Former Nigerian president arrives in The Gambia to facilitate stakeholders’ efforts to forge workable national consensus
Banjul, Gambia(PANA) - Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan arrived in The Gambia Friday to support the country’s ongoing constitutional review process to forge a workable national consensus, an official source said here.
A report on Gambia radio monitored by PANA here said the former president was in The Gambia at the invitation of Gambian leader Adama Barrow.
Jonathan is expected to deploy his experience and goodwill as a well-respected international statesman towards advancing the constitutional review process to enhance the progress of the continuing national dialogue.
A draft constitution failed to garner enough support from lawmakers for a third reading in the National Assembly in September 2020
When tallied, the vote was 31-42 with three abstentions.
The Gambia began a constitutional building process in 2019 to set aside the 1997 Constitution which was amended more than 50 times by former dictator Yahya Jammeh.
It stipulates two terms for the presidency. However, drafters put a retrogressive clause in the document that counted President Barrow's first term as part of the two terms he could serve in office.
According to the Gambian authorities, the former Nigerian president is being invited to facilitate the process of the dialogue because of his neutrality and proven record in democratic and constitutional reforms.
Dr. Jonathan will be meeting with various stakeholders including President Barrow, political party leaders and parliamentarians while in the country.
The assignment is consistent with the vision of the Elders Forum, a newly constituted body, by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, to drive proactive consultations with stakeholders in the West African sub-region towards preventing and resolving governance and election-related tensions.
President Jonathan will be supported by the leaders of the inter-governmental International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) who have been designated by the Gambian government to provide secretarial assistance to the former president, in the course of the mission.
-0- PANA MSS/RA 18Dec2020
