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December Election: The Candidates who might not qualify to run

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December Election: The Candidates who might not qualify to run

The December presidential election is now just weeks away but the past months have seen over two dozen Gambians express interest in the country’s top job. The new boys who stepped forward will certainly go to war with a number of the old guard along with President Adama Barrow who is set to defend his seat.

However whether some of the candidates will qualify to run in the election remains very much in doubt. Below are nine candidates who may not end up not meeting the criteria to run…

Ousainou Darboe

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has more than two decades under his belt as a politician. He was former President Yahya Jammeh’s biggest nemesis during the former dictator’s 22 years rule. UDP has tapped Mr Darboe as their standard-bearer for the job but whether the 73-year-old will qualify has been a subject of much debate. There is yet to be any clear verdict regarding the politician’s conviction, his sacking from public office as well as the issue of tax evasion.

Essa Faal

Essa Faal has managed to become the surprise package among the candidates seeking the presidency. Since announcing his presidency bid at the end of August, the man has quickly won the hearts of a lot of voters. But whether he is qualified to run remains unclear. It’s said he doesn’t meet the five years residency requirement. There are also reports the Turnaround advocate holds citizenship of both The Gambia and Senegal.

Mai Fatty

Mai Ahmad Fatty is another candidate who wants to be president of The Gambia in December. However, the GMC leader may not be in a position to qualify if his sacking from public office is anything to go by.

Dr Ismaila Ceesay

CA leader Dr Ismaila Ceesay is another new boy who wants the job of president. The 46-year-old worked as a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia for more than a decade. He became leader of CA this year following the formation of the party. Ceesay is said to be a citizen of both The Gambia and Sweden and this could present a problem for him at nomination.

BB Darbo

BB Darbo is one of the candidates who is relying on his experience to take State House. He served as finance minister as well as vice president in previous governments. He became leader of Gambia For All following his unceremonious departure from PPP. He is said to be a citizen of the United Kingdom, and if this is true, ‘Demba is OK’ may not qualify to run.

Sheikh Tijan Hydara

Sheikh Tijan Hydara has all of a sudden become a key force to reckon with. This is a man who was until recently struggling in terms of support from even his hometown, Brufut. But the decision by former President Yahya Jammeh not to work with NPP has seen a lot of APRC supporters flock to the Gambia Alliance for National Unity leader. But Mr Hydara is said to have been sacked from public office and this could present a problem for him at nomination.

Tamsir Jasseh

Tamsir Jasseh is another citizen who is interested in taking State House in December. The Our Homeland leader may not qualify if his conviction for treason is anything to go by.

Papa Faal

Papa Faal announced his presidency bid in November last year but his campaign has been largely lifeless. He is a US citizen and that could get in the way if he should go to Election House on October 30.

Dr Amadou Kanteh

Civil Democratic Party leader Dr Amadou Kanteh announced his bid for the presidency way back in 2019. His campaign has however struggled and the fact that he has not been able to even register his party is a grim indictment. The Bwiam native is however a US citizen and that could see him denied a spot in the December election.

MC Cham Jnr says majority of APRC supporters will now not vote for President Barrow

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MC Cham Jnr says majority of APRC supporters will now not vote for President Barrow

GDC National Youth President MC Cham Jnr has said majority of APRC supporters will now not vote for President Adama Barrow in December.

Former President Jammeh this past Friday addressed APRC supporters from Equatorial Guinea telling them not to support the National People’s Party.

MC Cham Jnr speaking in an interview with King FM which he shared with The Fatu Network argued: “We have seen an example. You have seen the number of people who turned out at the Somita meeting supporting GANU. What Barrow wants is to have the entire APRC to support President Barrow.

“But right now, the good things is that the majority of APRC are not going to vote for him. Barrow is going to be the loser. The support base of APRC is not in the hands of the executive committee, it’s under Yahya Jammeh.

“I was in APRC, I know how APRC operates. Jammeh has the final say and he has the voice. He is not in The Gambia but he called the entire APRC to Kanilai and they converged there.”

Hamat Bah says ‘enemies’ went round lying against President Barrow regarding APRC-NPP alliance

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Hamat Bah says ‘enemies’ went round lying against President Barrow regarding APRC-NPP alliance

Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has said enemies went all over the world lying against President Adama Barrow and his government regarding the NPP-APRC alliance.

Citizens mostly from the opposition accused President Barrow of granting a secrey amnesty to former President Jammeh after the president’s party entered into a political alliance with APRC. But Jammeh last Friday shocked the nation by rubbishing the alliance and saying APRC will not work with President Barrow’s NPP.

Hamat Bah said: “I received three international calls telling me Adama Barrow is vindicated. When we went into an alliance with the APRC, our enemies went all over the world lying against Adama and our government.

“When they call me, I told them what I believe that was the right thing that Adama has done and that APRC are citizens [and] they have a right to support, they have a right to belong to any coalition they may wish to belong to and that President Barrow would not do anything that would harm the interest of Gambia and Gambians.

“There are people who are vicious. They hate this country. Not Barrow but they hate The Gambia only for their own interest. But we will never relent in making sure we do the right thing. Whatever we do, Gambia comes first because that’s what our leader believes and that is what his government stands for.”

Bubacarr Keita rape trial returns after three-month pause but…

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Bubacarr Keita rape trial returns after three-month pause but…

The rape trial of businessman Bubacarr Keita returned to court on Monday after a three-month pause but was quickly adjourned.

Mr Keita, 29, is standing trial for allegedly raping his wife’s 15-year-old sister. He has denied culpability.

The courts had been on vacation since August which saw a halt in the businessman’s much followed trial.

