By Yunus S Saliu
Revealing the secret intention of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council on organizing a closed door congress/election to select new executive members of the GSIC, the Caliph General of Basori sect has called on President Adama Barrow to intervene and order Imam Momodou Lamin Touray and his executive members to vacate the office to give way to an open and a well participatory election.
Caliph Ba Yusupha Darboe made this call on Monday at press briefing and meeting organized by members of Rawdatil Majaalis in his Brikama residence.
The press briefing and meeting was attended by large numbers of the sect and prominent Imams from all over the country to express their concern over the intention’s Imam Touray and his executive members’ readiness to organize closed door election of new GSIC members this month without prior knowledge to Imams in the country.
According to Ba Yusupha Darboe, it is through unity that brought President Barrow to power so it is his government responsibility to immediately give order to Imam Touray and his team not to go ahead of their planned secret election slated for this month (without making it open and call for general participation).
He described President Barrow as a leader who failed in his duty to wipe-out tears from Majaalis sects in the country when it was the majaalis sect’s prayers and Gambians whose contribution made him to unseat former President Jammeh from power.
Basori Caliph General explained that when Barrow took over the leadership mantle from Jammeh, all the Majaalis sects rally behind him but to their surprise, he now disregards them.
“Barrow should give order to Imam Touray and his executive to vacate their offices because they are illegally occupying GSIC offices. They are not the only religious leaders who are educated in the country,” said Basori caliph general.
The Imam Ratib of Njaba Kunda, Alhaji Seedy Muctarr Jaiteh paid homage to the founding founders of the GSIC in the likes of Alhaji Ba Yusupha Darboe, late Alhaji Soriba Gassama, late Alhaji Mamanding Kanteh, late Alhaji Morro Gikinneh, late Imam Karamo Touray, late Alhaji Omar Nyandu and others for been brains behind the formation of the GSIC.
“If President Barrow recognizes Majaalis sects, we will also recognize him but if he failed to recognize us we will not also recognize him as someone who has our interest at heart,” Njaba Kunda Imam stated.
He said Majaalis sects in the country are not recognizing anyone as their leader than the Caliph General of Brufut, Pa Sanusi Nano Hydara while clearing stated that if President Barrow and his government want to offer something to them, it must goes through Pa Nano Hydara’s hands, if not they will reject if it goes through Imam Touray and team’s hands.
