By: Bakary Ceesay
An outspoken Muslim Cleric Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana has advised President Adama Barrow to quit power after his three years mandate as agreed with coalition members to avoid humiliation like other African presidents in the past.
Seven political parties including independent candidate backed President Adama Barrow in 2016 presidential election to defeat ex-President Yahya Jammeh during the presidential election. They agreed that during the transition president will serve for three years and step down.
However, the 1997 Constitution provides five years mandate for President and at a recent political rally in Brikama the President announced that he will be in office for five years ‘whether one likes it or not.’
A group of concerned Gambians popularly known as ‘Three Years Jotna’ threatens to hold a peaceful protest to demand for President Barrow to step down coming December as promised during his 2016 campaign and first media interview.
Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana speaking in Mandinka dialect said President Barrow could end up humiliating himself like other African presidents in the past if he insists on staying in power.
He pointed out that there are three solutions to the ‘Three Years Jotna’ issue but all up to President Barrow.
He explained that: “The first two solutions are pro-peace. I want to call on the president and his supporters to listen to me with their minds. The issue of three years is not a political issue, it’s an issue of conflict but dialogue can solve it. But everything is up to the president.”
He continued that “I do not know the people behind ‘Three Years Jotna’ but there are only three ways out of it and it’s all up to President Barrow. The first option for President Barrow is to resign and call elections at the end of three years. President Barrow should not take part in the elections and he shouldn’t support anyone.”
“The second option is for President Barrow to form a party and stand in the elections at the end of the three years. If you truly believes in yourself and if your supporters believe in you and if you win, your government will be an independent one free from coalition control.”
“There is a third option. Just that that option can breed conflict. That option is for President Barrow to refuse to step down. People could take to the streets demanding him to leave power. There will be a back and forth, ‘leave power, I will not leave power.’ There will then be two things; either you flee into exile like Yahya Jammeh or you get arrested and taken to Mile II.”
