Don urges Jammeh's handover to Barrow

gambian-president Yahaya Jammeh

Ex-Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh

President Yayah Jammeh of Gambia

Prof Jonah Onuoha of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, has urged President Yaya Jammeh of Gambia to handover to Mr Adam Borrow, the winner of Dec. 1, 2016 presidential poll in the interest of peace.

Onuoha, a former Head of Department, said in Nsukka on Monday that Jammeh staying a day after Jan. 19 as president would amount to violating the constitution of the country and insulting the people of Gambia who voted Barrow as their new president.

“Jammeh should respect the constitution of the country and wishes of Gambia electorate who voted for Barrow during the December election and handover to the president-elect in the interest of peace and justice.

“Jammeh should consider the implication of his failure to handover as such will attract military force of ECOWAS to force him out of office.

“African leaders should see being president for life as outdated and old fashion since democracy is what is in vogue in every part of the world,” he said.

He urged African leaders in particular and the world in general to always remember that power belongs to the people and people have right to choose who would be their leader.

“By the Dec. 1, presidential election in which Barrow got majority of votes cast, the people of Gambia have spoken their minds and Jammeh has no option than to respect the wishes of the people.

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“It’s unfortunate that Jammeh who hijacked the government of Gambia via military coup in 1994, by his present action of refusing to hand over may want to transform himself as Gambia life president.

“He should listen to the voice of reason and quietly handover to Barrow, else he will leave to regret his action,” he said.

The political pundit suggested that ECOWAS should use every force within its disposal to ensure that Barrow was inaugurated as the new president of Gambia if every peaceful. dialogue for Jammeh to handover fail.

“Even if Jammeh wants to challenge the outcome of Dec. 1 presidential election in court, he is allowed but first of all, he should handover to Barrow until when the court declares him winner of that presidential poll.

“Jammeh should have copied the good example of former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and John Mahama of Ghana, who not only conceded defeat in a election but congratulated their opponents.

“Their spirit of sportsmanship and political maturity have given Africa a good image in international community which Jammeh should not spoil.

“Jammeh should put the national interest of the country first above his personal ambitions to avert the crisis his refusal to handover to Barrow will cause the people of Gambia.

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