(JollofNews) – The leader of the Gambia’s National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) has thrown punches at the country’s former long-term ruler accusing him of governing the country in the crudest form.
Lamin Waa Juwara, a former critic of ex-President Jammeh who later served as commissioner and minister for Local Government and Lands in the government of Mr Jammeh before he was sacked and later jailed for abuse of office, said his former boss had subjected Gambians to all sorts of treatment to ensure that they all dance to his tune.
Speaking to JollofNews’s Amadou Jallow at his Brikama residence on Saturday, Mr Jawara said: “During Jammeh’s regime, people were killed including students. There were also other disappearances that cannot be still accounted for.
“Jammeh was doing whatever he likes to Gambians and this went for too long to a point where people could no longer survive under his dictatorship.”
He added: “The charges that was placed on me [negligence of official duties] were just a mere fabrication to put me in trouble. You see, when Jammeh started to ruthlessly weed out people, including his own supporters, people were left with no option but to stand for change. Jammeh’s rule has even gotten to a point where everybody was sceptical and under fear.”
The former governor said, he had never believed that Jammeh has ever won an election in the country. He argued that if Jammeh had won the last December election, it would have been the end of the peaceful nature of Gambians.
He accused Jammeh of presiding over a tribalist regime that brought “without doubt” Jolas from Cassamance in every sector of state function, particularly in the security. He added that if the Cassamance region had never existed, Jammeh’s rule of the Gambia would have been impossible.
He said he believed that the Senegalese leadership come to realise that factor and believes that the Gambia, under Mr Jammeh posed a threat to their security.
Ironically though, when Juwara was serving as commissioner and minister in the Jammeh regime, he turned a blinder to the alleged wrong doings of the regime and accused the opposition and critics of opportunism.
He once described Jammeh as a true patriot who had ushered the Gambia into an era of development, unity and prosperity.
Politics can be very dirty.
This WAA JUWARA talking again!!
“He added: “The charges that was placed on me [negligence of official duties] were just a mere fabrication to put me in trouble. You see, when Jammeh started to ruthlessly weed out people, including his own supporters, people were left with no option but to stand for change. Jammeh’s rule has even gotten to a point where everybody was sceptical and under fear.”
The former governor said, he had never believed that Jammeh has ever won an election in the country. He argued that if Jammeh had won the last December election, it would have been the end of the peaceful nature of Gambians.
He accused Jammeh of presiding over a tribalist regime that brought “without doubt” Jolas from Cassamance in every sector of state function, particularly in the security. He added that if the Cassamance region had never existed, Jammeh’s rule of the Gambia would have been impossible”.
Here is the turncoat over and over again! And a prime example at that.
Doesn’t WAA recall when the PPP paraded him over the length and breadth of THE GAMBIA to apologize at every stop to his “uncle” and the electorate for going against the grain of Gambian cultural dictates? Was that not a teachable moment enough for this rude simpleton of a “politician” on a fool’s errand.
Here is a horrible character that is devoid of character, ethics and basic decency that will seize every opportunity to feather his own nest. There’s ample evidence in support of this assertion!
WAA, Muna Maa Kuu Silang! At his age, Waa shouldn’t be reminded of the Manding adage, MAA KUU SAA KUU!
Andrew, Waa is just trying to seek relevance again. Waa was the most high profile politician to defect from UDP to APRC. Waa has played a bigger role in keeping Jammeh in power that the Cassamance people he is accusing. Fortunately for Gambia, people can still remember all what Waa had said went he became a Jammeh choir boy. One could have easily forgiven Waa if he had joined Jammeh before all the atrocities he mentioned had happened. But Waa joined APRC after all these had taken place and now he wants to spew some rubbish because he felt neglected by the new Government and wants to be noticed. President Barrow should leave him to disappear into oblivion.
I liked Waa; He was brutalised, tortured and stripped of all dignity. I think in the end it was a matter of survival, that for many years he was the sole voice against Jammeh while hundreds sided with Jammeh for personal gain and safety. I am glad he is still around and hope he fares well. Heroism and courage and scars against tyranny can never be thrown to the dogs. Neither can we say we are in his league of suffering, mental and physical torture and cruelty.
