By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Sheikh Sedia Bayo, one of the fiercest critics of the former Gambian Dictator Yahya Jammeh, said Gambians with dual nationalities or citizenships should be allowed to form their political parties to run for all national offices. Mr. Bayo, who is a French national of a Gambian descent, is the leader of the National Transition Council of The Gambia (NTCG). The NTCG, a self-proclaimed provisional government of The Gambia, was founded in 2012 with Mr. Bayo as the President and Commander-in-Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy. As a dissident group based in exile, with members mainly in the European countries, the NTCG initiated threats of a violent campaign to overthrow the Jammeh regime under a populist banner Waato Sita.
Speaking at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Mr. Bayo argued that Gambians with dual citizenships or nationalities should be accorded the opportunity to participate in the democratic process of the country by allowing them to form their own political parties and contest in future elections. “As a dual citizen, I want to request not for me but for the ones who fought against Yahya Jammeh and for the ones who want to enter and to participate politically by creating a political party or want to contest as president,” Bayo appealed on behalf of Gambians with dual nationalities or citizenships.
Mr. Bayo without mentioning may have been calling for an amendment to Section 62 (2) of the 1997 Constitution which stipulates that “a person who holds the citizenship or nationality of a country other than The Gambia, shall not be qualified for election as President.” The constitution makes a provision for Gambians who claim citizenship through descent, including Mr. Bayo, to run for the presidency in Section 62 (1) (a) which states that “a person shall be qualified for election as president if—he or she is a citizen of The Gambia by birth or descent.”
Similarly, the constitution also bars Gambians with dual citizenships or nationalities to run for National Assembly elections, which as stipulated in Section 90 (1)(a) reads: “no person is qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly if he or she—holds the citizenship or nationality of a country other than The Gambia.” Many legal analysts have interpreted these provisions to mean that a Gambian citizen who hold the “citizenship or nationality of a country other than The Gambia” must renounce that foreign citizenship or nationality before contesting for presidential and legislative elections in The Gambia.
Mr. Bayo knew it would take only constitutional changes or amendments to allow Gambians with dual citizenships or nationalities to be allowed to run for high national political offices without having to renounce the citizenships or nationalities of foreign countries. Speaking on the current Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Bayo said this initiative by the government comes at the right time. He added that he holds the belief that the 1997 constitution was adulterated by former President Jammeh for his own interest which necessitated a review of the constitution.
He was quick to add that he was not making the call based on his selfish interest but for the common good of Gambians who are living in the Diaspora and have interest to participate in the domestic politics of the country. He added the commissioners tasked with the responsibility of drafting a new constitution must endeavor to incorporate the interest of the many Gambians living in the diaspora who want to participate in national politics.
In responding to questions about his ambition of forming his own political party, Bayo told the press that he has other considerations as means of contributing to the development of the country which include the promotion of peace, democracy and facilitating foreign investment in the country.
“I’m not here to form any political party nor am I here to be against Adama Barrow. I’m here to embark on a caravan of peace and democracy campaign that will comprise of the securities, political leaders, community leaders as well as the youths and women,” Bayo submitted.
Mr. Bayo observed that the country has lots of opportunities to tap into including the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) slated to be hosted in The Gambia in November 2019. He said these opportunities should not be squandered and all efforts must be made to ensuring that a successful summit is hosted in The Gambia.
“We have a wonderful challenge which is the OIC, and the summit for me is like a window and if we can see through it we can see everyone will like to come here. We have to endeavor in making sure that we have a successful summit, and this I am sure Barrow knows better what OIC means for the country,” Bayo observed.
Bayo argued that because the OIC will attract fifty-seven countries across the Muslim Ummah to The Gambia, if the country fails to host a successful summit then that would mean a failure for the transitional government of President Barrow.
Mr. Bayo said he is currently in the country to present to Gambian people the Award of Peace and Democracy he received from the European Parliament. “I’m here to present my award to the people of The Gambia as a token of appreciation for all the time they have been standing by my side during the struggle. Today our efforts have been recognized and appreciated with this award from the European Parliament,” Bayo disclosed.
According to him, the award came as a big surprise, but it was the result of his sacrifice for the nation that has been recognized by the European Parliament. Mr. Bayo added that during the struggle he served as a source of contact for European Commission, European Parliament, European Police, and also gave an interview to the BBC.
“After my interview with the BBC, I received an email from Luisella Pavan Woolfe, EU Ambassador at the European Parliament and the commission to share with her the Gambian story and I think through these works the European Parliament recognized my work and rewarded me with this award,” Mr. Bayo revealed.
In December 2017, readers would recall that Mr. Bayo, who is a resident of France, was arrested at the Banjul International Airport and barred from leaving the country by a High Court Judge in a civil lawsuit of a debtor’s sermons for owing D1,709,522.45 to Coco Ocean Resort and Spa.