Human rights activist Madi Jobarteh has accepted an invitation by Hon. Halifa Sallah, former Member of Parliament and Secretary General of PDOIS on the 2016 Coalition’s failure. This invitation to a debate by Halifa Sallah came following Jobarteh’s criticism of the entire 2016 Coalition members for their inability to push forward the new Gambia’s democratic reforms and electoral law reforms as envisaged.
The renowned human rights activist Madi Jobarteh made such criticism following the state funeral accorded to the late Ebrima Solo Sandeng of the UDP who was killed by security forces while in state custody at the NIA head office in Banjul.
The late Solo Sandeng was arrested together with many other members of the UDP for protesting to demand electoral law reforms.
Below is Madi Jobarteh’s response to Halifa Sallah’s invitation to a debate.
“I Hereby Accept Halifa Sallah’s Invitation to a Debate
Foroyaa’s ‘Question of the Day’ for today January 12 has been dedicated to my comments about the betrayal of 2016 Coalition leaders of the legacy of Solo Sandeng.
In my initial reaction, I declare that I am a direct beneficiary of the April 14 protests led by Solo Sandeng as alluded to by Foroyaa. I shall remain ever grateful to him and all his compatriots in that protest. It is precisely for that reason, that I have been restless since 19 January 2017 when the Coalition Government took office in demanding the implementation of democratic reforms and holding political parties and leaders to account accordingly, without mercy.
However, Foroyaa and Halifa Salah have caricatured me of being “tragic comical” in my opinion, and that I am “writing fiction and not facts.”
I await any response from Halifa Sallah, Foroyaa and indeed any other person. Rest assured I shall not be found wanting in equally responding as my right of reply. Therefore, I accept the debate challenge thrown at me.
Furthermore, I hereby challenge Pres. Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darboe, Fatoumatta Tambajang, Isatou Touray, Sidia Jatta, Mai Ahmad Faty, Henry Gomez, OJ Jallow, Lamin Dibba and Hamat Bah to a debate anytime anywhere if they so disagree with my position that they betrayed and failed Solo Sandeng and the Gambian people.
Gambian political leaders must recognize that they must be held accountable. They must realize that they are not infallible. If that were the case, this country could not have been in this deplorable state of affairs especially since 2017. No one is more responsible for this current misery in our country than the politicians who occupied both the Executive and Legislature from 2017 to 2021
Therefore, I maintain my position that the Coalition leaders, the moment they assumed office blatantly betrayed the cause that Solo fought for. The evidence of their failure and betrayal lies in the current state of affairs in the Gambia which is as glaring as the sun at 12 noon.
I await responses.
For the Gambia Our Homeland”