The case was supposed to resume last week at the high court in Bundung but suffered a blow as the judge did not sit.

And on Monday, the absence of the prosecution saw the case adjourned to the end of the month.

According to the court clerk, the state’s attorney called to say his witness was not available.

Effective 1st Dec. Nigeria to Ban Unvaccinated Civil Servants from Office

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Effective 1st Dec. Nigeria to Ban Unvaccinated Civil Servants from Office

By: Christian Alpha Conte

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the presidential steering committee has announced that effective December this year no civil servant will be allowed into their offices until and unless they can provide evidence of vaccination or a COVID-19 negative test a statement dated Wednesday, October 13, 2021read.

All tests it further notes must be taken within 72 hours and will apply to Nigeria’s foreign embassies as well as offices.

The African country joins other nations around the world whose governments are mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for civil servants.

Just last week, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, announced that civil servants who are not fully vaccinated by the end of October would be placed on unpaid leave.

 

Similarly, the US has also ordered all its federal workforce to be vaccinated or face sanctions.

 

Professor Marycelin Baba is a Medical Virologist at Nigeria’s University of Maiduguri. He said the directive was a positive step in preventing the disease from spreading further.

 

Speaking to the Nigerian news site PUNCH, she said: “For the first time, the federal government is right. This is a welcome development. Starting with the civil servants is commendable. From there, let them move to private organizations. This is a pandemic, and it is not just any type of outbreak,” Professor Baba said.

 

She added that “It is not just about one person, but the whole world. Some individuals cannot endanger our lives. Nigerians only understand the language of enforcement.”

 

On the contrary Olumide Akintayo, Joint Health Sector Union spokesperson said the new rules overlook the government’s failure to produce enough vaccines to cover the national population.

 

“How is it even possible to compel people to go for compulsory vaccination when the government has yet to make available the requisite doses?”  Olumide told PUNCH.

 

“Whoever is coming up with this kind of policy must have a rethink. By the time you compel a group of people or all Nigerians to be vaccinated, where are you going to get all the doses needed?” Olumide asked.

Mustapha, chair of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, had previously stated that compulsory vaccination would apply to civil servants because many are required to travel on behalf of the federal government.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire is Nigeria’s Minister of Health. He said that new coronavirus mutations in some countries meant the government would continue to monitor and respond appropriately to changes.

Nigeria currently has more than 200,000 confirmed infections and almost 3,000 deaths attributable to COVID-19. Just 2.2% of the population has received the vaccine so far, though the country continues to administer Moderna and AstraZeneca doses provided through the COVAX scheme, the country has also been slow to test for COVID-19.

 

According to the African news site AllAfrica, the government estimates that around 3.1 million Nigerian citizens have been tested since the first outbreak of the virus in 2020, which is less than 2% of the population.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone: Reduce Age for Presidency to 21! Youth Activist, Chernor Bah Calls

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Sierra Leone: Reduce Age for Presidency to 21! Youth Activist, Chernor Bah Calls

By: Christian Alpha Conte

Feminist and youth activist, Chernor Bah, has called for the lowering of what he described as the ‘outdated youth age in Sierra Leone’.

Chernor says his recommendation suggests a progressive reduction in the official designation of youth starting with lowering it to 30 years in the next review with a goal to ultimately reduce it to 24 years since there is evidence to show that 24 year-olds are currently leading the world.

 

He, however, noted that they (those who worked on reviewing the country’s youth policy) did not succeed in reducing the age but they succeeded in including the language that laid the foundation for this.

 

“The current age keeps the door shut on young leaders until you have graduated while providing, often crumbs. For a country whose median age is 19.4 years, it is ridiculous that we confine so many opportunities to those who have graduated beyond 35yrs,” Chernor Bah said.

 

He also suggested the reduction of the eligibility age for the presidency from 40 to 21. Chernor noted that the country’s life expectancy at birth is around 55 years and Sierra Leone has one of the youngest and most vibrant populations in Africa with over 60% of its population below the age of 35.

 

“How do we justify keeping old people in power and structurally shutting the door on young leaders with archaic, colonial age requirements of our highest office. I will take David Sengeh, Francis Kaifala, Yakama Jones, Ndeye Koroma, and other young vibrant leaders any day over the crop of over year olds who have bankrupted our country over the years and paid no attention to the future of our environment,” Chernor Bah said.

Chernor was making a presentation during the Concord Times 2021 Summit in Freetown with the theme Fresh Answers.

 

Chernor emphasised that changing the youth bracket will send a message to young people that ‘we value and judge you by the content of your character and your contribution to society, not just by the number of years you have lived’.

 

“We must have a redefinition of youth to be more inclusive and reflective of the internal diversity of young people. Not just in our documents- which we have done with the National Youth Policy- but also in the outlook starting from youth councils, political parties, church and community groups,” Chernor said.

 

He further noted that the exclusion of females from this cohort has real consequences, in that girls have essentially no transition period, they are either a child or after puberty, marriage, or childbirth – which happens for too many between 15-22- they are women.

 

He used the opportunity to narrate his journey as lead consultant for what he described as ‘the most extensive and inclusive review of a national youth policy in our history’ sharing a story about a man who was visibly above the youth age but stayed on as youth leader for over 20 years.

 

“We traveled the length and breadth of the country trying to garner the views and inputs of youth leaders in every single chiefdom. In more than a few communities, we spoke with a well-built man, coarse voice, likely unmarried but with children who would beat his chest and declare: ‘I have been a youth leader in this community for over 20 years’. I would gently smile and keep the conversation going knowing that even the most extensive official definition of youth by our policies restricts the category to a maximum period of 20 years,” Chernor Bah said.

