News, Politics

Gambia: Former Vice President Njie-Saidy Reaches Out To Barrow

Gambia
Former vice president Isatou Njie-Saiy

(JollofNews) Gambia’s former vice president in the APRC regime of Yahya Jammeh has reached out to President Adama Barrow and his administration.

Isatou Njie-Saidy who served as former President Yahya Jammeh’s deputy and minister for Health and Social Welfare from 1997 to January 2017, said she is committed to working with the new regime in the interest of the Gambia.

She added that she and her ministerial colleagues of the previous regime are also open and ready to share their experiences and challenges with Mr Barrow and members of his administration.

Ms Njie-Saidy and former colleagues with President Barrow

“We are one people, one nation, and one country because after all if the Gambia succeed, it succeed for all of us but if there is retrogression all of us will face it,” Ms Njie-Saidy said Wednesday at  launch of a transition team aimed at enabling a smooth transfer of power from to the new administration

“We are one people irrespective of political affiliation and differences when it comes to the Gambia.”

While commending President Barrow  and his regime for initiating the transition team, Ms Njie-Saidy said she and her colleagues in the Jammeh regime have been directed by former President Jammeh before he went into exile to give all the necessary support to ensure the success  of the new administration.

31 Comments

  1. Yes, Ms. Njie-Saidy, we are one people, one nation and one country. But there are those that placed themselves outside our community by ruthlessly ruling over us, incarcerating, raping torturing and killing so many of us that I don’t have the space to mention all of them. Maybe you suffer from a very short memory, but do you really think the people of The Gambia will ever forget and förmige what you and your dictatorial government did to us even in the last week of your reign?
    Where was your “one people” rhetoric at that time?
    Instead of trying to rub shoulders with the new government, you should be ashamed of yourself and walk around in sackcloth and ashes- preferably in Equatorial-Guinea together with your (former?) master.
    You say Mr. Jammeh directed you and your colleagues to give all the necessary support to the new administration.
    This must be a lie because in the few hours before he fled the country he was busily overseeing the destruction of all the software and hardware in the White House beside seeing to it that all his ill-gotten possessions were packed and ready for transport outside The Gambia.
    If you want to help us, spare us your hypocrytic words and the sight of your face.

  2. She have, lot of questions to answer,about student strike. No man is above the law

    • Sheriffo: She is not a man. The Appropriate pronoun should be, no “Woman” or no “Person” is above the law. I am however, interested in having you specify who among the Interlocutors, you are referring to. The former Vice President Under President Yaya Jammeh or the Unconstitutionally Appointed one Under President Adama Barrow? Having said that, I agree that there is need for Officials to come clean on various allegations levelled against them. I submit however, that there is an appropriate time and venue to address these issues of respinsibility, accountability and transparency with reference to the alleged crimes against Gambians. Without Reconciliation, such Tasks cannot take place in a manner befitting the Seriousness and Transparency of such an undertaking. Reconciliation Now, Reconciliation Tomorrow, Reconciliation Forever! Though, late in coming, the reported Reconciliation is what Gambia needs more than anything else. Gambia is more than the Sum Total of One Individual, Ethnic Group or Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.

      • Sidi, it is call truth and reconciliation, why are you ignoring the truth part of it? There can never be reconciliation without the truth being known first.

