Having
learned with a sense of dismay and shock about the referendum held by Gambia
University Student Union, I deem it absolutely imperative to share my words of
wisdom with the entire student body, which i believe, can be food for thought for
the present and subsequent batches.
Honestly
speaking, university students should under no circumstance advocate for a
change of government in The Gambia. University education was not even thought
of during the first republic much more the colonial era. President Jammeh has
not only brought tertiary education to the door steps of Gambians but his
Government is equally providing scholarships to more than three-quarter of the
students.
The
fact that he has already introduced free primary and secondary education is
enough to convince Gambians that the free university education promised to
commence in the year 2018 is going to be a reality.
Unfortunately,
irrespective of the outcome of the referendum, you have already sent a signal
to President Jammeh that you as university students are eager for him to leave
power.
Whether
you know it or not, University of The Gambia was once part of a campaign for a
change of Jammeh’s Government, particularly, in the year 2001 Presidential
election. A lecturer of International Development Studies who also dabbled as
Head of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences then has asked we the
students to compare the first and second republics.
This
was exactly a few months before the Presidential election in which the United
Democratic Party (U.D.P) formed an alliance with the People’s Progressive Party
(P.P.P). Obviously, how do we expect five years of President Jammeh’s
leadership and thirty years of Sir Dawda’s rule to be equal in terms of
achievements? No doubt, after a long interactive class debate, it was concluded
that Sir Dawda’s achievements out way those of President Jammeh. The University
Governing Council was even aware of it but all the members decided to turn a
blind eye. The lecturer’s motive was to canvass for votes for the Alliance.
Please
be aware that the campaign for a change of government in Gambia by the West was
and is still ongoing and therefore, we must not only resist but condemn it
vehemently.
The
Western world needed a change because of Jammeh’s refusal to accept the 20% for
The Gambia and 80% royalty for United States supposed the Gambia’s oil was
drilled by the US.
Secondly,
President Jammeh’s constant condemnation of neocolonialism as a factor which
accounts for the retrogression of our economy is irritating to the West as it
is an eye opener for the rest of Africa.
It
is not wrong to apologize. I must admit that I am a survivor of April 10th and
11th student demonstration in the year 2000 when I began my university studies.
After
the demonstration in which public properties were vandalized, we the students
apologised to President Jammeh. We realised that it was wrong to go on the
rampage when the President of The Republic was on an official mission overseas.
Despite
that our intention was to stage a peaceful match from GTTI to the Office of the
Inspector General of Police in Banjul, the situation could have metamorphosed
into a full scale civil war.
So
please students of UTG apologize to Jammeh before it gets too late.
Thank
you,
Enusa
Colley,
Bakau
Mile 7
