Gambia: Nigerian MPs want asylum for Jammeh

Just a few days to the constitutional end of Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh’s presidency, Nigeria is contemplating giving him asylum.

Nigeria’s lower chamber of parliament on Thursday asked the country’s President Muhammadu Buhari to consider offering the asylum, on condition that he accepts his defeat in elections and gives up power.

Nnenna Ukeje, of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives said: “I support this motion to the extent that … what we are trying to do is to create a soft landing for Yahya Jammeh. Let’s give him options, do not throw him under the bus, because we Are all African … and as leaders we must provide alternatives. “

However the motion is not binding on the government and there was no immediate response from Buhari, who is expected to travel to Banjul on Friday for talks.

Nigeria has already previously offered asylum to other African ex leaders, with the most recent being former Liberian warlord and president Charles Taylor.

On his part Gambia’s president-elect Adama Barrow, says he is confident he will be sworn in next week while at the same time calling on Jemmeh for direct talks.

His inaugration is scheduled for Thursday January 19th.