When Aminata Touray left former President Macky Sall’s party and joined Diomaye’s coalition, she vigorously campaigned for the coalition. She went almost to all the regions in Senegal, selling Diomaye’s programs. There is no doubt that she has a high command within the Senegalese women folk, as a former prime minister. She really contributed to Diomaye’s success.
Ida Mboge was the coordinator of their coalition and was removed by President Diomaye Faye due to some internal issues within the coalition. But this did not go down well with Ousman Sonko. This was why he called for a press conference and told journalists that President Diomaye Faye did not adhere to what they discussed in the presence of Alhajie Malick Njie, speaker of the National Assembly. He failed to tell journalists what they discussed. Then what was the use of inviting journalists for a press conference? If he felt that President Diomaye Faye did not adhere to what they have discussed, he could have met the president and Alhajie Malick Njie for a secret discussion rather than going in public.
Ousman Sonko should bear in mind that Diomaye Faye is the president of Senegal. He was appointed by him as a prime minister. He should receive orders from him. He should also respect him. Ousman Sonko’s supporters should know that Diomaye Faye is the president and not Ousman Sonko. They believe that it is Ousman Sonko who made Diomaye a president and he should receive orders from Sonko. This is where they have gone wrong.
Diomaye has been destined by God to become a president through Ousman Sonko. Secondly, Diomaye has inherited leadership from his ancestor, Sanumon Faye, who was a great warrior and king within the region of Sinn.
Ousman Sonko should remember that President Diomaye Faye has named his son after him because of the love he has for him. President Diomaye Faye regards him as his brother. How will Ousman’s namesake feel about the rift between his father and Sonko? This does not tell well at all. President Diomaye Faye had supported and defended Ousman Sonko in trying times.
If we go back to memory lane, Ousman Sonko was charged with rape and threatening to kill, following an allegation by Aji Sarr, who claimed that she was pregnant from the rape. But after two years, there was no pregnancy. She was used to frame Ousman Sonko, who earlier stated that the allegation was politically motivated and a set-up.
During the first sitting of the case, he went to attend the court proceedings. He was forced by the police to take another route on the court premises but he refused, fearing that he might be assassinated. He was already at the court premises before time. Why forcing him to take a route which he did not want to take?
The authorities arrested him and took him to prison. This angered his supporters who came out to the streets and demonstrated, calling for his liberation; they burnt tyres and destroyed properties. This forced the authorities to release their leader. Fourteen people lost their lives during the scuffle.
Ousman Sonko was attacked by the supporters of the ruling coalition of former president, Macky Sall, when he was on a tour of the country. He was going to attend the second sitting of the case. The police stopped his car and forced him out and put him into their car. In fact, they broke the windscreen of his car. He accused them of spraying poisonous tear gas on him. As a result, he was hospitalized in a private clinic. A doctor had confirmed that they had used dangerous substance on him.
The case was adjourned for judgement in the absence of Ousman Sonko. Aji Sarr had testified but was inconsistent in her testimony. The judge acquitted Ousman Sonko on the rape and threatening to kill charge but convicted and sentenced him to two years on ‘corrupting the youth’ charge.
What was in the charge sheet against him was rape and threatening to kill. The charge of corrupting the youth was never in the charge sheet. This came up on judgement day. Everybody was taken by surprise. It was a trumped-up charge. It was never before the court.
Ousman Sonko’s conviction caused the death of 16 people who came out to the streets to demonstrate. They felt that justice was not done to him. There was no doubt that the magistrates and judges were dictated to by the former president, Macky Sall, to prevent Ousman Sonko from running in the 2024 presidential election.
All this while, President Diomaye Faye was throwing his weight behind Ousman Sonko. It is good news that Pierre Ateppa Kujabi, Malick Gaku and Habib Sey are intending to see Ousman Sonko and President Diomaye Faye to broker peace between the two friends.
When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. It is better to let sleeping dogs lie.