Politicians, he said, have created a new category known as the “youth man dem” who are groups of often disgruntled or easily mobilizable males, typically unemployed, often on drugs.

 

He noted that each political party worth its salt has a significant cohort of this group and some even invest in organising them and providing token “benefits” to keep them content enough to be available for “mobilization” but not transformed enough to ensure real socio-economic mobility.

 

This he said is, “just the beginning of the conundrum when it comes to this big, complicated, complex, highly loaded term called Youth.”

 

 

Food Security in the Face of COVID-19

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Food Security in the Face of COVID-19

By: Christian Alpha Conte

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked not only a health crisis but also an economic crisis, which together pose a serious threat to food security, particularly in poorer countries.

When the pandemic broke out in 2019 nearly 900 million people worldwide lacked access to sufficient food. Within this population lacking sufficient food, at least 155 million people suffer from severe food deficiencies, and their situation may be critically aggravated by the advance of the pandemic.

The 2020 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) provides timely data on acute hunger problems around the world, with details by region and country. It notes that the COVID-19 pandemic may cause a further deterioration in the situation of populations with acute or critical food security. The GRFC points out that due to COVID-19 their number may increase significantly.

António Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations, he said that during this period of immense global challenges ranging from conflicts to climate shocks to economic instability, we must as a people redouble our efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition. Pointing out that this is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more stable and resilient world.

“The number of people battling acute hunger and suffering from malnutrition is on the rise yet again. In many places, we still lack the ability to collect reliable and timely data to truly know the magnitude and severity of food crises gripping vulnerable populations. And the upheaval that has been set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic may push even more families and communities into deeper distress,” Guterres said.

Here in Sierra Leone according to the 2020 food security and vulnerability analysis conducted eight months after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the country the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy and Sierra Leone has not been spared.

“Food insecurity and vulnerability shocks have worsened significantly over years for most Sierra Leoneans, reaching a staggering 57% of the population. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have further exacerbated living conditions and access to basic amenities,” the analysis revealed.

However, learning from the experience of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown has on specific occasions provided its most vulnerable residents with food packages so they can stay safe and healthy during periods like lockdowns and quarantines. Similar programmes have been rolled out in the provinces by other institutions and organisations.

The City Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr is however of the view that food insecurity is a risk to COVID-19 containment because people can’t stay home if they have nothing to eat.

“The pandemic has made access to high-quality nutrition even more difficult than usual. That is why the Freetown City Council has been working with partners to bring healthy, nutritious food to its citizens during the period,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said.

Around 30% of Freetown’s 1.2 million residents have an available family income of less than 1 USD per day and 47% do not have direct access to running water. In Sierra Leone, the sheer scale of the food insecurity challenge was highlighted in a national survey carried out in April, where only 12% of respondents answered they could gather food for one week or more, while 60% said they could not sustain ‘lockdown’ or movement restrictions for more than three days at a time.

In April during a national three-day order to stay at home, the city government provided emergency food packages to 6000 households in three informal settlements. These donations supplemented national government provisions, whilst also helping and encouraging residents to follow quarantine measures.

Through an urban farming initiative, the city is also supporting sustainable access to nutritious food while building resilience to future crises. During the ongoing pandemic, communities in informal settlements will be supported to grow their own vegetables, beginning with training individuals and youth groups on planting, watering and composting. Work is underway to make water available outside of the rainy season.

Sierra Leone is already one of 25 countries identified as at risk of significant food security deterioration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The number of people facing acute food insecurity in these countries is predicted to almost double to 270 million before the end of 2020 without an acceleration of protection programmes.

Food security is worsening during COVID-19 as a result of household purchasing power declining from loss of income and remittance, and disruptions to food production and supply chains. There is also concern that overwhelmed governments, increased political instability and aggravated conflict dynamics caused by the pandemic will exacerbate the situation further.

“Cities like Freetown, facing the dual crisis of acute food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the prospect of further deterioration of food insecurity, must preserve and strengthen existing nutrition programmes,” says Dr Steven Velabo Shongwe, WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone.

“Freetown is a good example of local government considering new social protection measures to protect vulnerable populations who are at increased risk of economic hardship due to the pandemic, which may negatively impact access to healthy food at a time when it is most needed,” Dr Shongwe said.

 

 

Could the Bilal Tragedy Been Avoided?

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Could the Bilal Tragedy Been Avoided?
By DA Jawo
The tragedy that stroke Bilal Boarding School in Yundum which led to the death of at least five young students and injury to several others in a fire accident, should be a wake up call for our education authorities.
It shows that they should pay much more attention to the numerous boarding schools, particularly madrasas springing all over the place. They should ensure that those institutions conform to certain minimum standards before they are given the go ahead to operate as boarding institutions.
All the relevant agencies including a proper environmental assessment and the Fire Service should be involved in ensuring that their facilities are safe to accommodate children.
However, it is a well known fact that hardly any due diligence is ever done before such institutions are given the authority to operate. All that their owners would do is to go round and lobby those people they know and they are given the authority to operate without going through the necessary safety checks.

#NeverAgain and the Ministry of Justice Press Release

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#NeverAgain and the Ministry of Justice Press Release

On 15 October 2018, Pres. Adama Barrow launched the TRRC. In his launching statement, he said, “the TRRC was born out of the aspirations of a people who decided that they want a society where truth and justice prevail.” He went further to state that, “For the perpetrators, it provides an opportunity to come clean, face their victims and seek forgiveness,” noting that our common experience, which he said was bitter, should be our greatest teacher in building a ‘New Gambia’ of respect for human rights and rule of law.

