A group of concerned Gambians has called for the arrest of Dembo ‘By Force’ Bojang, the national president of the NPP who doubles as religious adviser to President Adama Barrow, for his comments at an NPP political rally in Bakau on Monday.
In a video recording of his statement at the meeting that went viral, Mr Bojang accused “a certain party” believed to be UDP, of engaging in tribal bigotry.
“If you are a Karonica, they will say you are not a citizen of this country and you must go to Karon. But if you are a Mandinka and speak Mandinka, they will say you are a citizen of The Gambia. So, you the Fulas, the Jolas, Sereres and Karonikas, the burden is on your head. If we lose Adama Barrow, we will find ourselves in a type of hand that will send away members of tribes who are not Mandinka from this country. The entire Fula tribe will pack their things and go. They will send away all Jolas from this country. So, if we lose Adama Barrow all tribes that are not Mandinka will be sent out of this country,” he said at the rally.
Responding to Mr Bojang’s comments Manding Network Association in a statement signed by its vice president, Fafanding Fatty said: “We strongly condemned Dembo By Force comments at Bakau. His despicable behaviour is unacceptable and should not be tolerated by any concern or patriotic citizen. Mr Bojang should be arrested for advocating tribalism. Every genocide around the world started with words like this. Not guns, not bombs and Rwanda, Burundi and Liberia are classical example.”
The group urged Gambians from all walks of lives to avoid spreading hate or tribal sentiments.
“Feeling angry and shameful does not change the issue to be solved. We must be protective as a people in order for the people to see and feel the changes in their individual lives. A bad politician always tries to manipulate personal, ethnic or religious tensions to split and weaken the opposition. Gambians are suffering and will protect one another from conflicts in order not to disrupt the election,” this added to the statement.
