A Non-Governmental Organisation, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI), has warned President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, over his recent rejection of the presidential election of December 2.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Olaniyi Ajibola, berated the action of Jammeh, described it as a threat to the peace of his country, and Africa at large.
Ajibola said the action of the President is capable of plugging the West Africa country into bloody crisis and turmoil, reminded him of the fate that befell former President of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo.
He averred that the allegation of electoral “abnormalities” by President Jammeh after congratulating the winner is nothing but an after thought, and display of cowardice, advising him to quickly change his mind and save his country of crisis.
According to him, democracy would be seriously threatened in the country if such position of the president stands without swift action to stabilise the political atmosphere and toe the path of democratic principles and rule of law.
Ajibola added that the development in Gambia remains a political retrogression in Africa, at the time when the continent is progressing systematically in the quest for democratisation and egalitarianism.
The Peace Advocate maintained that there is need for regional and sub-regional bodies like the African Union (AU) and Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), to quickly call the president to order and advise him to toll the path of honour before things get out of hand in the country.
“The development in Gambia is disheartening and uncalled for, it is a retrogression in the efforts of democratisation in Africa, President Yayah Jammeh must reverse his decision and toll the path of honour he had earlier chosen.
“Obviously, his sudden change of mind on the outcome of the Presidential election is not only primitive and strange, but a huge threat to the peace of the country and entire region of Africa.
“Africa has passed this stage of despotism and megalomania, no individual has the monopoly of power to determine the fate of majority of the people without recourse to the rule of law and popular will.
“It is rather bizarre to hear President Yayah Jammeh complaining of electoral abnormalities after conceding defeat to his opponent and even went on to congratulate the winner.
Recalling the past, Ajibola said: “he must not quickly forget history and patiently learn from President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast, that any undemocratic attempt by a leader to subvert the popular will could spell doom without remedy.
“We call for timely intervention of regional and sub-regional bodies like the AU and ECOWAS, including the United Nations Organisation (UNO), through its different organs to call President Jammeh to order to avert any humanitarian crisis in the country”, the peace advocate stressed.