Buhari, ECOWAS leaders to meet Jammeh Wednesday

A meeting of West African Leaders hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Monday insisted that the embattled Gambian President Yahya Jammeh obeys the constitution of his country and handover power as at when due.

In view of this, President Buhari as the Mediator will on Wednesday lead an ECOWAS delegation to The Gambia to meet with Jammeh in a final effort to resolve the impasse in the country.

This was the decision reached at the end of the meeting between Buhari as the mediator and some ECOWAS leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Jammeh who was defeated by Adama Barrow in the December 1st election is supposed to hand over on the 19th of January, even as he remains recalcitrant and insists he will hold onto power citing irregularities in the result of the polls.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama, who briefed journalists at the Presidential Villa after the meeting which lasted for about three hours said the leaders raised concerns on the tension brewing in the country as well as the refugee situation being created and agreed that President Buhari, his Co-mediator, and other African leaders should once again proceed to The Gambia to further persuade Jammeh to do the right thing.

He said it was resolved that the situation should be handled in conformity with the constitution of The Gambia so as to respect the will of the people.

“They deliberated on the current state of affairs in The Gambia and shared views on the way forward.

“They agreed on the determination to resolve The Gambian political crisis in a manner that every step of the way conforms with the constitution of The Gambia and respect the will of the people of The Gambia.

“They expressed particular concern at the deteriorating situation that has been reported in respect of security in The Gambia in particular, the closure of some of the radio stations and media and house, arrest that have been taking place and also the refugee situation that is being created with the mass exodus of a large number of people to the interior and to neighbouring countries.

“In view of this, the meeting agreed that a certain number of President’s will visit in two days time, President Jammeh in The Gambia and that again will comprise the mediator President Buhari together with the President of Liberia and hopefully, the President of Sierra-Leon and the co-mediator the former President of Ghana (John Mahamma) as well as the President of the ECOWAS commission, the Special Representatives of United Nations and also a Representative of the African Union.
“So, this meeting will take place in two days time on Wednesday to discourse with President Jammeh the need the imperative the constitution.

Present at the meeting were Presidents of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the chair of the ECOWAS authority, the President of Senegal, Macky Sall and His Excellency the former President of Ghana, John Mahama, who is also the co-chair mediator with President Buhari.

Also present were the Presidents of the ECOWAS commission and also the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary General who happens to be the head of the UN office for West Africa and the Sahel, Ibn Chambas.

Jammeh has since filled a petition at the Supreme Court which will be heard on Tuesday.