Jammeh: I am stepping down to keep peace

By Omar Bah The Gambia’s ex-president Yahya Jammeh gave his last address to the nation announcing he has relinquished power to President Adama Barrow for the sake of peace and security of the nation. The full speech is as follows: Fellow Gambians my first preoccupation as President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and a patriot and the most sacred at that is to preserve at every instance and in every circumstance the lives of Gambians and this is a duty I hold sacrosanct. I have always pride myself and pray for the peace and security of our nation and Africa. During this entire time that God in his wisdom has permitted me to exercise power and throughout the time that the sovereign people of the Gambia have put their confidence in me my primary preoccupation has been to uphold the dignity of our people and the sovereignty of this great nation. As ensured of all numerous sacrifices that me and those before us have meet as a nation the Gambia have affirm its desire to determine it own future and destiny. This is a course I have always been ready to defend and even with my life. All the actions we have taken towards building this nation up to this point have distinguish us among the community of nations and within us a pride of space in history. All this while as a Muslim and a patriot I believe it is not necessary that a single drop of blood be shed. Since the beginning of this political impasse that our dear nation is going through I promise before Allah (SWT) and the entire nation that all the issues we currently face maybe resolve peacefully. I’m very thankful to God that until now not even a single causality has been registered I believe in the importance of dialogue and in the capacity of Africans to resolve among themselves all the challenges on the way towards democracy, economic and social development. It is as a result of this that I have decided today in good consent to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation with gratitude to all Gambians, the friends of the Gambia who have supported for 22 years in the building of a model Gambia I put above all everything the independence of the free and proud people of the Gambia and I will always together with you defend this independence that we so dearly fought for and won. My decision today was not dictated by anything else but by the supreme interest of you the Gambians people and our dear country putting into consideration my prayer and desire that peace and security continue to reign in the Gambia. At a time when we are witnessing trouble and chaos in Africa and the world the peace and security of the country is our collective heritage we most jealously guide and defend. I am proud and honoured to have served our country. While thanking all of you men, children, women and the armed and security services of the country and all those who have supported me or were against me during this period, I implore them all to put the interest of our nation the Gambia above all partisan interest and endeavor working together as one nation to continue to preserve the highly cherished achievement of the country, its sovereignty, peace, stability and integrity as well as the economic achievements realize in these years. I pray that the Gambia our homeland continues to be united and prosperous for the welfare of each and every one of us and be the pride of all. I submit myself only to the judgment of God whose judgment is above and beyond man time and history, the Almighty God is the only grantor of truth and justice. Finally, I am truly and sincerely proud to be of service to you and in our noble nation I wish to thank each and every one of the security forces, members of government present and past, my party militants and most importantly you the Gambian people and the national assembly members past and present for the confidence vested in me and your loyal support. I pray that God continue to light and guide our past and to serve his mercy and blessing on our great and beautiful country. I wish to take this opportunity to thank my mother, my wife and children for their prayers and support throughout the last 22 years. May God continue to guide and protect our great nation.]]>