(JollofNews) – Mai Ahmad Fatty, minister of the Interior and leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) has said that there is no longer a spokesperson for the various political parties forming the country’s coalition.
According to Mr Fatty, Halifa Sallah seized to be recognised as the Coalition government’s spokesman following the appointment of Demba A Jawo as Information minister and Amie Bojang-Susso as Director of Press respectively.
He added: “I want you media people to understand and let me make it very clear to you that the coalition no longer has a spokesperson and Halifa Sallah is no longer the spokesperson of the coalition.
“Halifa is a member of PDOIS and he can only speak on behalf of his party but not the coalition,” the GMC leader told a press conference on Sunday jointly organized by his party, UDP and NRP at UDP’s political bureau in Kanifing.
However, in an interview with Fatu Network, Omar A Jallow (OJ), Minister of Agriculture insisted that Halifa Sallah is still the spokesperson of the Coalition and Mai Fatty has no power to sack him.
Mai Fatty is actually acting dumb. I can’t believe a person who claims to be a lawyer can commit such school boy errors.
Minister of information and press sec. are government employees and can only transmit official government position.
Halifa is coalition spokesperson; not government spokesperson.
The coalition is a separate entity from government, with its own administrative and other organs and functions.
How dare Mai Fatty make such announcement without any consultation with the Coalition Executive Committee and other partners ?
This is the same Mai Fatty who is reported to have ordered the transfer of Police Commander Lala Camara because she was late for a meeting.
Isn’t this the sort of interference in operational matters of security services that we all condemned under Jammeh? Where is the outrage at this man’s behaviour ?
We are all living witnesses to the harassment of Foroyaa journalist at their joint press conference ? Where is the condemnation from these so called leaders for the thuggish behaviour of their supporters, in their very presence ?
Where are your voices of condemnation and outrage, Gambia ? Are we all sleep walking into another environment of political harassment, repression and rights abuse ?
It is little deeds like these that mushroom into full blown dictatorship. Now is the time to speak and speak together loudly.
NO BIG DEAL HERE BAX – Halifa may be fired from one Coalition but he can continue speaking for the other Coalition!
Mai, UDP & NRP do NOT want Halifa speaking for them (They now have their own Coalition).
Halifa can continue speaking for the Coalition that is aligned with PDOIS – Dr. Touray, OJ?
As for the Presidency? Barrow has his Minister of Information and Press Secretary to speak for him – and to be sure Halifa is NOT claiming to be speaking for the President.
This political bickering must stop; we know consensual agreements for societal salvation in humanity advancement, is positively impacting upon the collective welfare of a people…
Hence, the rigid insistent inclinations for ulterior motives, EXCEPT for genuine Communal Causes aren’t helpful for the anticipated Nation Building awaiting urgently…
Everyone talking about the constitutionality of the present abhorrent kanilai DEVIL doctored (aprc 1997) one with the VP age-bar limit, why aren’t anybody equally talking about the equally “illegal” Transitional agreed government term for “3” instead of legitimate “5” years by same constitution…???
What’s good about that “Coalition agreement” (in the benefit of Gambia) which humble Madam Tambajang’s selfless services isn’t…??
The argument can’t stretch unending; please let sanity prevail & accommodate & complement each others’ genuine efforts for our collective betterments first together; & lay the foundation & Gambia’s subsequent advancements enablement alongside the rest of mankind, in tandem with the gigantic pacing of the advance world…
Bajaw: “Why aren’t anybody equally talking about the equally “illegal” Transitional agreed government term for “3” instead of legitimate “5” years by same constitution…???”
PRECISELY! The HYPOCRISY stinks!
As usual the mighty Bax and Bajaw, put the sense back on these pages.
How soon the others forget what happened in Gambia for the last 22 years. For sure there will be personalities in the coalition dancing for a leading position come the next Presidential elections. As the euphoria dies …the reality of personal ambition will persist. This uneasy alliance has a long and difficult road to travel. Of course the online media will whip up a storm in a tea cup, to keep your attention. I think the online media need to stop and think, where there future lies. They should not destroy this coalition, just because they can.
Sorry, Mike Scales but the notion that holds to the dogmatic philosophy and believe that past events in the Gambia should inform us in a manner that should render us blind and helpless Infront of Naked, Despotic and Criminal behavior from the likes of Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty and their enablers, can only be called what it is, “Horse shit”. Despotic and Authoritarian Regimes do not Begin or Start with a Bang! No. The Napoleonic Complexed and Benedick Arnold Character of Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty are not unlike Hitler and Mussolini. Give them time and resources, they would turn the Gambia into a Despotic and Criminal State. No, Scales, Gambia can’t afford that. Not now, Not ever.
Sidi Bojang
Bitter old man is at it again. Please stop this false prophecies and character assassination of men much better than you socially,economically and even intellectually. Mai Fatty and Darboe are outstanding citizens in the eyes of all right thinking Gambians and their sacrifices,efforts in transforming our country into a fair and progressive society is in full swing. You know that quite well,but your hatred for the Mandinkas blinded you to this reality.
Sidi Bojang contributed nothing to the socio – economic development of our people and nation but get hurt to see others doing just that. Pity! Your bitterness will be your down fall mister.
I think all these doom and gloom commentators should take a break. The reality is that Halifa, Darboe and the rest never made any inroads into Jammeh {on there own} for over 22 years. The reasons for this are plentiful. Barrow offered a new concept along with Kinteh.
So far Barrow is the substance keeping all these wannabe’s in check. Come the next election, if they attempt to make it to The Statehouse, they are likely to fail. By then even you or someone else not yet known will have every chance. That is historically what happens. The electorate in Gambia is much more knowledgeable than the majority of commentators think. Stop worrying.
Natty Dread,,,
I think Bob Dylan said it best in his song from 1963
“with God on our side”
We don’t want no political confusion, coalition better act like mature responsible politicians, otherwise they will be disarray and vote out next time.
Yep, and I think they’ve lost Banjul. All 3 seats. The way Banjulians conducted primaries to select their independent candidates means they have popular choices who are likely to sweep the polls.
I hope the tactical alliance works out well in the rest of the country, because the entire change project would be jeopardised if the alliance fail to secure the required majority in the NA.
News on Fatu network that alliance partners may contest against each other, because they have failed to agree to a modality, isn’t very good. The nation is watching.
Quote @Hon. Halifa Sallah….(in response to a question whether he is still coalition spokesperson.)
“Politicians are very strange animals, so, if one doesn’t understand them, certainly one would have a problem in dealing with them. But being one of them, I will help you to understand the realities. On the issue of spokesperson, I’m here and I think that is enough evidence to show that Halifa Sallah is the spokesperson,”