Banding Drammeh: Islamic state was imposed by Jammeh

By Amadou M Jadama The former President of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) Imam Alhagie Banding Drammeh has said the decision to declare the Gambia as an Islamic State was unilaterally taken by former President Yahya Jammeh at his own will. The renowned preacher, made this call during his legendary Muslim World programme on radio Gambia broadcast every Friday for well over 40 years. He asked: ”How can he declare the Gambia as an Islamic state without consulting the religious leaders? Anything related to the religion should first be referred to the religious bodies. The Gambia is a secular State where each citizen can express and demonstrate his or her religious belief. I have always been against that declaration,’ ‘he said. Mr Drammeh then called on President Adama Barrow to have advisers on all matters political, Security and religious. National Assembly The scholar also called for the resignation of the country’s National Assembly members with immediate effect. He said this is because they failed in their discharge of duty to the Gambian people when they needed their intervention. “Instead of telling President Jammeh to leave power to the legitimate choice of the people, they decided to extend his term to 90 days,” he said. He continued: “The parliamentarians are fully aware that the Constitution clearly stated that EX-president Jammeh’s term will be expired on the 19 January but they emphatically ignored this constitutional provision while focusing on the petitions at the Supreme.” The Brikama scholar went further: “The confidence and trust bestowed on you by the Gambian electorates have been betrayed therefore you should resign”. On the controversial appointment of Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang as VP, the preacher said: “People have been reacting to her age. But I welcome her appointment. That age limit was imposed in the constitution by former president Jammeh for his personal interest. So let them remove that age limit and all the irregularities in our constitutions.”]]>