Amadou,
So if what FJC has said is true, these calls are relics from colonialism? No
doubt they dont seem to be promoting the interests of even the Muslim Umma
of Banjul, much more those of the whole country. Since this tradition was
developed during the dark days of colonialism, when the people of Banjul and
the Gambia were living under the yoke of colonial subjugation, there should
be no place for them in free and independent Gambia. So why not we throw
them into the dust bin?
The relationship between the colonial administration and our forefathers who
had their domociles in Bathurst, was a master/subject one. To replicate even
the undertones of that relationship in independent Gambia is a big
contradiction.
It is not surprising that FJC has brought in the anomalous and virtually
misplaced term "Ker Burr".
Very soon she would say Yaya Jammeh "Burr Banjul". I salute the courage of
those muslim elders who refuse to go to State house and have themseves and
the religion of Islam castigated by Yaya Jammeh. The constitution of the
Gambia calls for an absolute distinction between the state and religion.
Thus those who refuse to go to state house are helping to uphold the
constitution. FJC should give us a break, for she cannot claim to have more
christian relatives than master Badjie. We all know it is Yaya Jammeh who
has been using religion for political gains. Master Badjie may be a
politician, but as FJC herself has rightly pointed out, he is also a member
of the mosque committee. As spokesperson of the mosque committee, where else
does FJC expect master Badjie to make his pronouncements if not on the
pulpit? FJC will get more than ample evidence if she wants politics from the
pulpit. I mean politics from the pulpit, designed and delivered to protect
and promote the selfish political interests of the A(F)PRC regime. She wont
have to go far, just go to the state house mosque in Banjul.
Omar Joof.


>From: Amadu Kabir Njie <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Fw: Ex-PPP minister cautioned
>Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 01:10:47 +0100
>
>What exactly did Mr Kama Badjie say? I was hoping that the journalist would
>at least quote him so as to bring 'completeness' to the story. After
>reading through one is left none the wiser.
>
>Regards,
>
>Kabir.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>Ex-PPP minister cautioned
>
>http://www.observer.gm/artman/publish/article_375.shtml
>
>By Malick Mboob
>Dec 1, 2003, 22:07
>
>Ecowas parliamentarian, Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, has cautioned AEWF Kama
>Badjie, minister of Education in the Jawara regime not to use Islamic
>forums as a platform for spewing political rhetoric.
>
>This warning came following certain statements that Mr Badjie made on
>Christians while addressing celebrants during the Id prayers at the King
>Fahd Mosque, Banjul during the Id-ul Fitr prayers.
>
>Mrs Jahumpa-Ceesay said the statements made by Mr Badjie, a respectable
>Muslim elder, were "unfortunate".
>She said Mr Badjie "has no right to stand on the pulpit and talk about
>politics since he is a politician and not a religious man. Such places
>should only be used by preachers and nobody else, and in that instance, it
>was meant for imams and not politicians."
>
>She said Mr Badjie's remarks could engender discord between Christians and
>Muslims.
>"Though he is a member of the King Fahd and Banjul elders committees, with
>due respect to him, he has no right to stand on that pulpit, moreso make a
>statement," she argued.
>"I think and I feel that if he wanted to make such a remark, the courtesy
>call on the President at State House would have been the appropriate venue.
>But because he and other mosque committee members oppose the regime, they
>refuse to go the courtesy calls at State House. The Muslim community has
>had access to Kerr Burr (State House) since colonial days. Kama Badjie, the
>spokesman of the committee, has the right to join elders at State House.
>But among the present King Fahd Mosque Committee of Banjul, only Alhaji AA
>Faal and Alhaji Bubacarr Jeng attend the usual courtesy calls. The rest
>refuse to attend," she claimed.
>
>FJC recalled that since the time of Mama Tumani, first imam ratib of Banjul
>to the time of Imam Momodou Lamin Bah, no politician has ever used the
>pulpit to talk about politics. Why should it happen now? she queried.
>Talking about Christian-Muslim relations in Banjul, FJC, herself a daughter
>of a prominent nationalist, pro-Muslim politician and founder of the Gambia
>Muslim Congress Party, said the followers of the two religions have always
>had peaceful co-existence.
>
>"We are all one. For example, the late Pa Reny Blain's mother is related to
>the late Imam Momodou Lamin Bah's family. Mam Momodou Sillah of Banjul has
>Christian relatives, even my father, Ibrahim Garba Jahumpa was related to
>the Catholics. When father John Mayan, head of the Catholic mission died,
>Banjul Muslim elders attended the funeral. Deputy Imam Tafsir Gaye and
>Anglican bishop Solomon Tilewa Johnson are related. We are all one,
>indivisible under the eye of God," she preached.
>Mrs Jahumpa-Ceesay warned politicians to desist from making political
>statements on the pulpit "since Islam is a tolerant religion".
>
>Mr Badjie's statements were made in response to earlier statements made by
>Deputy Imam Tafsir Gaye who harped on the exemplary inter-religious
>dialogue existing between Christians and Muslims in Banjul.
>
>However, in earlier comments, Mr Badjie praised President Jammeh for
>helping with the refurbishment of the minaret at the mosque.
>
>© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company
>
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