        • Buba and Frank: The Truth can be Subjective, not Absolute in Nature. One Individual’s Truth, may be another’ Lie. I am not referring to Truth as defined in Religious terms, but in layman’s and Legal terms. Standing by the Shores of a river or ocean, I may or may not see a large fish, but I can tell you, if you happen to stand by me, “look at that big fish”. When you look in the direction I pointed or motioned toward and you fail to see the fish. You ask, where is the fish? I respond, “it went under water”. Only I can Truthfully tell the Truth of what really happened. My telling the truth is contingent upon several variables. These include but not limited to the Sense of Honesty inculcated into the Individual (me), the Spiritual and or Believe Systems of the individual and his or her Cultural concept of Truth in a given Society, Circumstance and the Expected Reward or Punishment attached to it. Yes, there is such a thing called Truth, but it is Subjective and not Absolute unless you attach it to a Spiritual or Religious Believes or Dogma.
          Another example, in 1981 during the bloody Coup, former President David Dauda Jawara engaged Senegal’s President Joof to Reinstate him back to his Presidency. He Scummed and Promised the Senegalese President’s and Successive government’s Dreams of making the Gambia a “Junior Partner” in a Confederation of Convenience, if they Return him to Power. They did, but the Confederacy did not last because it was not Conceived of, Advocated for and Implemented with “The Truth, and Only Truth… The Intervention cost an estimated1000 or more Casualties in the GAMBIA at the hands of the Hired Senegalese Intervention Force of 1981. I have School mates of mine from a Cross-section of the Gambian Ethnic Groups who I learnt were murdered by the Senegalese Intervention Force of 1981 Under the request, and encouragement for an Assault against Gambians Citizens by former President David Dauda Jawara in exchange for his Return to his “One Man” “Mansaya” that lasted for a Record at the Time. Most of those murdered by the Intervention Force were not given a Proper Burial. They were reportedly buried in a Mass grave. Their families have not been told where they were buried, nor Compensated. On the other hand, the Senegalese Demanded Reparation from the Gambia for their Dead Soldiers and Civilians, and we’re reportedly Compensated a Sum of $20 to $22 Million. No Truth and Reconciliation Committees or any kind of Independent Fact Finding Committees were demanded nor any Clamour for Justice to “Roll down like a Flowing Foundation” was Heard of or Agitated for. The majority of the Gambian Ethnic Group of Jawara having been Reinstated back to Power ensured that, Subjective “Truth” remained what it is, Subjective. Nothing was done to address the Traumatic Event or the Gambian People’s Loss, Trauma and Pain. The Whole National betrayal by both the Coup Makers and especially the Presidency And others around him, for whom the Gambians lost their Innocence just so that they are Reinstated to the “Mansaya” at a Cost of over a thousand Precious Gambian lives, lives that Hunts The GAMBIA and Echos the current Insidious and Cynical Political Developments in the GAMBIA. I pray for Reconciliation, Admission and Repentance of Guilt by all irrespective of their Ethnic Group affiliation, Political and Social Position. It would Bound and Heal the National Wounds afflicted by both the Jawara and Jammeh Regimes. If there is to be any Equitable and Sustained Reformation, Habilitate, and Rehabilitation of the Guilty and the GAMBIAN SOCIETY as a whole for their Complicity in both the Jawara and Jammeh led Traumatic Events, all Victims of the First and Second Republic’ Actions’, Commissions or Omissions need to be Exposed to the Day Light for all to See, Touch and Smell, and Pray in Unity through Reconciliation and Forgiveness. I Submit that different people would approach and perceive the Events of the two Republic’s from a different point of view. The point of view is more likely Clouded by the Affinity or Prejudicial Socio-Cultural and Political Orientation of the Individual. I Still Submit that, Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Individual, Ethnic Group or Region. One GAMBIA, One People, One Destiny.

  3. Frank, am lost for words at the depravity of this woman. I can’t add anything to what you’ve said already. Thanks

  4. These people were the enablers and they did it to the last minute. The Barrow administration will be naive to think that these people will support them, and if Pres Barrow and whoever is advising him gives these people a platform to talk, then, they (Barrow and his team) are heading to failure and a return of APRC and Jammeh will be eminent. These people should have been under investigation by now, why give them such an opportunity.
    Gambian voted Barrow for change and we dont want to see this people in public again.

  5. A Well Wisher - Lee M

    Hypocrite! Where were you when all these atrocities were taking place? I guess you were blinkered to all that was happening around you. Those same Gambians you are now saying you and them are one. What did you do to show your disapproval of your ex boss’s brutality towards his fellow Countryman. MS Njie Saidy you should be hanging your head in shame. If it was that your hands were tied you should have resigned long ago and not knowingly serve under such a Egotistical, Numbskull Dictator.
    Frank I agree with you totally.

  6. Frank, your post is SPOT-ON, 100% correct and to the point!!! Could not have said it better myself!

    The Barrow administration should take what can from the former vice president and ministers then make sure they rot in hell or better yet leave one section of Mile 2 just the way it is (without any upgrades) to put former President Yahya’s enablers.