 

The President concluded his launching statement with these words, “

“To conclude, I urge all Gambians to work together to promote reconciliation and justice and to heal and rebuild our nation. Let us stand together to say: “Never again shall a few people oppress us as a nation. Never Again! Never shall this beautiful Smiling Coast experience the oppression and tyranny of the minority against the majority.”

 

Therefore, three years later I urge all Gambians to go back to that speech once again to see if the words uttered by the President back then march with his actions today, after three years?

 

Hence, if civil society has called for a #NeverAgain March, it was not that they were just happy to do so. Rather, this march was born out of genuine and clear concerns that the transitional justice process is being severely delayed and derailed. For example, in his launching statement, the President highlighted some of the achievements of the transitional justice program which included the setting up of the CRC to write a new constitution. He also cited the creation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as well as embarking on legal and security sector reforms.

 

But today in 2021, we know that the President and his allies in the National Assembly killed the draft constitution. We also know that there are no significant legal reforms for the past 5 years while security sector reforms were never undertaken at all. Meantime, while we appreciate the creation of the NHRC, it is concerning that the same Government has begun flouting the recommendations of the NHRC as in the case of Gorgui Mboob, head of the Anti-Crime Unit who was returned to head the Unit against NHRC recommendation!

 

Therefore, when the Minister of Justice claims that this Government is committed to transitional justice and victims in particular, it should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. For example, after all that the President said in his TRRC launching statement, we saw Barrow form an alliance with the APRC. As if he did not notice how irresponsible and insensitive that act is against victims and undermining transitional justice, he went further to also visit the extended family of the Tinpot Dictator Yaya Jammeh. He claims his actions are driven by the need for reconciliation.

 

Yet the President noted in his speech that TRRC offers an opportunity for perpetrators to “come clean, face their victims and seek forgiveness”. Can the President ask himself if Yaya Jammeh and his family, and APRC and the host of perpetrators ever came out to accept their acts of violations and seek forgiveness? Rather what is evident is that Yaya Jammeh and his APRC have dedicated their despicable lives to ridicule, insult and mock victims while at the same time seeking to discredit and rubbish the TRRC and the entire transitional justice program. If the perpetrator is refusing to accept the truth, much more seeking forgiveness from victims, how come forming an alliance with APRC and visiting Jammeh’s family serve the purpose of reconciliation and justice?

If the Minister of Justice is indeed moved by the #NeverAgain March to the point of issuing a press release, one wonders why the same Dawda Jallow was not moved by Pres. Barrow’s party, NPP forming an electoral alliance with APRC? Is Mr. Jallow saying he did not see the President visiting the Jammeh family in Kanilai? Why have these two shameful events that directly undermine transitional justice not trigger the Minister to issue a statement against them?

 

Furthermore, the Gambia Government provided only D50 million dalasi to TRRC for reparations for victims so far. This money is understood to be even from the Senegalese Government. There was information that another D50M was to come but which never did. Hence, for the Minister to claim that D150 million is allocated to victims in the 2022 budget is hugely inadequate.

 

Can we ask the Minister of Justice to tell us the whereabouts of the D1.2 billion raised from the sale of the so-called assets of Yaya Jammeh? Why cannot the Government dedicate all of that money to the transitional justice program in order to ensure adequate funds for reparations, prosecutions, memorialisation, reconciliation and other activities geared towards achieving the objectives of transitional justice.

 

Therefore, I ask Gambians to take the press release from the Ministry of Justice with a huge pinch of salt, if not a bowl of salt! The greatest threat to transitional justice in this country so far is President Adama Barrow and his entire Government. Not only has Barrow saturated his Cabinet with former dictatorship enablers but he has also maintained a host of human rights violators across the public service including the security sector – after having caused the failure of the draft constitution and as well as failing to conduct the necessary constitutional, legal and institutional reforms in the public service and the security institutions.

 

Let CSOs and citizens in general not be carried by the press release of the Minister of Justice but to continue to vigorously engage. Let us realise that the Gambia Government has the necessary resources to put into transitional justice if they wanted to do so since 2017. Secondly, Barrow does not need to and should not have formed any alliance with APRC, much more perambulating around Yaya Jammeh like a fly in a toilet. Barrow does not need to keep Yaya Jammeh Enablers in his Cabinet and in his party and across the public sector and security sector institutions. Hence, after having done all of these, how can anyone be convinced that this President and his Government are committed to transitional justice!

 

In fact, why would the Minster wait until after the march to issue a statement and not come to the march himself and deliver the statement right there? This shows that this Government does not care about victims and transitional justice. A responsible Government would have ensured that the President himself together with his Cabinet are present at the march to show practical solidarity, seriousness and commitment to victims and transitional justice.

 

For The Gambia, Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

Boarding school deadly fire that killed five people: Police speak

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Boarding school deadly fire that killed five people: Police speak

Police have confirmed five boy died during a deadly fire outbreak at Bilal Boarding School in Yundum.

The boys lost their lives after they got trapped in their room, multiple people told The Fatu Network.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie said: “We can confirm a fire incident at the Bilal Boarding School situated at Yundum in the Westcoast Region. The incident occurred today Sunday 17th October 2021 at the early hours of the morning.

“Five students have been confirmed dead while seven others are hospitalized in critical conditions.

“An Investigation panel has been formed to probe into the matter and establish the cause of the fire as well as gather relevant evidence. The public will be duly informed about developments.”

 

Devastated Imam Essa Jawara breaks down in tears as fire kills ‘five’ boys at boarding school in Yundum

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Devastated Imam Essa Jawara breaks down in tears as fire kills ‘five’ boys at boarding school in Yundum

At least five boys have died after fire broke out at Masjid Bilal Boarding School in Yundum on Saturday.

