ASSEMBLY REVOKES STATE OF EMERGENCY

By Omar Bah The National Assembly yesterday moved and adopted a resolution revoking the declaration of the state of public emergency and the extension of the term of the national assembly for another ninety days. It could be recalled that the former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared 90 days state of emergency, just two days before he is supposed to cede power after losing the election last month. This declaration was further approved by the National Assembly by resolution No. 003/2017 of Tuesday 17th January, in pursuance of section 34(2) of the constitution. In moving the motion to revoke it, the Majority leader and member for Serekunda East Fabakary Tombong Jatta said the national assembly considering the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the country deemed it necessary to approve the revocation of the declaration of state of public emergency that was proclaimed on 17th January. “The National Assembly of the Gambia, being the duly elected representative of the people hereby resolved to approve the revocation of the declaration of state of public emergency by revoking the Assembly resolution approving the state of public emergency barely a week today,” he said. He said the National Assembly is noting with gratitude that the political impasse has been peacefully resolved, in pursuance of ensuring that there is no barrier of whatsoever for the smooth restoration of the incoming government. Meanwhile, the minority leader and NAM for Niamina Dankunku Samba Jallow while seconding the motion before a packed assembly said he was never a party to the resolution of the state of emergency neither that of the extension of terms of former President and the assembly itself. “In fact there was no situation that warranted a state of emergency at that point in time and that all it was meant for was to deter President Adama Barrow from being sworn-in as the legitimate president and the choice of the majority of Gambians,” he added. The Assembly also without prejudice to sections 34(5) (b) and 231 (1) of the 1997 constitution considered and revoked the consequential extension of the term of office of the National assembly for ninety days, which was meant to last until 11th April, 2017.]]>