New Islamic council prexy urges unity

Imam Momodou Lamin Touray, the newly elected president of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) has called on Muslims in the country to bury their differences and unite for a common purpose.

 Imam Touray said Islam harbours no disunity and Muslims should unite for the good of Islam and the Ummah.

Imam Touray, an erudite and reputed Islamic scholar, is the deputy Imam of Gunjur and a deputy Imam of State House mosque. He hails from Gunjur, Western Region, and is renowned for his fluidity in the propagation of Qur’an and the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He told the multitude of the faithful at the 4th national congress of the country’s supreme Islamic body, on Sunday, at the GSIC Headquarters in Kanifing, that his election to the presidency was the will of Allah, but noted that all Muslim leaders in the country are equally competent to head the council.

“The council belongs to all the Muslims in the country, but it is only when we unite together as a unified body that we can achieve the successes and developments that we all yearn for,” the new GSIC president said, while calling for more commitment to Islam.

Imam Touray challenged the Muslim Ummah to serve as a watchdog to the new executive committee of the council, as they should be corrected where they are likely to do wrong. However, he also called for maximum support from everyone in order to move the council forward.

Imam Touray affirmed his resolve to make the council a more vibrant institution during his term and assured the gathering that the trust and confidence bestowed on them by Muslims will not be betrayed.

At the occasion, the erudite Imam praised Allah for bringing the congress to a successful ending and  the present government, under the leadership of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, whom he thanked for his “unshakable” commitment to the cause of the council and Islam.

Alhaji Banding Drammeh, the preceding president of GSIC, concurred with his successor’s statement and urged Muslims to stand by the new executive committee in the execution of their functions.

He informed the gathering that the outgoing executive will convene a meeting with the incoming one, for the formal handing over of the affairs of the council.
Alhaji Mustapha Caroyol, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, who presided over the election process, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the congress.

The 155 delegates who unanimously elected Imam Touray as president, also elected 10 other executive members to the executive committee of the council.

They include Imam Sheriff Bajan and Imam Sheik Gibril Kujabi, as first and second vice presidents respectively; Dr Mbaye Kebba Kah and Ebrima Touray as the secretary-general and deputy secretary-general respectively; and Aji Jainaba Dibba and Cherno Darboe elected as the assistant secretary-general - English, and deputy assistant secretary-general - Arabic respectively.

Other members of the committee are Baba Drammeh Junior, Alhaji Momodou Lamin Kanteh, Baba Babucarr Drammeh Senior and Aji Maimuna Savage.