The boys died after getting trapped in their rooms in the school, multiple people told The Fatu Network.

The chief executive officer of the school Imam Essa Jawara told The Fatu Network the boys said a man started the fire.

“They are aged 16, 14, 10 and 8. I asked the parents to be patient. This is God’s will,” Imam Essa Jawara said.

‘I can’t be happy,” the Imam added as he broke down in tears.

According to the Imam, there was a fire outbreak in the school last year too when one of the boys at the school started a fire.

Some of the boys managed to escape through the window of the room during Saturday’s fire.

‘They’ve completely ran out of ideas’: Hamat Bah comes after Darboe over his claims his knowledge brought about the Basse roads and bridges

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‘They’ve completely ran out of ideas’: Hamat Bah comes after Darboe over his claims his knowledge brought about the Basse roads and bridges

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has been tackled by Hamat Bah regarding his claim his knowledge brought about the life-changing infrastructural development in Basse.

President Barrow last weekend travelled to Basse to inaugurated the roads and bridges his government built in Upper River Region. But UDP leader Darboe spoke in Basse this week and said he would use the bridges with pride as the roads and bridges came thanks to his knowledge and efforts.

But speaking on Saturday at President Adama Barrow’s rally in Sukuta on Saturday, Hamat Bah pooh-poohed Darboe’s claims.

He said: “I heard Aboubakar Darboe in Basse said the bridges and the roads came to The Gambia because he negotiated. I want to remind him one thing, he knows that very well. The role of a minister in any government in the world is a delegated responsibility from the president of that government. Every ministry belongs to the president but because the president has so much work, he delegates the responsibility to individuals and called them ministers.

“But the position of Abubacar Darboe as foreign minister is worse. You know why? Even though the president delegates the responsibility, the constitution says that the foreign policy of the government of The Gambia shall be directed and be dictated by the president.

“It didn’t say that for tourism, it didn’t say that for justice but for the case of the foreign ministry, it says all what you do shall be directed by the president. So whatever Darboe was doing, it was Barrow who directed him to go and do it.

“For him to claim that he negotiated those shows that the UDP leadership is bankrupt of ideas and they have nothing to present to the Gambian people. They have completely ran out of ideas. They have nothing that they can present to the Gambian people.”

Jammeh’s action: What Hamat Bah says

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Jammeh’s action: What Hamat Bah says

Hamat Bah has reacted to the raging crisis within APRC that has pitted Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his executive against the so-called No Alliance Movement.

Former President Jammeh shocked the nation on Friday when he called supporters under the banner of the No Alliance Movement and told them he was removing Fabakary Tombong Jatta as leader of APRC. He said Jatta and his executive entered into an alliance with NPP without his approval.

Jatta quickly responded by stating he remains in charge of the APRC, dismissing his sacking by Jammeh.

NRP leader Hamat Bah has reacted to the imbroglio on Saturday while addressing citizens at President Adama Barrow’s rally in Sukuta.

Mr Bah said: “In 2015, the political amendment act was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the then president and it’s a law. And part of that law says no one can be a member of any political party’s executive or can lead any party when you live outside The Gambia.

“So APRC leadership you are right. Fabakary Tombong Jatta is the legitimate, rightful leader of this party. And you have demonstrated that you believe in the rule of law. You will earn the respect of Gambians and the international community for respecting the rule of law.”

OPINION: Fabakary Tombong Jatta and Team Should Accept Their Public Firing…

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OPINION: Fabakary Tombong Jatta and Team Should Accept Their Public Firing…

By Zakaria Kemo Konteh

Bottom line is: Fabakary Tombong Jatta and Co in the erstwhile APRC Executive were nothing without Yahya Jammeh. They enjoyed their public profile/ status through Jammeh and the party he founded. From 1996 to 2016, these people were gainfully benefitting from Yahya Jammeh and APRC. Their campaigns, lifestyles and livelihoods were financed by Yahya Jammeh. In short, their loyalty was handsomely rewarded. Whatever they did for Yahya Jammeh and APRC was in fulfillment of the various debts they owed Jammeh and his APRC.

APRC was not into Congress. Yahya Jammeh handpicked and appointed them into various positions as he deemed fit through pronouncements that were accepted by the party without questioningtheir legal basis or whether they were derived from the so-called APRC Constitution. He would use the same methods to fire party members who did not toe the line. Again, these unconventional moves were accepted and implemented by APRC members without hesitation.

Together, they worked for the exclusive interests of Yahya at the expense of Gambia. APRC National Assembly Members would pass legislations to shield, protect and provide legal cover for Yahya Jammeh’s nefarious agenda even when these activities were tangential to the core benefits of the country. They did these to further manifest and prove absolute loyalty to Yahya Jammeh.

Today, the same people are prepared to defy Yahya Jammeh’s order and pronouncement because their means of livelihood have been taken over by Barrow. They will go to any length to serve their current pay master even if that means insulting and ridiculing their former cash cow or throwing him under the bus.

So, Fabakary and his team should simply do the needful. Resign from APRC, handover the party to the new executive appointed by Yahya Jammeh and join NPP as individuals and continue benefiting from the money stream available to you. They have never challenged Yahya Jammeh in any way under any circumstance before and they shouldn’t do it now. Give him back his party. He said he doesn’t need their services anymore effective yesterday!

 

Jammeh’s Rejection of NPP/APRC Alliance Is Good News for President Barrow

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Jammeh’s Rejection of NPP/APRC Alliance Is Good News for President Barrow

By Muhammed W. Touray

When Alagie Kijera, The Netherlands-based former president of Barrow Fans Club rejected the NPP/APRC alliance on moral grounds and left NPP in protest, he was subjected to nasty character assassinations by some NPP militants. Apparently, no everyone within President Barrow’s camp support NPP’s alliance with APRC but are afraid to speak for fear of reprisals.

