Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and his colleagues Heads of State within the ECOWAS sub-region not to be swayed by the opinions of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to the effect that the commission should avoid military action in resolving the brewing political tension in Gambia.
The party urged the sub-regional body to save Gambians from the clutches of unbridled and brutish Yahaya Jammeh’s dictatorship.
In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary in Enugu State, Mrs. Kate Offor, and made available to journalists yesterday, the party said it was in total support of any move that would help in sustaining democracy in The Gambia.
Ekweremadu had in a statement through his media assistant, Uche Anichukwu, warned against military action against in The Gambia, following the presidential election, saying such could threaten the security of the entire sub-region.
Instead of adopting military action to remove the brutal dictator, who stained his hands with the blood of innocent Gambians, Ekweremadu called for sanctions in line with the traditions and relevant protocols of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Jammeh who has been in power for 22 years had lost the December 1, 2016. presidential election, but vowed not to hand over to the winner, Adama Barrow.
Reacting in the statement by Offor, Enugu APC condemned in its entirety the anti-democratic, unconstitutional and unstatesman-like mercenary statement of Ekweremadu,to the effect that military option should be shelved in an effort to save the good people of Gambia from the bondage-shackles of Jammeh’s dictatorship.
Offor said: “We are making this statement because we are witnesses of how the anti-democratic unconstitutional and self serving advice of Ekweremadu contributed in no small measure in the less than glorious regimes of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
“Otherwise, how can Ekweremadu on one breathe admit that ‘I am aware that several high level meetings have been held and several missions undertaken to The Gambia as a way of finding solution to the problem’ and on another breathe fully aware that Jammeh who is not only defiant but takes himself as the sole owner of Gambia, will ever vacate office without force, but canvas kid glove rapprochement?
“Is Ekweremadu as a former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament not aware that up to this moment that Jammeh’s hand is stained with blood of innocent Gambians? Or that at this moment, people are in droves fleeing The Gambia and if the country is not saved by ECOWAS Authority Heads of States under the genuine Protocols which in no way violates the sovereignty of Gambia, the country will finally slide into a failed state. Which rule of Law is he talking about when the Supreme Court of Gambia under Jammeh has only one justice?”
Offor therefore called on President Buhari and his colleagues Heads of State to disregard the ranting of mercenaries like Ekweremadu and save Gambians from the clutches of unbridled and brutish Jammeh’s dictatorship.
