By Adama Makasuba
National Youth Council has urged the minister of youth and sports and his team to reinstate its fired acting executive director be reinstated.
The council’s call comes a day after Lamin Darboe received his marching order out office last week by the ministry of youth and sports with no clear explanation to his sacking.
At a press conference on Friday, the council’s chairman Dembo Kambi said: “According to our discussion, we at the level of the council, we have agreed to write to the minister [youth and sports] and his team at the office about the position of the National Youth Council that, we want them to rescind their decision and reinstate Lamin Darboe for us to move on.”
Lala Touray also said: “We’ve been called radicals before for taking onto the streets to protest for our rights. We’ve been labelled and called names for exercising our democratic and constitutional rights to protest and freedom of assembly and association. So, what we are going to do this time as civil society, as youth leaders…
“We might not take on the streets and protest. But what we’re going to do if the government does not take a stance to reinstate Lamin Darboe, if the government does not take a stance to work with us amend the act that gives them the power to interfere in the institution of the National Youth Council, as civil society we’re going to boycott the National Youth Council,” she added.
Hundreds of the country’s youth showed up solidarity with Mr Darboe as they demand his reinstatement.
Among them include Dawda Bah, who wrote on his Facebook page: “The sacked of #Lamin Mokendeh Darboe Executive Director at the National Youth Council by the government left the entire loyal citizens holding public offices unsafe.”
“We want to know the reason of dismissing such high calibre leader who represent 60%of Gambian population which is youths. I am in solidarity with our youth leader #laminmokendehdarboe. #BringBackOurED,” he added.
Suma W Jadama also wrote: “Sacking ALMIN MOKENDO DARBOE is a slap on the faces of the youthfolk not only in the Gambia but globally. “
Bakery Jabbie said: “#Insoldarity with lamin darboe.”
Darboe Yankuba wrote: “Bring bac…No good leader wants to loss him. He is people’s Lamin Mokendo Darboe. Can you understand that language?”