The maltreatment of Alagie Kijera for openly expressing his rejection of the unholy NPP/APRC alliance made many supporters of President Adama Barrow silent and fly along as the promoters the NPP/APRC alliance dominated the agenda. Their monopolization of the agenda denied President Barrow the opportunity to hear divergent views within his followership.

Many within the NPP/PPP/GPDP/NCP/NRP/Dr. Isatou Touray camps are pretending that they welcome their former APRC tormentors inside the Adama Barrow bus but within them they are silently burning with fear, distrust and intimidation.

The fact stands that President Barrow has been deceived into an unreliable alliance with the “yirifasoto” APRC party.

The reality is that President Barrow can win the December 4th 2021 presidential elections without wasting resources on APRC or any other alliance. The failure of his trusted advisers and delegates to harness the advantages of incumbency, read public mood and effectively promote President Barrow’s achievements and personality, resulted in the current embarrassments.

In one of his public speeches President Barrow was misled into believing that the whole country was happy about the NPP/APRC alliance. However, the UTG CepRass pre-election survey proved this to be wrong. APRC as is party is struggling within an insignificant three (3) percent in the public favour. If at all the NPP/APRC alliance was welcomed by prospective voters, the huge number of undecided voters forty (40) percent would have moved to APRC or NPP.

Additionally, the Fabakary Tombong Jatta-led faction of APRC has no power or capacity to bring 200,000 voters to President Barrow. They cannot force their followers to vote for NPP. As President Barrow once hinted: political party leaders and executives might own their parties but they don’t own their party members and their votes. Individually, the few respective APRC executive can vote for whoever they want but they should not fool President Barrow that they can make the majority of APRC vote for Barrow.

Yahya Jammeh’s rejection of the NPP/APRC alliance is a good news and coded wake up message from President Barrow in the following ways:

  1. President Barrow should not make concessions to the APRC on the return of Jammeh and the Fabakary Tombong Jatta led APRC executive or their new splinter rivals cannot blackmail Barrow into giving them more ministerial, ambassadorial and other top positions they are dreaming of in the next government after December 4, 2021. APRC’s decision to be bought by Barrow is about positions and privileges for the hungry APRC leaderships but not national reconciliation.

 

  1. President Barrow is under no legal and moral obligation to honour any agreement with APRC as it is an unreliable party. Since 2017, APRC has been using Yahya Jammeh’s name as pawn and bargaining chip to blackmail President Barrow and his “advisers” into an alliance submission. Even when the residential requirements limit Yahya Jammeh’s participation in domestic politics from his asylum in Equatorial Guinea, Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his fellow APRC executives never stopped addressing Jammeh as “supreme leader”. They encouraged suggestions for former dictator Jammeh’s return to The Gambia as precondition for any political settlements with the innocent Barrow Government or any other party. Now that their supreme leader has rejected the sellout of their APRC party to NPP, they are all out trying to tell APRC members to ignore Jammeh. It is too late. The time to ignore Jammeh was 2017. The time to ignore Jammeh was to stop the various fake news of Jammeh’s imminent return to The Gambia and the time to tell APRC militants to ignore Jammeh is not now. Even if Jammeh does not have legal powers to dismiss the interim APRC executive, he has some moral authority over APRC supporters thanks to the APRC that tried to keep him relevant all these years and made the whole world accept that nothing in the APRC moves without he (Jammeh’s) blessings.

 

  1. Most of those APRC top shots like Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Rambo Jatta, Bakso Jaiteh, Doudou Jah, Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, Yankuba Colley, Musa Amul Nyassi, Bala Garba Jahumpa and their former comrades Momodou Sabally, Seedy NK Njie, Suku Singhateh, Momodu Tangara, Mamburey Njie, Sheikh Omar Faye and others owe their political careers and success between 1994 to date to former president Jammeh. They have all, from time to time, shown blind loyalty to Jammeh. Therefore, the last-minute rejection of their political godfather dictator Jammeh will not make them credible and holy in the eyes of Gambian voters. All of a sudden the APRC executives want Gambians to believe that APRC is belongs to The Gambia and not their “supreme leader” that they have been worshipping from 1996 to 15th October 2021 when he rejected their money driven pay-as-you-go betrayal politics? I am sorry for Gambians who will fall for this.

 

  1. The APRC has since 2017 been more concerned about materialism and lost privileges than justice, reconciliation and national interest. This is obvious in the various complains of the APRC executives about their depleted bank accounts, seized vehicles and other assets. No wonder they scrambled for the millions President Barrow threw at them to join his bus under the cover of fake national reconciliation. APRC has become a joke of the nation. If you travel across The Gambia, you hear people saying “Barrow has bought APRC.” They cannot convince smart Gambian voters that their marriage of convenience with NPP is a matter of national interest. Let them be honest: it is about their personal interests.

 

  1. In effect, APRC is a dead party that is being kept alive by President Barrow. The strategic mistake NPP executives are making is by allowing the fear of UDP make them surrender power and influence to the unpredictable APRC. Records show that APRC has a “winner-takes-all” mentality. Even if some Barrow advisers try to sell APRC as clean party, the APRC is “yirifasoto” master of dirty politics. We should not forget the politics of lying against one another to appease dictator Jammeh as practiced by APRC between 1996 and 2016. The party that existed on lies cannot be trusted. APRC will not like to be junior partner of NPP after the December 2021. It will outsmart the gullible NPP Executives by placing APRC loyalists in various key positions of the Barrow system to eventually monopolize Barrow and engage in palace coup with the old and greedy “kabudu” system.

