Marabou praise Barrow’s Commitment

By Pa Modou Cham

International marabou Sheikh Abdoulie Wilan of Senegal has praises President Adama Barrow’s commitment toward the development of Islam for the benefit of the country and its people.

Sheikh Wilan was speaking at a press briefing with the local and international Medias about his annual conference and Gamou held at Taiba Nyissen in Foni Bondali.

“Went I came to Bondali to settle my own village, I spoke to the chief that all my reasons to settle here is to learn and teach others. Still now am on that, is not that Gambians did not learn but I have to complement their efforts,” he said.

He stated that the President’s wife Fattoumata Bah Barrow has visited them and appreciates their efforts. He added that he trust the new government because they want to work for the betterment of the country and Islam as well.

He call on government to help them build the road between Bondali and Taiba, and to help complete their Arabic schools with the require equipments.

Bakary Sanyang, the governor of West Coast Region (WCR) explained that the Sheikh’s stay in his region has boost on many opportunities for both elders and the youths.

On buttressing the relationship between Senegal and Gambia, he said the two countries are the same, saying “the two countries were divided by our colonist but we share the same languages, culture and region. With that, I will talk with the president to support you with the difficulties you mention because we cannot pay you for teaching the youths and elders of our region.”

Babacarr Cham, a student of Sheikh Wilan explained that the village of the sheikh was founded in 1999. He added that the Sheikh came to The Gambia to help distribute the words of Allah to the people.

He explained that before the sheikh founded the village, some people were living here but they ran because of gins but after 13 years, the Sheikh came and settle without disturbance of any living things.

“He built the village Madrassa in 2005 to help disseminate the words of the Holy Quran. He built more than 200 ‘Darass and 530 Madrassa in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau.’”

He said the Sheikh use to pay all the teachers in his madrassas, saying he did that because of the love he has for the prophet and the Islamic body in general.