By Buba Gagigo
The APRC “No To Alliance” faction has announced that former president Yahya Jammeh has given them permission to celebrate the 22nd of July, the day he seized power in a coup d’état in his hometown of Kanilai.
The day will be celebrated with an Islamic conference and a Back to the Land grand fundraiser in Kanilai.
“H.E. Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh has given his blessings and approval for the APRC National Executive Committee (NEC) to organize the said events at Kanilai from Friday the 21st to Saturday 22nd July 2023. As part of the 2023 commemorations of the day, H.E. Sheikh Prof, Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh’ has directed that the day be celebrated in a ‘grand’ style marked by an Islamic conference on Friday 21 July, Farmwork in the morning, and a Mega “BACK TO THE LAND FUNDRAISING” event in the evening of Saturday 22nd July 2023 respectively.
“Funds realized from the fundraising event will be used to finance the 2023 farming activities as part of the “GROW WHAT YOU EAT AND EAT WHAT YOU GROW” philosophy. They said in the statement released to the public.
On Friday 22nd July 1994, a group of Gambian soldiers led by a 29-year old Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh seized power in a ‘bloodless’ coup d’etat, ousting Dawda Jawara, who had been President of the Republic of The Gambia since its independence in 1970.
Since then, it has been the tradition of the APRC to annually celebrate this day to reflect on the life and achievements of former president Yahya Jammeh.