 

  1. The scientific fact from the recent UTG CepRass survey is that Gambians don’t want to be ruled by APRC again as the APRC has been using former President Jammeh’s name and image as the cornerstones of its political existence and agenda. Gambia voters of 2021 are not the same as those of 2016 and 1996. They don’t want any political leader or group to re-invent the sorrowful years of 1994 to 2016 under the pretext of reconciliation without justice.

 

  1. APRC, united or divided, cannot make anyone with presidential elections in 2021. The party’s reputation is bad and its latest attempt to distance itself from its supreme leader Yahya Jammeh will not sway public opinion in its favour as it has sold out its loyalty. They faked loyalty to Jammah in absentia from 2017 to date and betrayed their members by selling their party to NPP for money. Voters are not sleeping.

Lastly, President Barrow should focus his energy and resources on promoting his achievements, his personality, the power of incumbency and a clean legacy rather than wasting time in trying to promote and be seen as forcing APRC and other recycled deadwoods on Gambian voters through the backdoor of his bus.

Gambians will vote for Barrow largely out of his personality and the fact that he is a victim of political exploitation. Barrow was honest in 2017 by making it known that he had no previous experience in Government. He relied on a team that manipulated him to their advantages. His exemplary reliance on UDP for key decisions between 2017 and 2019 has affected the state of our transition. Now it is public knowledge that APRC was sold Barrow by folks he trusted in making “wise” political decisions. Instead of doing thorough research into the public perception of APRC and the second republic, they presented Jammeh and APRC as key to Barrow’s re-election. They have been proven wrong by the UTG CepRass survey, the spilt in APRC and former President Jammeh’s rejection of the NPP APRC alliance. These developments are signals for a re-think in strategy by NPP. Put all your eggs in the basket of APRC at your own loss.

Barrow’s NPP Executive should stop their cowardice, in-fighting, pettiness and rivalries over personal issues and show sincerity in promoting President Barrow decently. The political reality is that President Barrow can win on the 4th December 2021 without APRC. He needs to just convince the huge chuck of undecided voters (forty percent) that he is the best alternative. More so national reconciliation without justice will not heal our nation.

There is no justification for baby-sitting those who messed up The Gambia during the presidencies of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yayha Jammeh. We are in 21st Century Gambia and President Barrow needs to understand that we cannot depend on analogue politicians who have no solutions to the aspirations of Gambians in the digital age. The old wines in new bottles would only be interested in parasitic self-preservation at the expense of taxpayers.

I am no supporter of Yahya Jammeh. I am 100 percent pro Adama Barrow. Just that Yahya Jammeh’s rejection of NPP/APRC alliance has indirectly serve as a relief to most of us within the NPP who are not comfortable with the blunder of associating with deadwood APRC. It was impossible to give President Barrow alternative views as access to him is monopolized by those who put their personal interest first and suffocated mature debate culture inside NPP. It is unfortunate that we have wait for someone like Yahya Jammeh to speak first so that we can discuss the deceptions that are forced on President Barrow by elements with ulterior motives.

The fact that some NPP women and their followers take each other to the police and spend valuable time talking about sexual adventures shows that serious debate on strategic politics within the NPP is suppressed. If you disagree with those who have access to President Barrow, you become undesirable. The option is to keep quite or join the gossips about people’s private lives.

 

Muhammed W. Touray

[email protected]

Former civil service boss Njogu Bah endorses ‘patient’ President Barrow

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Former civil service boss Njogu Bah endorses ‘patient’ President Barrow

Former secretary general and head of the civil service Njogu L Bah has appeared in public for the first time in years, speaking at President Adama Barrow’s rally in Sukuta where he vowed to be among Gambians who would repay the president.

President Barrow’s rally in Sukuta on Saturday was a huge success attracting thousands of citizens among them Dr Njogu Bah.

And speaking at the rally, Dr Bah said he was at the meeting to join Gambians in thanking the president for his good job as president.

Dr Bah said: “We are here today to thank His Excellency the President, to show appreciation over his work in this country. President Barrow is a democrat. President Barrow has patience. President Barrow is hardworking. President Barrow loves his country. President Barrow is a man of peace.

“Would you doubt someone who tells he will give you dinner after giving you breakfast and lunch? President Barrow has done something for us, we the people of Nuimi. We had a problem that spanned for over 50 years which is our Hakalang road. That problem is over now as the road is now confirmed [being built]. So the person who ended the problem of lack of roads should be repaid and a day will come when he would know we have repaid him.”

 

 

Jammeh’s action: What Isatou Jifanga Jarju says

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Jammeh’s action: What Isatou Jifanga Jarju says

Isatou Jifanga Jarju has reacted to the crisis that has erupted within APRC following former President Yahya Jammeh’s action this past Friday.

Jammeh made a call to his supporters on Friday where he said he was using his power as supreme leader to sack Fabakary Tombong Jatta has his team for entering into an alliance with NPP without his approval. Jammeh then named 11 new leaders for APRC and asked that they work with Sheikh Tijan Hydara’s GANU party.

Speaking on Saturday in Sukuta during President Adama Barrow’s big rally there, Isatou Jifanga Jarju who is the APRC national women mobiliser said: “What the APRC constitution says is the party leader and secretary general owns the party and is the head of the party. Who is that person? That is Fabakary Tombong Jato Jatta.

“So anyone dancing and laughing… But it’s said he who laughs last laughs the best. Your Execllency, do not pay attention to those that are laughing. On the 5th of December when you are laughing, they will enter a hole.

“We are not stupid, he suspected this a long time ago. Fabakary and his executive are intelligent, so we are not surprised by anything. We are Fabakary’s disciplines and we are behind him all the time.”

