Independence Messege to Fellow Gambian Citizens

By MI BANORAMAS, Leader of The Gambia Matters Party

Fellow citizens,

February 18 marks the 45th independence anniversary since we departed from colonial rule. I find it pointless to celebrate The Gambia's independence as we are neither a democracy or a free nation. My refusal to take part in the celebration of our nation's independence is in protest because our nation is under internment.

Fellow Gambians, we are all aware of the recent situation of our Nation. Gambia has never been a backbencher in the causes of the rule of law and policy making in our continent and our sub-region. Today we found our Nation totally downgraded among our fellow member states of ECOWAS.

Fellow citizens in the Gambia National Army, it's your constitutional right to peacefully arrest Yahya Jammeh as soon as practicable, and quickly parcel him to The Hague for crimes against humanity.

We all know how irrational Jammeh behaves time and time again, plunging our nation’s credibility to the lowest level. Since coming to power in 1994, Yahya Jammeh has ruined our economy and health sectors; completely bankrupted Gambia's public transportation corporation, GPTC,  and he has already brought Gambia's  telecommunications company, Gamtel, to its knees. The company is now financially disabled to compete with other telecommunications companies  within the region.

The Gambia, which has always been known as an oasis of human rights protection, has now become the gross human rights violator in Africa.

Fellow Gambians, we have all seen how president Jammeh continually meddles with our judicial system, and completely hijacked the legislature.

I most once again plead with you, fellow countrymen, that we have to acknowledge that Gambia had not given birth to Jammeh alone. Our country was being well governed well before his birth, and will continue to be governed well after his reign of dictatorship. 

Fellow countrymen, We most combat the fear of removing Yahya Jammeh from the leadership of our beloved Nation. cowardice remains our major setback to  progress and freedom. And any single day he remains in control, someone's life is in danger

In any free society, every human being is born free. It's every Gambian's right to arrest criminal Jammeh to put an end to his ruthless and inhumane atrocities against our citizens.

Fellow citizen in the Gambia National Army, it is time to face the reality that the army remains the only option out of this internment  that Jammeh puts on us.  Yahya Jammeh in person is powerless without your backing and support. He would have run away by now if it were not your support to keep him in power. We both should be committed to safeguard our Nation from derailing.

In a nation where people's God-given rights and dignity have been infringed on a daily basis, the only solution is to overcome the fear of removing him from the leadership position.

Fellow Gambians, let's learn to retain our heritage - which is to stand in solidarity regardless of our vast differences in terms of religion, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, colour and gender. We should remain committed to the peace and stability of our dear Nation, which has long been the destination for the people seeking peace and safety and qualitative life styles. 

Any day, fellow citizens of the Gambia, that this global criminal stays in power, someone’s life is in danger. 

Fellows citizens, sooner or later the criminal, Yahya Jammeh, will be captured. and after his demises, we as Gambians should remain united and vigilant as one family, one people, and one Nation.  

I most however emphasis here, that a change of government has nothing to do with any culture, race, tribe or ethnic values. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Vice-President will continue to rule this wonderful Nation after Jammeh's capture, until free and fair elections are held to select our new president.

The Gambian military needs to learn from Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar and Niger.
When their presidents lacked sanity, their militaries worked with the civilian population to reclaim their countries. They should not be like the Guinea Conakry Junta; they should go back to barracks and allow a democratically elected government rule.

It's a good independence because I have all along been waiting for the news of the arrest of Yahya Jamus Junkung Jammeh.