It is with great concern that the Coalition of Progressive Gambians condemns the IGP’S move to call for questioning and detention of journalists of the Voice Newspaper. It’s really disappointing and has not come as a surprise as we’re still dwelling on the over amended 1997 constitution. This has been the reason why, we, the CoPG, have always been advocating for the 2020 Draft Constitution to be brought back in its original form.

Why must President Barrow not expect such speculations if his government has been heard engaging Muhammad Jah”s QGroup and Espace Motors with several government business contracts? In his recent visit to China, financed by taxpayers, we’ve heard and read President Barrow lobbying partnership for Jah with Huawei. When his visit was financed by the Gambians, we expected President Barrow to lobby contracts for an almost defunct Gamtel/Gamcel, our national GSM company, or lobby for major Chinese investments in the agro or blue economy to create jobs for a highly unemployed youth population to curb the back way syndrome that has cost a lot of lives amongst Gambian youths.

We didn’t expect President Barrow to lobby a partnership for an enterprise that can barely employ 5000 Gambians.
Therefore such speculations must not be a surprise for the President, his advisers, and party. The Media speculates based information derived from reliable and confidential sources and public opinion. It’s for his ill informed advisers to do justice to Gambians by putting aside their opportunist, self centered and partisan advices and put him through well informed decisions. There is no need to overreact and stir dust over avoidable decisions and actions that spoke volumes and created these speculations.

We urge the Office of the IGP to remain impartial as his rank, Office and credibility belongs to the Gambians. His functions, role and responsibilities is basically to protect the lives and properties of all Gambians irrespective of affiliations as well as the maintenance of peace. We urge him to uphold his oath of office at all times and respect the provisions of the constitution that authorizes his functions and guarantees the rights and liberties of the people to expression. The IGP must not allow his office, rank and credibility to be fiddled by the interest of a person, group or party. Leaders and ruling parties come and go but the Office of the IGP is here to stay.

We also urge the Legal adviser to the President to always well inform him and government on legal matters as the government has lost a lot of legal battles that incur a lot of cost to the State. The Coalition of Progressive Gambians assures the Media fraternity of their unflinching solidarity and support to all whose rights have been violated and remain steadfast in their commitment to hold to account all public officials or servants and institutions paid and financed by the taxpayers.

For the Coalition of Progressive Gambians, I am,

Celestine Kujabi,

Secretary General.
(+220)7828994/3078516.