Speaking yesterday during a courtesy call on the presidency at State House,the Gunjur-born Saudi-trained cleric averred:
“There is no reason for anyone or group of people to rise up against president Jammeh because of the numerous developments he has achieved for this country. However, being honourable and good does not mean people will not rise against you. Even the prophet Muhammed (SAW)had people who waged war against him. On behalf of the Supreme Islamic Council, all the Imams and Majlis heads of the country, I am here to express our profound pain at the incidence of Tuesday 30th December and express solidarity with President Jammeh and his government.
Allah commands us to avoid violence (Fitna) because it does not end with those who excited it. It affects other people who have nothing to do with it. The prophet said that fitna is always in a state of hibernation and anyone that excites it shall be cursed. We should learn lessons from other countries which suffered the consequences of violence and the plight of refugees. There is a certain country where a few people died (France)and over forty world leaders have gone there to commiserate with them. Thousands of people die in other countries and nobody goes there to commiserate with them which constitutes hypocrisy”.
On his part, the Imam Ratib of Banjul ,Cherno Kah said that good Muslims and people of The Gambia have rallied in support of President Jammeh in the wake of the ‘terrorist’ attack ,calling on Muslims to coalesce in the collective endeavor to preserve the peace and stability that the country enjoys. He described president Jammeh as a ‘defender of the faith’.
The Paramount Chief, Demba Sanyang, enunciated: “The president is saying it right, doing it right and has the right intentions of giving The Gambia the respect it deserves. When I was working at State House in the ’80s president Jammeh used to walk from the State House through Marina Parade to attend prayers at the mosque. Now there is a mosque at State House where people can pray.”
On behalf of the president, Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy thanked the leaders for their manifestation of solidarity ,saying:“Everything is destined by Allah but the prayers of elders have always been answered. Gambians home and abroad should stay together in their unity. President Jammeh is an exemplar of faith and he is not a jealous leader. He has always been generous as a person and as a leader.
Other speakers included ministers Benjamin Roberts, Mass Axi Gai, Fatou Lamin Faye, Banjul Mayor Abdoulie Bah and youth mobiliser Babu Gaye Sonko.
The minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology who doubles as the overseeing minister of the ministry of Justice chaired the meeting.
]]>
