By Sarjo Brito
Former Interior Minister and Leader of the Gambia Moral Congress Party Mai Fatty is hitting back at critics who say he is not thick skinned following an interview with Eye Africa TV which was terminated by the GMC leader mid production. The question which did not sit well with the GMC leader has to do with corruption allegations involving him and Belgian company Semlex. Mai Fatty was accused of accepting bribes to the controversial awarding of a contract to Semlex to produce the country’s national documents including identifications cards and passports. Mai Fatty vehemently denied the allegation and was later vindicated by parliament after a committee probing the matter made no mention of his involvement. While Mai was cleared by Parliament, the allegations of corruption continue to follow the former Interior Minister.
Mr Fatty explained Friday: “I encourage viewers to watch my interview with Eye Africa Africa TV this evening. I terminated the interview at some point after enduring almost an hour of sustained contempt. As a result few people wrongly attributed the reason to the Simlex question. Let me remind them again: I was absolutely cleared by the Gambia Government of not doing anything wrong or illegal, through Cabinet via Ministry of Justice. That wasn’t enough for my political enemies. They Petitioned the Gambian Parliament to conduct independent parliamentary investigations into the matter. After two years of exhaustive investigation by the National Assembly, I was completely cleared again. When Hon. Halifa Sallah presented the Report of the investigation before the full House of parliament, my integrity was further consolidated. Those who are not satisfied by this, can demand further investigation by the United Nations Security Council, ECOWAS or the African Union. Each investigation will further prove me as a Leader of honesty and integrity in public office.
“I terminated the interview because I felt being disrespected and treated with contempt by the interviewer. It is a known fact that I have never ran away from the media or failed to answer a question. Yet, I will NOT permit any person to treat me with contempt simply because I am a public figure. Everyone, whether politician or not, has a right to human dignity, and fair hearing, including me. You can’t ask a question and condition me to give you the answer you want. Yours is to ask and mine to answer. Let the public decide. Lastly granting an interview is not the right of a journalist. It’s my choice to grant or not. If I do, be professional and allow me the opportunity to respond without putting words into my mouth or extracting from me a preconceived answer in your mind.”
Journalist Modou Lamin Jammeh responds
Journalist Modou Lamin Jammeh who interviewed Mr Fatty has however reacted amid Mr Fatty’s comments.
He wrote: “Yes, I like Hon. Mai Fatty naturally and I will continue to treat him with dignity and respect like any other person. But hey – that won’t stop me from asking him tough, tough relevant questions anytime he is on “Ifang Bondi”!
“Wokoolaa, my style will remain the same, nothing absolutely will make me change it. Muq abadan!
“And those critics out there, I want to commend you for a job well done. Don’t stop criticising me, because if you do, I will put a stop to my programme. Keep them coming let’s keep the red fire burning. You guys are the best!”
