Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 5 January 2017
Gambia’s election chief flees the country after threats

ABDOULIE JOHN cism of Njai. “My suspicion
Associated Press of the IEC chairman and
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — the falsification of the re-
Gambia’s election chief sults arose. I will not tolerate
has fled the country be- anyone to cheat me,” he
cause of the growing said.
threats made since he de- Critics say thousands of
clared longtime ruler Ya- Gambians have fled perse-
hya Jammeh had lost last cution abroad during Jam-
month’s presidential elec- meh’s rule, and an untold
tion, relatives said Wednes- number of political dissi-
day. Family members told dents have been jailed and
The Associated Press that killed. Many live in Senegal,
Independent Electoral which almost completely
Commission chairman surrounds Gambia.
Alieu Momarr Njai has gone In another sign Jammeh is
to neighboring Senegal, as seeking to tighten his hold
the political standoff deep- on power, the army chief
ens between Jammeh and of staff has pledged his al-
President-elect Adama legiance to the incumbent,
Barrow. Jammeh initially according to a pro-govern-
accepted defeat after ment newspaper.
more than 22 years in pow- “May I please seize this op-
er, only to change his mind In this Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 file photo, Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh shows his inked finger portunity to renew to your
a week later. Jammeh says before voting in Banjul, Gambia. Excellency the assurance
voting irregularities in the Associated Press of the unflinching loyalty
Dec. 1 ballot affected the 19 inauguration. force if Jammeh, who has maintained that the “elec- and support of the Gam-
outcome, and his party is The political crisis in this tiny said that “only Allah” can tion results were correct; bia Armed Forces,” Ous-
challenging the results in country has prompted the deny him victory, continues nothing will change that.” man Badgie wrote in a let-
court. Meanwhile, Barrow West African regional bloc to stay in power. In his New Year’s address, ter published by the Daily
says he is planning a Jan. to consider using military The election chief has Jammeh renewed his criti- Observer.q

Former Nigerian leaders sing for peace, acknowledge ‘mess’

MICHELLE FAUL knowledge responsibility.
Associated Press “In spite of the mess we
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — For- made of the country, he
mer Nigerian rulers have (God) manages always
banded together to sing to rescue us,” said Alex
a hymn for peace in their Ekwueme, vice president
troubled nation, with some from 1979 until the first of
acknowledging they had a many military coups in
role in creating the “mess.” 1983.
Their video wish for 2017 is Ebitu Ukiwe, vice presi-
getting scornful comments dent under a dictatorship
from many on social me- in 1984-1985, said: “I am
dia. grateful to almighty God
The former leaders, many for accepting us despite
white-haired and in their the mess we have made of
80s, sing “Oh God Our Help ourselves and the country.”
In Ages Past” in sometimes Africa’s largest economy
shaky tenor and bass. They and the continent’s sec-
include former military rul- ond-biggest oil producer
ers Olusegun Obasanjo is currently in a recession
and Yakubu Gowon, for- caused by a looted trea-
mer interim leader Ernest sury, low oil prices and mas-
Shonekan and current Vice In this Sunday, May. 29, 2011 file photo Former Nigerian Presidents, Ernest Shonekon, left, Gen sive shortages of foreign
President Yemi Osinbajo. Abdulsalam Abubukar, centre, Gen Yakubu Gowon, third left arrived for the inauguration cer- currency.
One Twitter user calls the emony of former Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan at the eagle square in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigeria also is beset by
Associated Press deadly violence including
VIP choir a “rogues’ gal- Boko Haram’s Islamic upris-
lery,” while others accuse ing in the northeast, attacks
them of being responsible by oil militants in the south,
for the woes of a resource- demands by separatists for
rich country impoverished an independent Biafra in
by endemic corruption. the southeast and clash-
In comments made after es between mainly Mus-
singing the hymn, some lim herders and Christian
of the former leaders ac- farmers.q