring about discontent, disunity and misunderstanding among our
one-family nation.”
Prince
Ebrahim also called on the media fraternity to promote content that will
promote peace, unison and stability.
He
urged media practitioners to continually inform, entertain and educate people
“throughout this period and beyond with ethics and balanced editorial
standards”.
As
part of his own dialogue initiative, Prince Ebrahim had meetings with
President-elect Adama Barrow, Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress, and
the Speaker of the National Assembly.
He
described Barrow as peaceful and humble man, and Mama Kandeh as a kind older
brother who he personally knows very well.
Speaker Bojang, he said, was his babysitter at birth.
He
said from these meetings, there was a consensus that dialogue is an agreed way
forward.
“I
do not see any reason or person that should become a stumbling block to resolve
the current impasse, they must talk and talk now,” he said.
“This
political stalemate requires all inclusive solutions through dialogue
only. I have no shadow of doubt that
behind the scene peaceful dialogue will yield far greater resolve than rhetoric
and military threats.”
Prince
Ebrahim said the current situation is already affecting businesses in the
country because trade thrives in an environment that is certain and
stable.
He
commended “the good people of The Gambia” who had been working behind the scene
to resolve all through dialogue.
Asked
which party he belongs to, Prince Ebrahim said: “I belong to all and belongs to
nobody. Meanwhile, I fully accept that
it is a very difficult period for all; let us not allow emotions to cloud our
judgement. By Grace of Almighty God, this will pass through dialogue.”