Following
your U-turn in refusing to accept the December, 1st 2016 presidential election
result, you have plunged the entire nation into a state of dilemma, with
Gambians and non-Gambians alike not knowing which way the country is headed.
The state of confusion in the country is such that many, especially none Gambians
are leaving the country either to Senegal or returning to their countries of
origin for fear of the unknown.
Gambians
used to love you with all their hearts, and it’s fair to say that some still
love you so much. It is on this note that I sincerely admonish you to accept
the verdict of the Gambian people and hand over power to the president elect,
Mr Adama Barrow. I beg you in God’s Name; please don’t destroy Gambia by taking
us to war and thereby destroying your legacy in the process. That would not be
wise as you need to be remembered in a positive and not negative way.
There
are no winners in war as you may know and in any case the only winners are the
gun manufacturers. I urge you to think about the women and children and the
untold suffering any conflict situation will bring in terms of loss of lives
and destruction of our economy. It is within your power to stop what is looming
from happening and if you love this country as you’ve been saying all these
years, then for the good of our country, I urge you to seriously reconsider
your stance and humbly step aside.
I am sure you can still remember the euphoric
reception Gambians gave you and your young revolutionaries when you came into
power in 1994. Because of the peaceful nature you took power, Gambians stood by
your side even when the international community threatened to abandon you and
called on you to step down.
Now that the same Gambians have decided to
move on without you at the helm of their affairs, please do not consider this
an act of betrayal. As a man of faith I know you have the strength to overcome
and accept the dictates of the present situation in good faith. I also know
that you will not want people to ask each other the whereabouts of their
mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and be told that they were killed during
the war when Jammeh refused to hand over power to the President-elect after the
December 1 2016 presidential election. That would be a bad legacy to leave
behind for your kids and your grandchildren to read in the history books.
As
a peace-loving president and a man of God as you always proclaimed I would like
to call on you on behalf of our mothers and sisters - because Gambian women are
your supporters - to relinquish power to the President-elect as The Gambia is a
peaceful country you have led for 22 years as president with a massive support
from our mothers and the youths.
So
I don’t think you will want all those mothers and youths to be killed because
of your refusal to accept their verdict. The truth is that our country is in a
state of confusion and even those near you giving you all sorts of false
glimmers of hope of clinging unto power are themselves now worried about what
is to happen next.
For
the vast majority of us, The Gambia is our homeland and we have nowhere else to
go to, which is why we are praying for peace. I urge you once again step aside
and do not be an obstacle to the peaceful transfer of power that all have and
are hoping for come the 19th of January 2017.
One
reads a lot these days and statements on social media about preparations made
by outside forces and other interested parties warming up to invade The Gambia
in case things fall apart on or before January, 19th 2017. It is indeed very
frightening and a cause for concern for all. The Gambia is a safe haven for
many a refugee because of the peace she enjoys - Gambians wants that peace to
continue uninterrupted.
May
I recall your mind to 2011 when the uprising and civil war broke out in Libya?
Laudably, you evacuated thousands of Africans back home as a humanitarian
gesture and followed that move by strongly condemning the late President
Muammar Qadhafi to step down since his people didn’t want him. Please learn
from history.
The
Gambia the smiling coast of Africa is now on the spotlight but not for the
right reason. At your own invitation you had a meeting with the country’s
religious leaders, urging them to preach peace and reconciliation in the
nation. Reconciliation is a two-way street in which all the parties involved
each give and take. That reconciliation can be best advocated by you by
accepting the outcome of December polls, which you yourself described as fair
and transparent because “Gambian election is the best in the world and cannot
be tampered by anybody”.
Four
African leaders and the entire world at large pleaded with you to accept the
results and hand over power peacefully to the president-elect but you are still
adamant. God the supreme is watching how things are unfolding. The famous
Titanic Ship was so highly rated by the manufacturer that when asked about its
safety, he proudly said that even God cannot capsized it. But of course we know
how the Titanic came to its end.
A
famous Brazilian leader was asked how hopeful he was in one election and he
replied that he’s won already with 500,000 voters. Yes, he did win that
election but he died before his inauguration.
This can tell you that man proposes and God decides and the supremacy of
God cannot be challenged.
Therefore,
I believe you will not allow Gambians to drop tears because the Jammeh they
obeyed for 22 years as their president refused to step down.
For
the Gambia our homeland
We strive and work and pray
That
all may live in unity
Freedom
and peace each day...
