By Landing Colley
Top Gambian human rights lawyer has urged Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to cancel talks on the draft constitution, as he described the mediation process as a ‘disrespect of Gambia’s sovereignty.
The former Nigerian President Jonathan has been mediating between the oppositions and President Barrow’s government on the draft constitution in a bid to help reintroduce it again after the national assembly rejected it last year.
However, he is expected again in the Gambia today [Monday] for another talk on the draft constitution.
But Lawyer Assan Martin who spoke to exclusively, said: “This international undesirable element coming time and time has shown a complete disrespect to our sovereignty as if we Gambians have no brain or intellects to sit down to debate and make sure that we have laws that govern us.”
“It will be a complete disrespect from us the Gambians to tell Nigerians what fit in their constitution. The country has encountered the interference of international elements consecutive times over the new draft constitution. With all due respect to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, I think he should understand that it is time for him to let go of this discussion,” he said.
According to him, Gambians believe the next administration will help them to put the house in order but not this current administration that has the personal agenda in this draft constitution which contributes to the failure of the draft constitution.
He said, “the 1997 constitution is in line with our regional jurisdiction that has the better language and understanding but the new draft constitution looks so sophisticated that has been involve in lot of changes.”
More so, he said, certain chapters in the new draft are not constitutional material for a layman to understand and it involved in a lot of twists and turn which bring a lot of provisions upon provisions, a lot of subsection that led the draft into a mess. “This new draft constitution is fit for personal purpose but not for a public purpose.
He expressed disappointment saying that it is a complete desert to the Gambian people to lost D145 million over something that turned into waste.
“The unfortunate fact is that a lot of changes in the new draft has turned everything upside down in the sense that, there is no capacity for parliament to do certain nominations or proceedings that will help the executive,” he said.
