Commentator Nyang Njie said on Saturday he is saddened by APRC going into an alliance with NPP.

Reacting to the move, Mr Njie wrote: “The realignment of the Gambian political landscape is coming full circle. APRC/NPP can be considered an unholy alliance considering the ideals we all fought for in 2016. It may be a great day for President Barrow but it is a sad and somber day for all those that gallantly fought to liberate our dearly beloveth Gambia.

“I am saddened by this arrangement. Gambians should not take this merger lightly as it has the tendencies to roll back the gains we made by pardoning perpetrators of heinous crimes against undeserving Gambians.

“Barrow has sold his conscience all for the sake of perpetuation. I cry for my beloveth Gambia and may God deliver us from the treachery of greedy selfish Gambians.”

By Lamin Njie, editor-in-chief

APRC announced on Saturday they have struck a deal with President Adama Barrow’s NPP for a merger to be led by President Barrow, a huge move that is promising to spell great danger for the opposition.

“I’m glad to report that the MoU agreement between APRC and NPP was signed on Thursday 2nd September 2021,” APRC interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta told reporters at the Coco Ocean Hotel Saturday afternoon.

According Mr Jatta, former President Jammeh had given his blessing to APRC going into an alliance with NPP.

“Whatever we are doing, former President Yahya Jammeh is aware and has endorsed it,” Mr Jatta said.

A key condition for the merger is for former President Jammeh to return to The Gambia and the condition comes into effect once the two parties secure victory in December.

Mr Jatta said: “Anywhere, political agreements do not go into those specifics. What we are saying is: this agreement [for Jammeh to come home] comes into force after we achieve what we are going for. If we go into the 2021 elections, all these things are processes and if we are part of the system, we would know the process. We would know where there is goodwill or badwill. We would be able to monitor those things.

“All what we concerned with [is] we have agreed in principle, based on trust. Our objective is for former President Yahya Jammeh to return to this country peacefull, in dignity. And make no mistake, that gesture will be a good one for any government because the plurarity of the Gambia, the stability of this country you cannot ignore.”

APRC deputy spokesman Dodou Jah has said denying UDP victory at the December election is about the survival of APRC.

Mr Jah stated this during an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network.

The smart politician said: “Talking about UDP, they have sent a lot of threats, they came knocking on our doors as a APRC. Can we survive that alone? I don’t think so.

“It’s a matter of survival, yes. We are not hiding it. Be it NPP or any other political party, it’s a matter of survival.”

UDP is shaping up to be the biggest contender of the December election along with President Adama Barrow’s NPP.

GDC MP Alhagie Sowe vented on Thursday NPP officials are in the business of peddling ‘politics of lies’ to win the hearts of Gambians.

In a write-up, the Jimara MP claimed: “I have received a credible report that a very low crowd turn out to welcome President Barrow in Jimara ahead of the NPP rally in BAKADAJI.

“The proposed planned after their failed welcoming is now to mobilize 200 people and announce them to be GDC defectors to NPP.

“It is very shocking that the NPP will continue peddling politics of lies to win the hearts of Gambians for the December election.

“I am vehemently calling on the people of Jimara to distant themselves from the NPP as nothing good can come from them.”

The Secretary General and Party leader of the National People’s Party (NPP), President Adama Barrow arrived in his native village of Mankamang Kunda Thursday afternoon ahead of the ‘ten thousand political rally’ on Sunday in Jimara Bagadagi.

President Barrow arrived in Jimara to a historic and rousing welcome by thousands of enthusiastic NPP supporters chanting , drumming, dancing and singing, NPP deputy spokesman Seedy Njie said in a statement.

The NPP stalwart official added: “Thousands of youths and hundreds of motor bikers rode along the Presidential motorcade from Sarre Mansally village to Mankamang Kunda in an emphatic show of love and support to a son who ushered in unprecedented development that stands the test of time.

“The jubilant crowd is cited as the largest ever welcome accorded to a leader in recent times by the people of URR. This according to political pundits and experts is indicative of the readiness of the people of URR to re-elect President Adama Barrow with an overwhelming majority on December 4th, 2021 Presidential Election as a token of gratitude for the mammoth infrastructural developments vis-à-vis URR roads, bridges and his massive rural electrification programme.

“The elated President accompanied by Her Excellency, Lady Sajor Mballow-Barrow in appreciation of the tumultuous welcome, waved and smiled to thousands of NPP supporters who lined up the streets throughout the period.

“The President was received at his home by URR Imams who recited the Holy Quran and prayed for his personal wellbeing and a resounding victory come December, 2021.”

A high court judge has ordered the trying in absentia of drug trafficking suspect Banta Keita.

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh ordered that Mr Keita be tried in absentia due to his conduct of evading prosecution, The Point reported on Thursday.

Authorities has since January this year been on the tail of Banta Keita following the seizure of cocaine at the port worth over 4.5 billion dalasis. It’s said to be the biggest cocaine seizure in The Gambia.

