By: Lamin B. Darboe
The executive members of Majmou’Atou Rawdatul Majaalis, an Islamic organization in the country urged the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) executive members to organize congress as their term of office expired three months ago.
“Members of an Islamic religious organization like Gambia Supreme Islamic Council should not repeat what some African leaders did or are doing by refusing to conduct elections after the expiring of their term of office,” Alhaji Baba Abubakar Drammeh, President Rawdatul Majaalis told journalists during a press conference at the organization’s new office located at Abu Sey Junction along Tabokoto-Abuko highway.
He added that clinching onto power means they are failing the Muslim Ummah in the country and even beyond thus also infringing the Council’s Constitution saying: “they should not follow the enjoyment of their positions.
He said: “It is high time for the current expired executive members of the Council to organize elections so that members can re-elect or elect new executive members that will take over the leadership mantle of the Council”.
He suggested for Imams or their representatives to be given the voting right to vote during Council’s elections in order to give the Muslims Ummah in the country the ownership of the Council.
According to him, few people should not take the ownership of the Council to the detriment of their fellow Muslims while expressed that it is their concern also to state that before 1994, all those served as GSIC President, served 3-years term but from 1994 to date, that was change to 5-years.
“For 5-year term as GSIC President, am doubt whether they (GSIC members) do made Constitutional Amendments or ignore the Constitution to put in 5-year term instead of 3-years,” Drammeh stated.
Abubakarr Jabbie, public relation officer of the organization, called on expired GSIC executive not to conduct elections secretly without consulting the Muslim Ummah and he also suggested that Imams should take part in Council’s elections instead of selecting 200 people of their choice to vote out of thousands of Muslims in the country.
He explained that: “After the formation of the organization, we met and presents our official letters to the Religious Affairs Adviser to the President, Dembo Bojang and IEC officials outlined our formation but neither Bojang nor IEC responded to their letters officially”.
Jabbie highlighted the significant role Imams are playing in promoting and propagating Islam in the country thus the reason why he is calling on the current expired Council executive members to include them in the Council’s voting process.
According to Jabbie, their organization is following the football steps of their grandfathers whose contribution to the promotion of Islam cannot be over emphasized.
Sheik Cadi Kanteh said, their organization was not form to challenge anyone or organization but to nurture and strengthen the relationship between various human groupings based on solidarity and tolerance under the umbrella of peace and tranquility among others.
Kabiro Samura said Rawdatul Majaalis is calling for system change mainly on electoral reform within Gambia Supreme Islamic Council while reminding those (GSIC members) that Council did not belong to them alone but the entire Muslims throughout the Gambia.
Majmou ‘Atu Rawdatul Majaalis executive members wholeheartedly welcomed the work of CRC but they equally suggested to CRC officials to capture the role of Cadis well in the new Constitution.
“Their (Cadis) role should not be limited to only Court cases of Inheritance, Divorce and Marriage but instead need to be empowering more,” Majaalis executive members suggested.
