UDP’s Mr. Femi Peters writes appreciation letter,
—says better days ahead for Gambia
By FEMI PETERS, Banjul, The Gambia
Now that I have served the sentence meted out to me on charges that I still cannot comprehend, I look back on events since my discharge on the 10th December 2010. I will avail myself of the opportunity to thank the members of the party and my colleagues in the leadership, members of the National Assembly on both sides of the political divide, for their support and sympathy not forgetting other well wishers particularly our party Chairman in Faraba Village Nfamaraba Colley and other party militants who came in their numbers every time my case was being heard. As regards the case, since it is still sub judice I will refrain from making any comments.
I wish also to thank the Party for the confident reposed in me when they elected and elevated me, whilst I was in prison, to the position of Administrative Secretary responsible for Foreign Affairs, at the National Congress in Jarra – Soma in June, 2010, .
I also wish to express my appreciation to our party Chapters in the UK during my imprisonment for their demonstration and submission of a petition at the Nigerian High Commission in London on the behaviour of Nigerian nationals in the Judiciary as Prosecutors, Magistrates and Judges. Our chapters in the United States of America for their unflinching support and the demonstration they carried out in Washington 29th July 2010.
The STGD (Save the Gambia Democracy Project) for both their moral and material support, through, personal calls and visits to my family. I would like to thank all those who in various ways send hundreds of letters of support and solidarity and by email telephone calls through my Lawyer and Party Leader, Mr. Ousainou Darboe to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude. My warm thanks go to my sisters, my wife, cousins and all other well wishers who paid me visits at Jeshwang Prison. Human Rights organisations throughout the world have shown solidarity in many forms. I must make mention particularly of Amnesty International who mobilized its members all over the world to my cause. I received over thousand letters of encouragement and solidarity from all parts of the world. I am greatly touched. I have also charged myself to reply to all these letters to show my appreciation. May God bless them all.
I would like congratulate the women folk of the UDP for their magnificent turn out during the launching of The Gambia Women Federation, a very important national issue which we all relate to. I would like belatedly, to express to all Gambians home and abroad, my Christmas greetings of “peace on earth and good will to all men”.
Finally I would like to express my sincere, profound and fraternal condolences to the families of the following friends and relatives who were called to greater service above - Aunty Hetty Forster, Pa Alasan Jagne, Sulay Jarra, Mrs. Mac Williams, Betty Cates, Leku Johnson, Granny Dobe Coker, Aunty Alice Carr, Edward Ted Sowe, Dupeh Thomas, Dr Mamo Jawla, Pa Joseph During, Daisy Carrol, Matar John. John Robinson (Laku), George Sarr, Dr. Abubacarr Gaye, Uncle Malick Ndirr, Ardy Njie, Dodou and Ebou Joof,Nyanya Lowe-Jallow, Uncle Joe Richards, Mrs. Abis Ceesay Manneh, Badou Njie, Lady Barnes Stapleton Sosseh. I pray for their gentle souls to rest in perfect peace. Amen
As we start this year, we will rededicate ourselves to ideals of bettering the lot of the Gambian people. It is our conviction that a BETTER GAMBIA IS POSSIBLE