A DLEAG top official confirmed to The Fatu Network on Thursday a judge has indeed ordered for him to be tried in absentia. The ministry of justice is said to have played a massive role in getting the case rolling.

Judge Ebrima Jaiteh also issued a warrant of arrest for the arrest of Banta Keita alias Lassana Keita. His alleged accomplice has been remanded at Mile 2 prison.

Mr Keita’s whereabouts remain unknown.

President Adama Barrow has assured the people of Foni they will be carried along by his government as other regions of the country.

President Barrow speaking at a hugely successful NPP meeting in Foni Bondali over the weekend said ‘hypocrites’ who had wanted to sow the seeds of discord between the people of Foni and him would now feel ashamed.

The president said: “We would like to tell the people of Foni that we are happy. The reason why I am happy is that all TV stations are here to cover this meeting. The hypocrites that got up to instigate discord between the people of Foni and I will feel ashamed today. Because Allah never gives his blessing to the activities of hypocrites.

“I am president of The Gambia, it’s the entire Gambia that elected me and Foni is part of that. And the day I took the oath of office, I swore to be fair between all Gambians and I owe a responsibility to all Gambians and any work that I should do it should happen in all parts of The Gambia and that is what I am doing.

“Any development work taking place in other parts of The Gambia is also taking place here in Foni. I have built roads in Foni, I have built gardens in Foni, we dug boreholes in Foni, we built feeder roads here in Foni, we brought fertiliser in Foni, the Covid food aid I made came to Foni, the electricty we are expanding came to Foni. And I will tell the people of Foni before 2023 every village in Foni will be electrified and you all will get electricity.”

Ousman Rambo Jatta has said he has lodged a complaint with police against Alagie Sanyang who accused him of bribing him.

Mr Sanyang had made a video where he brandished money and said it was the deputy interim leader of APRC who gave him the money to destroy MA Bah. He also claimed Rambo told him former President Jammeh was totally ill and will never step foot in The Gambia.

The Fatu Network could not reach Rambo for comment but Rambo said in a post on Facebook: “Pls be informed that after watching the trending video of one Alagie Sanyang that I have advanced him some money to execute an errand for me which is totally false and intended to assassinate my character, I have lodged a complain with the serious crime office at the police headquarters in Banjul to establish the truth.

“Be best assured that I am as clean as a newly born baby and that will be proven the soonest.”

The military said on Thursday the director of its engineering corps Colonel Paul Arthur Gomez has died.

A statement said: “The Chief of Defence Staff Gambia Armed Forces Lieutenant General Yakuba A Drammeh, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, the Commanders Gambia National Army, Gambia Navy, Republican National Guards, General Officers, Soldiers and Ratings of the Gambia Armed Forces regret to announce the untimely demise of Colonel Paul Arthur Gomez. This sad event occurred on Wednesday 1 September 2021. Until his demise, the deceased was the Director of Engineering Corps of the Gambia Armed Forces. The senior officer was enlisted into the Gambia Armed Forces in 1988 and passed away at the age of 56 years.

“The sad news of the Senior Officer is extended to His Excellency the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr Adama Barrow, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the general public, relatives and friends in The Gambia and abroad.

“Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for the interment of Colonel Paul Arthur Gomez will be communicated later. While asking God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, may his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Minister of Health Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has said there are politicians who are instigating health workers into industrial action.

Dr Samateh is fighting to save the country’s healthcare system amid nurses rolling out a hude strike over unpaid allowances and poor working condition.

Dr Samateh held a press conference on Tuesday where he made the charge the nurses were in fact being instigated by politicians.

He said: “Unfortunately we have gotten information that politics is gradually infiltrating into our health services. Some politicians are instigating some people into going on strike, in trying to make the health services a political football field.”

His comments however could not avert the industrial action by the nurses which began on Wednesday.

MC Cham Jnr has expressed his disappointment at the media for not reporting about ‘300’ people who he said left NPP and joined GDC.

GDC had said 300 NPP supporters defected to the party over the weekend in CRR.

On Wednesday however, a GDC councillor in CRR North Wally Ndimbalan ditched the party and joined NPP. The media reported about this and MC Cham Jnr could not hide his disappointment.

He wroted: “While we loose one at CRR North, three hundred shifted allegiance to us at the same region during our meeting.

“It’s disappointing that the media is mute about it but publish the defection of one single individual from our party.

“While the councilor defects, the ward executive committee is still intact. It is also worth noting, that we have registered three hundred new supporters from NPP to our party and loosing one single individual to NPP doesn’t dwindle our momentum.”

APRC’s Alagie Sanyang said on Wednesday he met with Ousman Rambo Jatta at the police headquarters in Banjul where they both wrote statements.

Mr Sanyang had alleged Rambo bribed him D30,000 and told him former President Yayha Jammeh was ill and will never step foot in The Gambia. An unhappy Rambo then lodged a complaint with police against him.

