By Lamin B. Darboe
The 2nd Vice President of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) in his own way of analyzing the situation at Majmouatu Rawdatul Majaalis (MRM) painted them (MRM) as an Islamic organization which belongs to Mandinkas and Jahankas only.
Alhaji Ebrima Jarjue made this description last Friday during GRTS-TV’s weekly 1 hour Perspective program moderated by Babucarr Camara and Yero Jallow.
Rawdatul Majaalis was represented at the program by its PRO, Abubacarr Jabbie and the topic for the Perspective was: “State of Islamic Governance in The Gambia”.
“There are no other tribes within Majmouatu Rawdatul Majaalis (MRM) except Jahankas and Mandinkas compare to the GSIC where we have all tribes inclusive,” Jarjue explained.
He said within the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, you will find all tribes there but in Rawdatul Majaalis we didn’t see any Jola, Wollof, Sarahuleh and Kasinka Islamic scholars thus emphasizing that it is purely Mandinkas and Jahankas Islamic organization.
Ebrima Jarjue explained that any Islamic organizations formed in the country must register under them (GSIC) in order for the Government to recognize their existence in the country.
According to Jarjue, GSIC did not recommend Rawdatul Majaalis as an Islamic organization in the country because they failed to follow the right procedures.
He informed GRTS-TV moderators that all members of the GSIC were educated within Majlis sects in the country while strongly calling on all Gambians to go and apology to GSIC.
Quizzed by one of the moderators about D5 Million which Religious Adviser to the President Dembo By-Force Bojang said was given to the GSIC by Government, Jarjue categorically denies his council receiving D5 Million from Dembo By-Force Bojang neither in cash nor through the council’s account.
PRO Abubacarr Jabbie for his part denies Jarjue’s accusation that MRM failed to include other tribes in the organization and was quick to give some names of people who are part of MRM executive committee.
“Some of those Muslim elders who formed GSIC are the same Muslim elders who selected Sheriff Muhammed Sanusi Nano Hydara as the new GSIC President,” Jabbie stated.
He gave the names of those founders are as follows: Alhaji Soriba Jabbie from Jarra Sutukung, Ba Yusupha Darboe Caliph general Njama Darboe Foundation, Alhaji Mamanding Kanteh (late) Caliph general from Siffoe, just to mention few.
He informed Perspective Moderators that in the 70s there were Muslim organizations in the country but the formation of those Islamic organizations didn’t bring conflicts among themselves.
He said before they form MRM, they went to Imam Muhammed Lamin Touray with some Cola nut to brief him about their intention to form an Islamic organization in the country.
“Imam Touray whole heartedly welcomed our idea and before we left he gave his personal advice to us. But the current Islamic tension started after the formation of our organization where Imam Abdoulie Fatty was the first described us as trouble maker organization in the country.
A top civil servant who remains anonymous told this reporter that Ebrima Jarjue’s tribal sentiment against Rawdatul Majaalis was a direct personal attack on Mandinkas.
“Let Ebrima Jarjue not be a repeater of what former President Jammeh use to say against Mandinkas and if he (Jarjue) has any personal grievances against any particular tribe, National Broadcaster is not the right place for him to vomit it out,” top civil servant warned Jarjue.