I volunteer to be a peace broker between H.E President Jammeh, the opposition parties, and the Diaspora groups, hope you will join me or support me!!!
Among the plans to be discussed are:
1. The President to announce he will not run for 2016 elections
2. Term limits to the presidency to be introduced to the National Assembly (No President should serve more than two 5year term periods). This means no more than 10yrs in office. The National Assembly must hold new elections in 2016 that should reflect the choice of the people. There will also be checks and balances, and separation of religion and state implemented.
3. The President and his family will be granted a safe haven in The Gambia and cannot face prosecution by the next administration for human rights abuses. However, a commission of enquiry will be set up to look into the financial dealings of the President and all businesses others were engaged in with the President. Anything that was mismanaged, seized illegally, stolen, or belongs to the Gambian people must be returned back to The Gambia treasury.
4. All victims of abuses, murder, torture, sexual abuse, rape, theft, forceful retirements, wrongful firings, men, women, children, and families that were victims must be compensated by cash that will be confiscated from money that was wrongfully acquired under the leadership of the President. Lands and properties that were wrongfully taken from owners must be returned. Properties that were wrongfully sold to others must be returned or compensated according to the value in this present day.
5. The President must free all political prisoners and anyone that was illegally detained before being charged. Also, they will be compensated for missing work, family, and the hardships they endured.
6. Amnesty to be granted to all sons and daughters of The Gambia living abroad that fear persecution either for political, economic, or social reasons.
7. The opposition parties, groups, and individuals that have a political agenda must be granted equal access to the Gambia Radio and Television Services just like the ruling party to relay their messages to the people of The Gambia. Live debates must be a requirement for all Presidential elections that will give the people the right to ask questions and know where their leaders stand on certain issues.
8. Transparency, accountability, and responsibility will not just become words but actions to be implemented in all sectors of government and businesses that have dealings with the government.
9. Reforms, reconciliation, and an open dialogue must be in practice if we want to move towards the future starting today in order to forget the past. Laws that were passed need to be looked into and amended if necessary. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) needs to be reformed and the International Community including ECOWAS, AU, EU, and the U.N must, be granted approval to oversee that these reforms are being transparent, and conducted fairly.
10. Our neighboring country Senegal must play a huge role to see to it that there is peace, stability, and order that will always be in their National interest. The Senegalese government must be part of the delegation to see to it that the negotiations are going as planned without intimidation, threat, or interference from any group that wants to dislodge the peace treaty.
Finally, these proposals can only happen if we Gambians work collectively in a responsible manner, with respect and dignity for all Gambians. No group, tribe, religion, party, or political affiliations would have more influence than the other. This is all in good faith and we should learn to forgive and reconcile our differences if we want Gambia to be prosperous. I am willing to take this huge risk, joined by others who are diplomatic and put God and Gambia first before anything. If no one is willing to join me on this quest, I shall go alone with God on my side and am ready to face all consequences. I urge all political parties, groups, and the Gambian government to come up with a better proposal that will unify us all, and work on the route to peace. The Gambia is too small to be so divided when we are all related one way or the other.
I shall plan on my visit at the end of the school semester in December, and hope that will give everyone enough time to work on their plans and strategies to a Gambia that is free and beneficial to us all. My hope is that with the guidance of God and the prayers we pray, we will come to the right conclusion and be the owners of our destiny to live in peace each day. There is no easy answer here to our problems, but we can all be part of the solutions to our problems. We should not wait for others to deal with our problems, but face them head on to build a better Gambia. With that being said, I urge you all to be kind and respectful to your parents, leaders, and followers, but always do what is best for the country with the guidance of God the almighty. May we all learn to forgive one another as we ask God to diligently forgive us!! Peace be with you all, and may we all start working today for a better Gambia if we haven’t already begun.
Momodou Njai