    • That’s true guys this people don’t think that day like today will come. They were encouraging all sort of violence taking place during jammehs time,it is very sad that little a Gambia was going through all these traumatize for 22 years, just imagine 22 years without thinking that little Gambia is one people,one blood it is very difficult to cope with this atrocious.

    • Stan: Can you please define what an “enabler” is? Please be as Specific to the alleged Gambian case without the generic definition you will look up in a dictionary or on your cellphone. Words like “Enablers”, and “Collaborators” are such Loaded Words, we have to be Careful how we use them in a situation and Circumstance the Gambians and Gambia finds itself in. We ought to be Deliberate but Measured and Intentional but Restrained in our Collective grief and endeavor to Do No Harm by our Hyperbole and Platitudes when we take a Position in a Debate of Consequence like the one at hand. Directly or indirectly Demonizing and Labelling those who we do not agree with is Not Useful. GAMBIA is more than the Sum Total of One Individual, Ethnic Group or Region. One GAMBIA, One People, One Destiny.

      • I think sidi n bojang, you should stop commencing as your English is very poor and is difficult to understand,

        • Tafel: Dream on. I will continue to point out Ethnic Group Interest Politics when and where I see it. There will be No Nteri Kaffo of the 1970s, 1980s and almost halfway into the 1990s David Dauda Jawara’s Presidency. Notice, I did not include 1965 to 1970. This is intentional. During this period, the Gambia was not a Republic and the Government was for the most part Inclusive, though it was an Urban and or Banjul, Bakau, Serekunda and Brikama PPP and UP dominated Party member led Government. This is partly the result of the lack of Education and Administrative skills among the Mandinka extraction “Banjulkolus”. Another reason was because most of the Mandinka extraction “Banjulkolus”, were of the “Badibunka” Clan who as later proven with the Founding of NCP under the leadership of Sheriff Dibba, were not either trusted or accepted by Jawara’s PPP Mandinka extraction Party. The divide between the “Badibunkas” and the rest of the Mandinka Clans still exist, though in a less Contentious Form. We are again confronted with a government that began almost identical to the way “Jawara’s 1981 “Reset Regime” of Convenience following the Bloody Coup of 1981 and its Senegalese forced Marriage with its Senegambian Confederation Offspring. Barrow was installed by the Senegalese led ECOMIG FORCE, like Jawara was in 1981, only for Jawara to be Deposed a little over a decade later. Jawara’s Regime was Deposed due to many Variables, but the most significant is the Marginalization, Neglect of Duty and Ethical Challenges the Regime engaged in and yet was Tone deaf to the People’s Expressed Concern and Protestations. With all the Fake News and yet to be Substantiated allegations of Stolen Funds from the Gambia by former President Yaya Jammeh, Adama Barrow has been Sworn in as President for the Second time, once in Senegal as an Absconder President Elect who Abandoned his Country and people for Senegal and then again, in the Gambia on February 18th, 2017. I would have appreciated event more, had it been one geared toward Independence Celebrations only and not a Two-offer. Emphasising Independence Celebrations on the real date of The Gambian’s Independence Day would have the added benefit of Securing a sense of Unity with a Common Purpose of Inclusivenes and Freedom from Bandage (bondage from whom would be left to the Individuals’s viewpoint). ,Back to the “Do Over”. These two events cost the Gambia and Gambians a lot of money the Gambia cannot afford to waste. The Senegalese Swearing in took place at a Luxury Hotel where Barrow and his Clique Vacationed while they wait out former President Yaya Jammeh to depart the Country for exile. The cost of that adventure and Vacation before the Barrow regime put in a days work, has not been accounted for. The cost associated with Adama Barrow and his Clique Turning a Hotel into a State House without a Vote, Approval or Consensus of the Gambian People or their elected officials Unconstitutional and Undemocratic. It may also be Criminal in scope. It would be Criminal if Adama Barrow or anyone in the Coalition Government LEADERSHIP is a major investor or partner in the Hotel’s holdings. An independent and Ethical Press and Public Prosecutor need to investigate the Potential Conflicts of interest. The “Do Over” Swearing in on February 18th, 2017 has been estimated by some News media at a cost of between 30 Million Dalasis to 40 Million Dalasis to the alleged Empty or Bankrupt GAMBIAN Treasury and the GAMBIAN People. On a Cost benefit analysis, the Gambians and Gambia get a Bill in the Millions of Dalasis in the name of a “Do Over” Swearing in or inauguration ceremony for BARROW appear at his own Swearing in or inauguration ceremony Late, and a lack luster and disorganized event almost costing lives and probably did. I tried watching the “Do Over Swearing in or inauguration ceremony, but had to abondon it for the Shame and Dissappontment of Witnessing the Unprofessional and Amaturistit Execution of the Event, especially when the Oath was been Administered by the “Chief Justice”. It was disjointed, “high schoolish” and in general failing in achieving a sense of Climax or Pump and Circumstance befitting such an undertaking with the reported cost to the Gambian Tax Payers. We must go back to the basics, “Waste Not, Want Not”! Adama Barrow’s UDP-PPP COALITION GOVERNMENT started off spending money like Nobody’s Businesses. In reality however, the Gambian People are worst for the Conspicuous Consumption Barrow and his Clique have Ethnic Group Interest Politics Staffed Government positions in Manner that would put any Clan Based Country blush with Shame for been Outdone by the Adama Barrow, Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo Regime of Convenience in the Gambia. We can do better, we must do better. GAMBIA is more than the Sum Total of One Individual, Ethnic Group or Region. One GAMBIA, One People, One Destiny.

