(JollofNews) – First, President Adama Barrow took amendments to the parliament for changes to the electoral laws and on the age of the vice president and judges. A week later, the Minister of Justice Aboubacarr Tambadou, embarrassingly said he was not aware that there was a constitutional amendment being proposed which turned out to be unconstitutional. In the final analysis, the unpleasant responsibility was placed on his hands to apologize for that mess. Yet until now we have no vice president!
Now, the same minister just said he was also not informed of the trial of the nine former NIA officers for the murder of Solo Sandeng. Yet Minister Tambadou is the head of the Attorney General’s Chambers, which is the actual lawyer of the State. There cannot be any criminal case in the courts for which the Director of Public Prosecutions is not aware. And the DPP is answerable to the Attorney General who is also the Minster of Justice for the Government.
I think if another such mishap happens then Aboubacarr Tambadou must consider resigning in order to protect his dignity, integrity and the Constitution of the Gambia. These two incidents are a clear act of disrespect and disregard for the office and the person of the Minister of Justice and this is unacceptable. How can we have a Cabinet headed by a democratically elected president, yet major decisions are taken by that government and the very relevant officers and institutions at the highest level in that government are not aware?
The Barrow Administration must take a break and review itself. These cases do not only show poor leadership but also indicates that the government is not talking with itself. We expect the Cabinet to pick up each and every issue and table it among themselves for thorough discussion. Where necessary they can bring in or consult any Gambian for advice and guidance. They can even consult foreign entities for advice and guidance just to make sure they uphold constitutionalism and the supreme interest of the Gambia. Hence the Cabinet has no reason to be making such childish mistakes.
Therefore my brotherly advice to Minister of Justice Aboubacarr Tambadou is to resign the next time he is subjected to another act of disrespect and disregard. The Minister of Interior must know better that such cases cannot go to court without the involvement and leadership of the Attorney General’s Chambers. Dafa Doy Waii!
When Gambia decided on December 1, it was to make sure never again would we experience abuse of power and disregard of the rule of law. Hence each and every action of the government must conform to the constitution. It appears the person who is most aware of, and determined to implement #GambiaHasDecided is Baa Tambadou. I therefore call on Gambians to look up to Tambadou and give him all the support as he pursues the constitution. This is where our collective security lies.
Let us remember that if we do not follow the law then we could potentially turn criminals into victims. These nine NIA officers are criminals because they presided over a criminal enterprise that had arrested, tortured and killed Gambians in broad daylight. But if they should face justice, let them do so in line with the law from the beginning to the end. Otherwise if we disregard the law then it means we are violating their rights. In that case they also become victims and this will only generate more outcry from around the world. Hence the Interior and Justice ministries must work together to handle these criminal cases lest they ridicule themselves and cause the transformation of criminals into celebrated victims.
Finally my sincere advice to Pres. Barrow is to also embrace his Minister of Justice Baa Tambadou as his foremost confidant and advisor in Cabinet. This minister has demonstrated so far that he is a scrupulous and patriotic citizen who is determined to uphold the constitution and sovereignty of the Gambia. Hence the best person for Barrow to listen to is Baa Tambadou if he wants to ensure a successful leadership and a legacy for which Gambians will respect and appreciate him.
God Bless The Gambia
By Madi Jobarteh
Madi, if we apply your metrics uniformly, no one will be left standing in this young administration. No one expected us to be in this position, hence the government functionaries are ill prepared for the awesome responsibility of national reconciliation and repair. Now that we are here, we must view it our collective responsibility to ensure and protect our democracy. Let us speak out against wrongs but also recommend effective solutions and give support and encouragement. God Bless The Gambia
Well said Dr Isatou Sarr.
To me, the real truth of this matter seems to be THE ATTEMPTED PUBLIC LYNCHING OF MAI FATTY – and through him the perceived “power behind the throne” Lawyer Mandela Darboe. Mai has bravely been taking the flack for both Lawyer Darboe and President Barrow from those who have other political agendas. But Mai and Lawyer Mandela Darboe have been through the fire, and they have faced and lived with death for their believes. Nelson Mandela was attacked by his own African people when he came out of jail after 27 years. And so are Mai Fatty and Lawyer Mandela Darboe after they have stood up to and chased away Monster Jammeh. Now there is a concerted attempt not just to deny Lawyer Mandela Darboe and Mai Fatty their place as HEROES of Free Gambia, but an attempted to deny Lawyer Mandela Darboe and Mai Fatty their “sovereign” rights as Citizens of The Gambia … they are hardly allowed to speak without the Online Warriors SNARLING at them like Napoleon’s Dogs in Animal Farm. For Lawyer Mandela Darboe, those attacks are nothing more than water off a ducks back.
I believe Mai Fatty is also a strong man, and if he can STAND UP to Jammeh – IN JAMMEH TERRORISED GAMBIA – and SURVIVE (at a time when his main attackers were treading silently around Banjul like frightened alley cats – and some even going to State House to “pay respects to Jammeh” whenever they visited the country) then MAI CAN SURVIVE THIS. I wish him well in his efforts to provide JUSTICE to the actual victims of Yahya Jammeh. MAI FATTY KNOWS HE IS BEING ATTACKED UNFAIRLY AND HE LOOKS STRONGER FOR IT – BLESS HIM.
