folks
There we have it. This speech in a nutshell shows why Africa continues to be the laughing stock of the world. Mother Africa "so long in fetters".
[log in to unmask] wrote:
Brother Abdu,
This man is insane, no doubt about it. I wonder who Jammeh thinks he is
scaring by saying he has arms and will use it. Definitely the sound of a most
desperate man.
Jabou Joh
In a message dated 4/19/2006 10:56:53 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
JAMMEH CALLS FOR VIGILANCE Written by Ebrima Jaw Manneh & Chief
Ebrima B. Manneh Tuesday, 18 April 2006 President Yahya Jammeh has
warned against external aggression, urging Gambians to reject any foreign
involvement in issues of national concern.
President Jammeh made these remarks on Saturday at the July 22 Square in
Banjul, where he addressed thousands of demonstrators who thronged the streets
of the capital in a peace march that commenced at the Radio Syd along the
Banjul-Serrekunda highway. Individuals and business people, including government
parastatals participated in the peace march with the slogan: Say no to coup.
Yes to democracy.
Here we reproduce the President’s address:
I want to thank Almighty Allah who made this gathering possible, as well
thank all patriotic citizens of this country: Those who are here and those who
are unable to be here but whose hearts are with us. This shows The Gambia’s
love for progress, for prosperity in Africa.
I have seen banners saying no to coup, but the reality is that people will
say how then did he become head of state because he overthrew somebody’s
government? Yes, I came through a coup d’etat, because what was happening in this
country is unacceptable. On 22 July 1994, not even a frog died, much more a
human being. When we came that day, in broad day-light, which Imam missed a
Friday prayer?
Let me also ask you this question. On July 22,1994, who among you missed his
lunch because of the coup? In fact, July 22, 1994, our coup d’etat was more
peaceful than any general election that was held in this country. When we
came, we told you that we were soldiers with a difference. We were not power
hungry, greedy soldiers that are looking for wealth and power to subjugate
Gambians. We were development hungry. We want this country to move forward and be
a beacon of hope for all of Africa, because what is happening in Africa is a
sad story.
If you have to ask me question as to whether we should say yes or no to coup
d’etat, my answer will shock you. First, we should understand that there are
three types of coups d’etat - coup d’etat based on tribal lines; coup d’
etat based on greed and personal aggrandisement; and a coup d’etat to rescue a
country from the brink of catastrophe. The first two types of coups d’etat no
body should accept because those two types are perpetrated by people who do
not even love their country; by people that are working for foreign elements
and they do not want Africa or any country to move forward, and they are
bent on bringing havoc. Those two types should not be welcomed but the third
one we should welcome.
A coup d’etat is like a prescribed drug. Depending on how you use it, it
could be useful and it could be dangerous. Let us ask ourselves as Gambians and
non-Gambians who have been here for the past 20 years. If there was no July
22, who would have imagined what The Gambia would have been like today? The
reason why I am asking you today is that there are economic problems created by
international economic situations. For example: When the oil prices were
made $25 to $30 a barrel, Gambians were experiencing power outrages, lack of
water, and children were carrying chairs to schools. Imagine if that government
was here today, when a barrel of oil is up to $65, how many of you would have
had lunch today?
I will tell you one thing: Whenever I go against the interest of The Gambia;
If ever I betray The Gambia, any patriotic Gambian can overthrow me in any
way. If ever I betray the country, a coup will be most welcomed. Until that,
which will never come, I will never betray my motherland. I will never betray
the country. I will never betray you the Gambian people. I will never betray
Africa. Let me tell you one thing: I will never betray Allah. No human being,
Gambian or non-Gambian, no foreign power can do anything to Yahya Jammeh or
the Gambian people.
Those who want to be President, those that are doing covertly or overtly, if
you want to be a president of The Gambia, I can assure you that you will
have the longest years to wait. Billahi Wallahi Tallahi, if you want to be the
President of this country, I can swear to Almighty Allah, you must be more
patient than a vulture, because I am not giving you the power now. When am I
going to hand over The Gambia to you? And before that I will not hand over The
Gambia. The day we achieve what is enshrined in Vision 2020, the day The
Gambia and your oil benefits every Gambian and non-Gambian, the day your oil
benefits every African and all sets of human race, the day The Gambia becomes a
superpower, that is the day I will hand over the power to you the Gambian
people. You have at least 30 years to wait. Do I raise any eyebrows? Yes, the
British were here for 400. What did they leave you with after 400 years, only two
high schools, the English language and the neck-tie. They
exploited our mineral resources in Sanyang and other Kombo Coastal areas. Up
to day, when they were leaving, they destroyed all the documents. So only
God and the British knew what they were extracting from our soil. For 400
years, they left you with only two high schools, two hospitals, the English
language and the neck-tie.