 

Jammeh’s action: What General Lang Tombong Tamba says

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Jammeh’s action: What General Lang Tombong Tamba says

General Lang Tombong Tamba has reacted to former President Yahya Jammeh’s fiat of last Friday which saw the former dictator dismissed the leaders of APRC and named new leaders.

Jammeh called his supporters under the banner of the No Alliance Movement from Equatorial Guinea and told them he did not approve the APRC’s executive to enter into an alliance with NPP. He then dismissed Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his team and replaced them with new leaders.

But speaking at President Adama Barrow’s rally in Sukuta on Saturday, General Lang Tombong Tamba said: “Your Excellency, his close relatives said we should tell you they are with you today and tomorrow. A human being must accept God’s will. So every one should accept your position is given to you by God.

“If former President Jammeh doesn’t want you, that is his problem. Yahya Jammeh doesn’t own the people, people own themselves. So we want to tell you we the people of Foni are behind you today and tomorrow. Yahya Jammeh is history. Let’s put Yahya Jammeh’s affair behind us and move on.”

 

Billay G Tunkara rebuts ‘greedy’ Darboe, says UDP leader betrayed Gambians

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Billay G Tunkara rebuts ‘greedy’ Darboe, says UDP leader betrayed Gambians

MP Billay G Tunkara has responded to Ousainou Darboe after the UDP leader accused him of betraying UDP because of D10,000.

Mr Darboe went after the Kantora National Assembly Member last week Thursday that the MP betrayed UDP just because of D10,000. He also insisted Tunkara will be a one-term MP.

In strong riposte, Tunkara said: “It is with a great disappointment listening to my former political party leader, Honorable Ousainou Darboe making personal attack on my humble self in one of United Democratic Party (UDP) political rally in my constituency in Kantora.

“Lawyer Darboe claim that I betrayed the UDP and without giving the genesis and true reasons of my explusion from the party few years ago. Well, it is not a disaster to decamp from a party that is not consistent and against the popular will of the population.

“His claims were unfounded and misleading only attempting to vitiate my project accomplishments and goodwill in Kantora constituency by swaying in negative perception in the minds of people of the region particularly his political surrogates.

“Undoubtedly, this is what virulent and unbridled opposition leader do to a progressive politician particularly when seen monumental developmental projects. What was Darboe able to achieved in his decades of political meandering in The Gambia. Lawyer Darboe is trying to downplay with facts surrounding why I left his party in 2019.

“Yet, interesting Honourable Darboe fall short to advanced any reason why he has betrayed the President Adama who has safe his soul from the prison in 2017 following his incarceration in 2016. Therefore, I think it is essential for me to help you understand the exact reasons why he has betrayed the President and The Gambian people in this crucial transition period.

“The reasons for Honorable Darboe betrayal to president Barrow is associated with his obsession for power, greediness and lack of self contentment. His egocentrism has made him turned his back on president Adama Barrow. Thereby, betraying the Gambian population after all the sacrifices made during and post election in 2016.”

 

“I Slaughtered my girlfriend out of provocation”… accused confesses

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“I Slaughtered my girlfriend out of provocation”… accused confesses

By Amara Thoronka

Abdulai Munu, a farmer at Royanna village in Gbanti Chiefdom, northern Sierra Leone is before the Court on one count of Murder contrary to Law.

According to the particulars of offence, accused Abdulai Munu on Wednesday, 7th July, 2021 at Mokormo bush, Gbanti Chiefdom in Karene District in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone murdered his partner, Marie Kamara.

In his confessional statement, accused Abdulai Munu said, “I slaughtered Marie after having sex with her.”

According to him, he pleaded with the deceased (Marie) to accept him again as her boyfriend but she denied on grounds that she hated the attitude of the accused (Abdulai). He said the deceased said she preferred to continue with her husband with whom she had two children than going back to the accused.

He continued that he was constantly being provoked in the village by some of his friends and therefore wanted to reunite with the deceased, his former girlfriend.

In his evidence, Medical Doctor, Dr. Ibrahim Kamara told the Court that he is a registered medical practitioner attached to the Makeni Government Hospital. He recalled that on the 8th day of July 2021, he examined the body of Marie Kamara to ascertain the cause of death.

“After my examination I endorsed the police medical certificate pursuant to the Coronary Request Form,” Dr. Kamara said, adding that “I later gave the original copy to one of the relatives for burial and kept the photocopies for my record.”

Asked to give his observations, Dr. Kamara said there were multiple organ failures as a result of multiple lacerations. He said there was anterior triangle on the neck of the deceased and there wasn’t blood on the patient.

In his address to the Jurors, State Cousel of Bombali District, Aruna Jalloh, said the burden of proof rests solely on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused. He said the act of killing if not sanctioned is unlawful.

He stressed that the accused (Abdulai) is of sound mind and not an idiot, assuring that his act was done with malice aforethought.

Lawyer Jalloh said by the conduct of the accused, he intended the outcome of his action.

He told the Jurors that the evidence of the four witnesses were convincing to appeal to their conscience to return a verdict of guilt.

In his defence, Lawyer Ibrahim Samba from the Legal Aid Board said the accused had an unstable mind because he was provoked.

He said all the elements to prove the guilt of the accused were not complete, referencing the intention of the accused. He went on to state that the accused was intoxicated with love to an extent that he proposed to marry the deceased but she declined with provoking remarks.

“The accused acted that way because he wasn’t master of his mind,” Lawyer Samba told the Court, stating that the deceased even took a knife to kill the accused which was why he tried to defend himself.

The matter comes up again on the 19th October 2021 for summing up by Hon. Justice Unisa Kamara.

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