          • Offcurse, the gambia is not belong to one ethnic is a country for all, one thing we should not allowed is ethnic conflict these are things that were banned in any civilized nation. Also you now taking your time and articulate your self and now I can read it and understand is good you use normal English in a way that others can understand, yes you have all rights to express your opinions, this is democracy, before in jammeh time these type of thing don’t happen keep it up.

  7. Guys, you are all spot on. President Barrow and his advisers have made a school boy error in this. They have totally miscalculate this move and I bet they know it now that’s why the president himself came out trying to defend their action with a lame reason.

  8. I think President Barrow has been caught up in his own naivety. He has not thought this move through and the reasons he gave for meeting the former ministers are lame to put it nicely. His government has been in place now for few weeks and in that period the current ministers have been doing their jobs well without handover from their predecessors. You do not need the ministers for an effective transfer of power. It is the civil service you need for that and since the permanent secretaries are still in their posts they can brief their respective ministers on what’s going on in their ministries. The signatures of president Jammeh and his entire cabinet became invalid both locally and internationally on the 19th January 2017 after President Barrow was sworn because Gambians and the international community publicly recognised his legitimacy as the president of the Republic of the Gambia on that date. That is the reason why our development partners start to engage with his government and release funds that were frozen. There cannot be any secret documents that this former ministers know about that their PS would not have known about. And even if there is a genuine need for the former ministers to handover, the president should just give directives to his cabinet ministers to invite their predecessors to discuss matters of the respective ministries away from the spotlight. President Barrow and his advices have wrongly gauged the anger Gambians feel towards some members of the previous government. They have failed to take into consideration what the public’s reaction and perception will be when they see these ministers on TV preaching oneness to us as if all the atrocities we suffered was our own fault. Lets hope that they have learnt from this and that we would not see a repeat of such poor judgement. Please president Barrow do not give a front row seat to anyone who does not have an official function in the affairs of the state for your inauguration. It would be wise for president Barrow to understand that although Gambians want peace, it does not mean that we have to sing Kumbaya with people who aid and abet the commission of crime against Gambians.

  9. Barrow administration must immediately institute a commission of enquiry into the crimes committed by Jammeh and his enablers instead of giving them a photo session. The move is rather unfortunate!

    • Kandeh and Buba Sanyang are totally right. Let’s all hope President Barrow will listen to the voices of reason.

  10. There is need for a transition, this was derailed by Yahya Jammeh and his enablers. These same people are now trying to get close to the Barrow administration. It is understandable that incoming Officers should dialogue with them and learn from them as much as possible. I see no reason not to have this dialogue at this time, but let President Barrow understand clearly that these sycophants are ” bad hombres ” and should never be trusted, nor should be depended on. Most of them are criminals that have committed serious crimes against Gambia. They are wolves in sheep clothes.

