Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has paid tribute to the late Femi Peters, describing him as a devoted man who was determined and selfless in his desire for a better Gambia and humanity.
Mr Peters, 72, a senior executive member of the UDP and Gambia’s ambassador to Sierra Leone died last week in Freetown and was laid to rest on Friday in Banjul.
He was an active player in Gambian politics since in the 1980s and was jailed twice by the previous Gambian regime of Yahya Jammeh for campaigning for democratic freedoms and respect to the rule of law.
Paying tribute to him, Lawyer Darboe, UDP leader and minister of Foreign Affairs said Mr Peters name is etched in the history of Gambia’s liberation efforts. He added that Peters had the sense of purpose in his doggedness in seeing the end of Yahya Jammeh regime in the Gambia.
Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Darboe said: “As we are mourning the death of Femi his life should also be celebrated for he has accomplished a lot in his life. Femi was devoted, determined and selfless in his desire for a better Gambia and humanity. He had the sense of purpose in his doggedness in seeing the end of Yahya Jammeh regime in the Gambia.
“On the fateful day of April 16th when the UDP executive went out to protest the death and the return of the body of Solo Sandeng, I asked Femi to go back to the house due his medical condition he replied back to me and said “wayten you dae think? Me no fraid foe die”. He could not be denied in taking part in the protest and was prepared to die on that day. His imprisonment on this occasion was his second time in defense of the right of Gambians to their constitutional right to free speech and freedom of assembly.”
Mr Darboe added: “Femi was not only a revolutionary in the Gambia but a true Pan Africanist. When Saikou Touray died, he went to the Guinean Embassy to deliver a condolence statement in solidarity with a fellow Pan Africanist. His name is etched in the history of Gambia’s liberation efforts. We will strive, in his memory, to deliver on some of his dreams for the Gambia and humanity. I have lost a comrade, friend and a brother.”
Jollof
