Barely two days before the Muslim Feast of Eid-Alfitir locally call Koriteh, Soldiers were seen in the streets of the Greater Banjul area and the West Coast Region distributing Milk Tins, Sugar and Bread to the Gambian population under the directive of President Jammeh. The Soldiers who were on board a Military Truck could be seen busy throwing the charities enclosed in black nylon plastic bags, forcing people to follow them while they continue to dish bags eye witnesses told this reporter.
“It was exactly in the hours of 1600 GMT when we saw a Military Truck loaded with lot of black nylon plastic bags containing sugar, milk tins and loaves of bread throwing them to the people around the road side,”
According to them, after opening the said black nylon plastic bag, they found the said stuffs inside as they were told by the distributing Soldiers that it was a gift from the President who was doing it in honor of the Holy Month of Ramadan as he seeks prayers from Muslims in order for tranquility to exist in the country.
A beneficiary told this reporter he was on his way home when the Soldiers pass by him and threw a bag containing the stuffs saying that it is important to give out charities to the needy.. but that the way it is done is demeaning to the poor because they are seen scrambling for food like beggars.
On eye witness angrily opined that since there are Mosques all over the areas led by Imams; he thinks the charities should be taken to the Mosques rather than distributing them to the public without any privacy. .
Gainako’s Banjul reporter who confirmed the distribution in Brikama along the Trans-Gambia Highway saw dozens of primarily school kids following the truck as Soldiers continue to throw the stuff prompting to a small traffic jam.
After trying to substantiate the reason/s behind the distribution, one of the Soldiers told him that it was a charity from Ogga Jammeh who is seeking for more prayers from the people. Most of the beneficiaries told our reporter that the move is welcoming as it would help the poor and needy but call on Jammeh to revisit his mode of giving out charities to the needy.
This kind of charitable distribution has been used a lot by President Jammeh and many believes that he is doing it to fulfill some rituals that his marabouts instructed him to do. It is rather unfortunate that the President who so vividly displays his Islamic credentials by carrying a holy book would also believe so much in idol worship. Unfortunately, he uses that kind of rituals to put fear in people.