Thirty years of Jawara’s, the same two high schools, the same two hospitals,
the same neck-tie and the same constitution. And in fact, in addition to
that, at least in Jawara’s time to a point where at least we allow the people to
build tesito schools, which ended up with some of you carrying chairs and
desks to schools, because you are poor.
Today how many high schools do we have? Today how many hospitals do you
have? Today how many of you are going to the university? Today our airport is
number one in West Africa. And The Gambia is the only country today in the whole
of African continent where D5 (less than 5 US cent), you can have medical
treatment from consultation to surgical operation from the D5. You will not
have that from anywhere in Africa.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all Gambians and non-Gambians
alike, especially foreign governments that are standing by The Gambia, foreign
governments that have confidence in our leadership, foreign governments that
want to see Africa move forward. They are all behind us. I want to thank
everyone of them. I want to thank everyone of you for expressing solidarity. Let me
just tell you one thing: If a frog wants to scare an elephant, the frog is
committing suicide.
Fellow Gambians, you could share the same womb and the same mother or father
with someone, but he is not your relative. If there is any family
relationship, you should reason together, move together and in cohesion. Gambians
should open their eyes. There are people who tell you that these are your family
members. Their means for survival we are all from here, but they intend
nothing progressive for you. There are people within us, whose only intention is to
bring havoc to the country. But God is not sleeping.
If any country wants peace with The Gambia, we can work together. But if you
hate us and our peace, Billahi Wallahi Tallahi I will bury you with salt.
There is not a country that we are scared of today, particularly within our
sub-region. There is no country that I am scared of. I know why I said so. If
any country wants peace, you will have peace.
If you hate our progress, then move your country elsewhere. Billahi Wallahi
Tallahi, there is no country in the world that can stop the amount of
progress in this country and those in the offing. Only God has that power to stop
it. To resist against conflict does not mean that you are scared of conflict.
Our focus is how Africa as a whole can develop. But everything has a limit. I
want you to listen carefully. If you think that The Gambia is small, then you
do not know God. I will not disclose what we have but every Gambian should
open your eye. All what has transpired should be an eye opener. Gambians
should unite. I am not saying the opposition must not exist but we should all pray
for peace for one another. It takes only Gambians to defend this country,
besides God. It is only we who can develop this country, besides God. The
opposition must exist to guide the government. A genuine opposition should crave
for the progress of its country. But what we have in The Gambia
is not an opposition. Under a democratic system, an opposition is supposed
to be patriotic. It is supposed to be development-oriented and they should
love all citizens. But what we have here, a group of tribalists, a group of
hate-centered greedy parasites, who want to intellectualise everything, even
though they are not intelligent. If you are a genuine opponent of a system and
you are opposing because you are development-oriented, any positive development
by the government you should congratulate and when you see something that is
bad you should criticise them. But here we have a bunch of lunatics.
Everybody wants to be a President to a point where they formed ‘the National
Association of Desperate Donkey Drivers’ (Nadd). They say they want to lead this
country. That is not an opposition. They hate this country and they will never
become even alkalolu in this country. Politics of tribalism or politics based
on religion is outdated...Europe has all nationalities, all
religions and all races. So why should little Gambia accept individuals
whose politics are based on tribe. Gambians are too intelligent for that. They
must reject tribalism. They must reject anything that will divide The Gambia as
one. As one country, a unified country, we will be the strongest on the face
of Africa.
On a final note, all these machinations against The Gambia, the peace and
development we have, many countries do not have it. The worst of all those
machinations came about, when they know that we have oil. They say they hire some
unpatriotic soldiers and can cause chaos for The Gambia. Our peace,
progress, and our oil, if anyone wants to tamper with any, I will split you into
four. Gambians, especially the youth, should open their eyes. The world has
changed. You can only be destroyed by somebody who knows you. You can only be
lied to by somebody who knows you. You can only be misquoted by somebody, who
knows you. All this noise is happening because we do not show what we have,
especially in terms of weapons. What we have in terms of weapons, I will not
show out. But if anyone wants to test it, I will show it out and then use it on
you.
Billahi Wallahi Tallahi, even if you have one million troops or thousands. I
am afraid of no country because I have the most powerful: God. Then I am not
afraid of any country. I am not afraid of Satan. I am not afraid of the
Jinns. If you want, go and sleep. If you see us ignoring so many things, Africa
wherever you see there is conflict. The innocent ones are suffering. This is
why Africa remains backward. But if anyone forces me into fire, I will drag
you along. I am not asking you to be hateful to people. Let us not allow
ourselves to be divided. We can disagree among ourselves but let us not allow
anyone from outside to interfere with our national issues. Every human being
should be faithful to God. As long as we are delivering and doing good, there will
be no country that can be more progressive than us in five years’ time. I
said so because I know the reason why I said it.
I thank you for listening.
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