  11. Dr Sarr, having a transitional team to effect a smooth transfer of portfolios would have been good if Jammeh had facilitate it whilst in office. However it is very wrong for president Barrow to set up a transitional team few weeks into his administration for the following reasons; (1) It is not a constitutional requirement. Therefore lack of it does not delegitimize the government (2) Ministers have already been sworn in and are carrying out their ministerial duties perfectly well without getting any handovers from their predecessors because the most important structure in continuity in governance, the civil service is still intact and functional (3) The lack of handover has not stopped any of our development partners from engaging with us (4) This so call transitional team will only distract ministers from doing their jobs, a distraction they do not need (5) It will add another layer of bureaucracy and cost to the functions of state and most importantly the former ministers are now private citizens therefore should not be given access to confidential government documents. There is nothing to handover Dr Sarr because their signatures became invalid on the 19th January 2017 therefore they cannot legally sign over any official document to the current ministers. So why give them access to confidential materials?

  12. Wow, wow,wow! Isatou Njie Saidy wants to share her experiences and challenges with President Barrow and his administration.What do you have to share Isatou Njie Saidy? The information regarding the burial places of the many disappeared or the place and manner of their death.What do you have to share Isatou Njie Saidy? How you and your boss drove countless Gambians into exile,countless Gambians to their graves and countless Gambians to grief an unimaginable horrors that befell their husbands,wives,sons,daughters,cousins,nieces and uncles under your watchful eyes. What do you have to share Isatou Njie Saidy? The 22 years of brutal dictatorship, the total disregard for the rule of law and common decency. I am sorry but we Gambians are not interested in sharing the horror movie that had been our lives during these past 22 years.You are equally complicit in all the atrocities meted out to the Gambians from all walks of life. You have some neck, old lady to come out now trying to gloss over the spilled blood of our brothers and sisters,fathers and mothers in the name of unity. Please give me a break.
    You could have withdrawn your support from the government of Jammeh all those years ago, when you knew more than anybody else that the country was on a wrong trajectory.Innocent citizens were being murdered, detained without due process, tortured and maimed. What held you back Isatou Njie Saidy when Yahya Jammeh nearly succeeded in plunging our country into a horrific war, sending thousands of families into Senegal and other countries for safety?
    You have no moral justification Isatou to come anywhere near a position to decide our fate again.I hope you sleep well at night,knowing that countless families are still frantically looking for their loved ones,from police stations to police stations,from detention centres to detention centres, not knowing if their loved ones are alive or dead.
    My final paragraph is for President Barrow…. Well intended it may be to meet the ex ministers of Jammeh’s government, you failed to heed a wise saying ” If you sleep with dogs,you wake up with fleas” and calling these ex ministers dogs is the biggest compliment they ever had and will ever have. My sincere apology to the feline fraternity for comparing them to these filthy,blood on their hands,hypocrite ex ministers.
    Our country will be a better place if all you shameless ex ministers follow your boss into exile and never come back to our shores again.Amen! Amen! Amen!

  13. Buba you are technically and legally correct, but as a practical matter whatever we can do as a nation to move forward should be explored. Remember this is not an ordinary situation . First we have a country whose best and brightest young talents have fled from persecution . We have a ruling class that is in shock that they are even in a position of power . We cannot deny the fact that the house is in shambles and all hands must be on deck until we can make sense of the calamity we find ourselves in. As horrible as it sounds , those who served Yahya and still on the ground needs to be engaged. In time all shall be well. We are a great people.
    God Bless The Gambia .

  14. Just shut up stupid Isatou Njie Jammeh, what took you so long to resign. APRC government should be ban in the Gambia and they should all go to jail period

  15. Dr Sarr, I have no qualms with president Barrow engaging with them, after all they are Gambians. However the timing and the manner in which it was done is what annoys most Gambians. I believe things could have been handled better. I am glad that Gambians have expressed their anger very democratically and I do hope that the leadership will listen and avoid a repeat of such.

