Forcing Barrow to Leave Office will Tantamount to Constitutional Coup-Hon Magassy
Hon. Muhammed Magassy, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Basse constituency has stated that any attempt to force President Adama Barrow to leave power before the end of his five-year constitutional mandate can best be described as a constitutional coup.
He made this argument at a press conference last week, where he also publicly declared his unflinching support to President Adama Barrow’s five-year constitutional mandate.
Hon. Magassy a key stakeholder of Coalition 2016 that ushered President Adama Barrow to power said the foundations that were supposed to be laid for President Barrow to surrender power by the end of the three years agreement have not been laid. He maintained that the failure by Coalition 2016 Stakeholders to agree on the modalities for selecting aspirant national assembly candidates is a clear indication that the coalition 2016 was dead long since.
“I want to make it known to the Gambian People that I, Muhammed Magassy, a key stakeholder of the Coalition 2016, is in support of President Adama Barrow’s constitutional mandate of serving for five years. My support squarely lies with President Adama Barrow to stay in power until 2021 against the three-year agreement he had with us Coalition 2016 stakeholders”, Muhammed Magassy, NAM for Basse disclosed.
The Member for Basse’s reaction came barely twenty-four hours after the United Democratic Party (UDP), the main stakeholder of the Coalition 2016, called on President Barrow to respect the Coalition agreement that ushered him into office.
“As a National Assembly member, I swore to defend the constitution. And as such, I would stay with the President for the completion of his term. The constitution says if you are elected, you should serve for a period of five years”. Hon. Magassy affirmed his position.
He also spoke of his recent award handed to him by The Gambian community in Ghana on recognition of his valuable contribution to the progress and development of the country, stating that the award came as a big surprise to him.