Blessed Are the Meek, For they Shall Inherit the Earth….” Says the Good book.
No, this is Not a “Public Lynching” as Some have Characterized or Labelled the Minister of Justice, Hon. A. Tambedou’s Public Statement with Reference to the Behavior of One Mai Fatty of the Interior Ministry. It is called Accountability, Credibility, Due Diligence and Public Service. The Justice Minister, Mr. Tambedu was being Intentionally or Unintentionally Set up by the Zealot Mai Fatty and his fellow Dark Night Travelling Companions of UDP’s Single minded Agenda without Due Process or Adherence to the Constitutional and Legal Requirements. Mai Fatty may be comfortable with Illegal and questionable Actions and Behavior, but Legal minded Experts like the Justice Minister, Tambedu know better. His Reputation, Duty, Career and beyond depends on the People having Confidence In and Of the Courts, and in this case the Justice Minister who is the Head of Jurisprudence in the Gambia. Appearance of Fairness Equal Access and Treatment Before the Law was at Stake. Hon. Minister Tambedu had to Act And Act he did. He did so in Public, to Reassure and Ensure that the Gambians for whom he is Hired to work for and the International Community know that he is a Justice Minister who will not be Compromised or Unwittingly Co-opted into Illegal Wrong Doing by Zealots with an Agenda (s) Not Compatible with Due Process or Adherence to the Tenents of the Law. A Minister of Justice or any Law Enforcement Official who is Perceived to be Biased would Not be Credible or Ethical. That would not be a good thing for Gambian Jurisprudence or Courts for that Matter. JUSTICE Tambedu Needs and Deserves our Gratitude and Support. For Mai Fatty, all I have to say is, the “Evil is not in the Stars”, but in Men who will Stab anyone in the back, friends included if the “Price” is right. Some might say, Thus Mai Fatty, Ousainou Darbo and Adama Barrow Believe! Sic, Coalition Alliance’s Betrayal. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Ethnic Group and Region.
I concur with Dr Isatou Sarr’s statement, ” Let us speak out against wrongs but also recommend effective solutions and give support and encouragement. God Bless The Gambia”!
Here is a position that I share with Dr Sarr and I’d say that we must hold steadfastly on to our cardinal beliefs on moving The Gambia forward. We cannot be dissenters for the object of earning recognition or jockeying for clout but we MUST offer plausible solutions to issues at hand for the good of our Gambia.
In The Gambia that we all know, it takes time for all the beans to find their rightful place in the sack of beans and we all know why this is the case.
Madi is an astute analyst but his position in this discourse doesn’t hold water!!
Andrew, should Madi Jobarteh’s advice be followed followed by Ba Tambedou there is an alternative to fill the post: Lawyer Lamin S Camara (who stayed in The Gambia throughout Jammeh’s Dictatorship and fought for Justice in the courts for Jammeh’s victims) would make a fantastic Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Madi Jobarteh,
Madi, Jollof News 23rd March 2017
I’m no longer interested in your diatribe to excuse yourself from the insulting headline!
You must be VERY STUPID to refer to GAMBIANS as behaving stupidly. You haven’t minimised your phrase/tone/headline with an indefinite article like SOME: “The stupidity of SOME Gambians”,(then we’ll understand you) but went into the general terms of insulting ALL Gambians without remorse. It is perverse and hurting!
It shows your senselessnes and stupidity as an uncultured contributor on line who’s looking for cheap fame and exposure with very little to offer. What an UNCOUTHED fellow you are!
I’ll ask you to apologise immediately and learn from the far-reaching repercussions of such an irresponsible statement/headline. Imagine this headline is written by a Senegalese, Nigerian, Mauritanian or a White man. Just imagine!
What a stupid use of the English language, a language you are trying to speak/write without result. Better frame your headlines in an orderly and mannered way to avoid any weird responses to your stupidity.
We have our elders, mothers, fathers, kids, youth whose diverse and personal views and opinions should be respected even on TRIBAL lines.
It will take years before tribal sentiments are disintegrated/divorced from our politics, jobs, marriages, and all forms of our social, economic and politic life; and only the excellent nursing of the people at the helm of power would gradually difuse such sentiments. Not the nonsensical and stupid on-line insults like yours.
THAT WAS MY RESPONSE TO YOUR STUPID POSTING OF THE 23rd MARCH. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING YOUR APOLOGY; ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT APOLOGY WILL NEVER BE CONSIDERED. UNLESS A SENSELESS IDIOT LIKE YOU APOLOGISE ALL GAMBIANS FOR THAT INSULTING POSTING, I WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW YOUR STUPIDITY ON ALL YOUR POSTINGS. WE REMAIN INCENSED WITH THAT POSTING FROM A JOBARTEH jalikunda breed WHO INSULTS HIS BENEFACTORS WITHOUT REMORSE. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE!