I salute you all each by your name. I wish I could call each one of you by name, but since I cannot call some of you for fear of offending others, I will greet you all collectively; from those that I went to high school with, to those I became close friends, and those I became a partner with in the struggle to free our country. That said, I am unable to be with you in person in Raleigh, but I am with you in spirit and I will as a good citizen contribute my little quota to make whatever you decide at this important Raleigh meeting, a success.
As all you fellow citizens and friends of Gambia meet to discuss how we can restore democracy and the rule of law in our country, it is inevitable that you will logically also discuss why Yahya Jammeh does not deserve to serve in the capacity as Chief Executive of our country. But in the end, the most important thing you can do, in my estimation, is discuss strategies of forcibly removing Yahya Jammeh. We also need, from this day forward, to reassure our politicians at home that they are no longer standing alone.
Ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is a milestone in our struggle to free our country. Our countrymen and women look up to us in this struggle and we cannot afford to fail them. We must put heads together to find a solution to our problem. This Raleigh meeting is only the beginning of our journey, but a foundation has been laid right here in Raleigh, and we must take it and run with it until we can see the back of Yahya Jammeh. I urge unity among us and I further wish you all a good productive meeting. I salute you all. Thank you.
Mathew K Jallow
Madison, Wisconsin