  16. Truth is same logically, materially, morally in all sense whenever, wherever & however defined…
    Hence, it’s abhorrent unethical for proven “witches with human baby legs dangling out of mouths as chewing sticks” all along, suddenly turned saints, preaching for the safety & unique oneness of the very people been preyed upon in Innocent Gambia for past 22 bloodthirsty years…???
    I hope Isatou Njie Saidy & anyone on of concern &/ of interests for the establishments of truth, can all avail the Truth & Reconciliation inquiries to be commissioned, for redress of the barbarities unleashed upon innocent human beings under the MURDEROUS OPPRESSIVE kanilai FIEFDOM…
    This is necessitated by prerequisites for the much needed communal salvation healing process required & NECESSARY, for the Gambia to move ahead collectively as a people; into progressive prosperity for all…
    Long live the Gambia…

  17. Top Stories
    Police Detain 51 APRC Supporters
    February 20, 2017 editor 0 Comment
    The police yesterday have arrested 51 people who are believed to be APRC supporters from Kanfenda village in the West Coast Region.
    The APRC supporters who are arrested are detained at the Brusubi and Bwiam Police stations respectively, the Daily Observer has been reliably informed.

    Out of the 51 arrested, 26 people are believed to be juvenile.

    According to our sources from the APRC Bureau, all the 51 people who are arrested are APRC supporters. They explained that the Coalition supporters on their way going home after attending the country’s 52nd independence anniversary met some women and children wearing the APRC T-shirts at Kanfenda village and they started insulting them and the former president Yahya Jammeh saying “APRC are murderers”.

  18. if we really believe that we are brothers and sisters no point acting like enemies,This smells of discrimination or humiliation, stop and threaten the opposition does not have a good end, I think there are more supporters of the opposition than the officialists gave sums Aprc + Gdc are 57% compared to 43% official. If you need them to vote for you treat them right otherwise you will be a big loser people aren’t stupid lol respect will help us

    • Hey ya! #peace=, man them advize yu rasclat fi go lern som english n arithmetic. what happn to you man? Yu are one fkg boring sht that don’t say more than a bad gas bust-up. yu fi cut this rasclat sonthing ya dealin wid right now. Ya eart nuh clean man ya eart stink and yu know that man. eal ya eart and come! dis a nuh laughin thing

  19. #peace= creepy and deadly inciter of civil unrest and rumour spreader. Contemptious as you are, you jump to write, ‘Top Stories’ as your starting but forgot to provide a source except- ‘According to our sources from the APRC bureau……….and the Daily Observer has been…..’ You are just an act trying to insinuate doubt to twist around the facts and reality of issues and individuals. You wrote PRESIDIENTE sometime ago, no wonder you are not very educated a person who might also be living in parts of the west, where the unalphabetised sub-Saharan African’s conscience would worsen, thicken and get impermeable like a donkey’s, due to years of service as henchmen for farm owners in the 21st century. Such are the sub-Saharan African henchmen/Gambians in those parts of the West who scout for other sub-Saharan Africans in need, who will take up any job from 1.50, 2 to 3 pounds and hour, though it takes more than 10pounds to buy food for a day in those parts of the West. In most cases those henchmen are reward with more comfort and convenience, contrast to the abominable conditions of the exploited masses of sub Saharans, in those parts of the West. Jammeh has enablers at home and abroad and those abroad are those types of henchmen brokering the lives of their own brothers to farm owners for less than a pound. All the anonymous writing won’t save your soul neither mine because in reality people can’t run away from themselves, so check it out..

  20. #peace=, it seems from your own sources that these APRC supporters have deliberately created that situation to provoke a reaction from the coalition supporters. It is everyone’s right to support the Party of your choice but with that right comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to be sensitive to the feelings of others. How would the APRC supporters feel if the coalition supporters said it is there right to celebrate their victory anywhere in the country therefore they will be celebrating in kanilai? I will call that provocation by coalition supporters. People should stop creating situations that can end badly for them. Did you or Daily Observer raise any concerns when people where being arrested for wearing #Gambia Has Decided T Shirts?? Where were the adults when “juveniles” were being arrested?? #peace=, do you see the beauty of democracy?? (1) Daily observer reported it without any one working there been arrested (2) You knew where those arrested were held. I can assure you that they won’t be held indefinitely without charge. #peace= you must be very deluded if you think that everyone who voted for APRC in the past will remain loyal now. Politics doesn’t have any permanent friendships only permanent interests.

  21. Who even talk good about jammeh’s regime is one of them

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