But Mr Sanyang said in a video on Wednesday: “I met our first deputy party leader here at the police station. He made his statement and I also made my statement. The police made their investigation and then told me they have nothing that could warrant them to detain me for now.

“They said they would continue with their investigation but if Rambo wants to take me to court, he can do so.”

Dr Ismaila Ceesay has cautioned citizens not to fall for cheap and petty propaganda after his comments at a meeting in Sukuta were misrepresented by some supporters of UDP.

Dr Ceesay speaking in Sukuta over the weekend had said politics is about development and metaphorically stating it includes even tiling Sukuta. Some UDP supporters peddled the claim the CA leader promises to he tile the entire Sukuta.

And Dr Ceesay speaking on Wednesday said: “A short video, where I purportedly made a promise to tile Sukuta is making the rounds. This is false. The video is trimmed from a long speech in the Mandinka language. Those who understand the language know that I never made that promise.

“In fact, no sane person will do that. Rather my exact words were: ‘politics is not about insults or tribalism or other malice. Rather it’s about providing clean water, constant electricity, good roads, good hospitals and schools & even tiling sukuta. ‘Tile’ in this instance might seem inappropriate, but it was in the speech as a figurative expression to describe beautifying Sukuta. Let’s not fall for cheap and petty propaganda.”

GDC ward councillor for Nyanga Bantang Ward in CRR North Wally Ndimbalan has flipped to NPP.

Speaking at a meeting with NPP topshots of Seedy Njie, Lamin Cham and Dou Sanneh, Mr Ndimbalan said: “What you can’t find in the rain, you can’t find in the drought either and NPP is the rain.

“This is why I came to join NPP so that if it rains, my trees can also be wet and so that we can also have something good. I want to work for my people and this is my thinking. And since I showed my love for NPP, I have received a lot of support from NPP.

“Right now I’m doing my ward project in Sare Malo where we are giving villages a borehole. This is big progress and after it ends, they [NPP] will give me another project.”

State House said in a terse statement Wednesday President Adama Barrow will spend the weekend in Mankamang Kunda.

State House said: “The Office of The President informs the General Public that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow will travel to the URR tomorrow 2nd September 2021, and will spend the weekend at his home in Mankamang Kunda.

“While in the URR, President Barrow will embark on a series of Social Activities.”

Dr Amadou Kanteh has said he will contest the December presidential election as an independent candidate. Dr Kanteh is one of many Gambians who have expressed interest in becoming the country’s next leader. He granted his first exclusive interview to The Fatu Network on Tuesday. But who is Dr Kanteh and where does he come from?

Dr Amadou Kanteh was born in Bwiam, in Foni. He grew up in Tallinding and graduated from Muslim High School. He worked briefly at the Ministry of trade as an energy clerk.

Dr Kanteh travelled to the US in 1995. He joined the US navy in 1998 and his duty in the US navy was in electronic warfare. He later left the navy and joined the North Carolina National Guard. He also worked in both the National Guard Bureau and the Pentagon.

He has a doctorate degree in information technology and security management.

Dr Kanteh is also the imam for the Gambian community in North Carolina.

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has been asked to refrain from issuing manipulative press releases amid the standoff between the ministry of health and nurses.

Mr Sankareh has been at the heart of the issuing with his latest press release coming out two days ago.

But Gambia For All in a statement said: “As a responsible political party, GFA is urging the Government to spare no efforts in engaging the Nurses Associations, and also asking the Government Spokesperson to refrain from making manipulative press releases that do not address the core issues at stake.”

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the French Embassy in The Gambia
have congratulated the Government of The Gambia for joining the Global School Meals Coalition following the signing of the Declaration of Commitment by President Adama Barrow.

In a joint statement, the French Embassy and WFP said in order to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive, a group of member states is forming an international Schools Meals Coalition. The coalition’s goal is to strengthen and expand school feeding programs across the globe to make nutritious meals available for all children by 2030.

“I commend the high-level commitment of the Government of The Gambia to this strategic alliance of solidarity and cooperation to support every child with school meals. Our President, Emmanuel Macron has expressed France’s firm support for the coalition and France is mobilizing the international community for this school feeding programme,” said Jean-Charles Allard; Chargé d’affaires, French Embassy in Banjul.

The Government of The Gambia and WFP have been collaborating on school feeding programmes since 1970. Taking over the programme, the Government has started including it in its national budget and is independently implementing it in two of the six regions of the country, while WFP supports the other four regions.

“We look forward to supporting the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to reach those children who have missed school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, first, and then expand the programme to all school going children by 2030. We commend the Government for its strong commitment to the home-grown school feeding programme that will also strengthen the local economy and the entire food value chain,” said Yasuhiro Tsumura, WFP Representative and Country Director in The Gambia.

The School Meals: Nutrition, Health and Education for Every Child coalition will officially launch at the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September. It is led by UN member states and spearheaded by France and Finland, with support from WFP.