What do you know about The Gambia to know that Waa was the sole voice against Jammeh? This political prositute shold shot-up and owned-up to all his crimes. he should include his name to any charge sheet he prefered against Dictator Jammeh. Given his level of education, he is probably he is worse than Jammeh.
Yes indeed,,,Waa is a very clever man. A clear rank higher than all your so called selfish career politicians. I think my good friend eventually thought. “when in Rome do as the Roman’s do”>>>there was a lot of Roman’s in Banjul. and by the way>>there is no one worse than Jammeh. He excelled in opportunism, greed and deceit. Most of others were in survival mode. But none of them felt the whip across there backs.
What about the dead… GOD have mercy on us all, Ameen; late Mahawa Chambers & other’s…; who all did like `when in Rome` & also turned dissenting in end; but got captured in sovereign country, contrary to protocol; tortured & murdered in cold blood; with countless many more, including children…? Contrary to western carefree attitudes, certain irresponsible comments are ‘disrespectful idiosity’ in direct translation…
‘Log never turns Croc (odile), no matter how long stayed in water’… Gambian adage…
Rectification please Mahawa Cham – not chambers – thank you
I think some Gambians remain uncomfortable with there self made history. It is always “them ” and not me. The rest just fled to safer shores to throw snowballs at the raging inferno. But some stayed to trade punches with the Devil and some survived with the battle scars from the merciless. I call them hero’s,,you can call them what you like.
It’s irrelevant whatever you hypocritically call them; Human beings strive to impact meaningful lagese to communities at home & abroad with decent consent & conscience; not sheepskin ulterior motivation wolves…
There’re no saints & entirely ‘honest’ politics &/ politicians whatsoever; they all manoeuvre to influence &/ capitulate to gain upper hand politically in sought & execution of political office…
In the Gambia situation, knowing the nitty-gritty with genuine endeavour as obligatory birthright motivation & not materialistic whatsoever, I can proudly associate with the genuine compatriots…
Whilst the politicians engaged on the chessboard; whilst the rest of the citizens & genuine friends & decent wellwishers debates in dissent to better the society instead of hanging to exploit…
Winston Churchill, for example, with due respect mainly hid under the bunker to fight the Germans, while many more British faced the reality above the ground & in battle fields overseas & brought back asunder…
A self centred driven introvert doesn’t know the factual meaning of heroic endeavour, much more heroism…
Bajaw, you are wasting your time. Mike is nothing but a fork tongue keyboard critique. He thinks his writings are a manifestation of his knowledge of the Gambia but on the contrary it only shows his ignorance of anything truly Gambian.
Thanks, DOMORRLA Korring Sanyang Ba..
Bajaw, are you a Touray or Jarjue KONOBA?? Ha!ha!ha!
You witness the obligatory retaliation from minority viewed Gambians whose knowledge of history is mired in obleek nationalism and misplaced patriotism. Buba you disappoint me. Your fine words and objectively delivered views are now devalued as a bystander in the school yard egging on others to fight. ..and once a child’s head is blood splattered on the floor, you cheer the thug. I have known your kind before brother, You are not the real deal. Bajaw on the other hand was a true fearless noise against Jammeh for many years. His attacks against Jammeh online were an inspiration to most of us throwing snowballs into the Hell that was Jammeh’s” marked” deck of cards. The British and today’s free world owe a lot to Churchill. His front line history was one of constant danger as a war correspondent in India and The Sudan and an escapee from a South African Boer prison. I don’t think Churchill had a bunker mentality at all. His dreams as a young man were of bravery and military victories. Later his speeches on the radio were all we had to revitalise a nation whose power and energy was depleted and at its end. Somehow he gave the nation and the rest of the free world hope against the axis forces of Japan and Germany. But history and the final victory is a reassuring epitaph.
I am pleased Waa Juwara has further enlightened and reinforced my view today on Jollof News, that he was” smart” against Jammeh and a high profile survivor of Jammeh’s 22 year hiatus. If some Gambians want to view Jammeh’s legacy as a nation forever torn apart, then carry on. you can get your wish. Myself I see only victims. Dead and Living. Time to build a better nation and advance victorious.
Buba, I now add you a new surname; Buba Sanyang Touray…
Sanyang, Camara, Mbye, Nyang &/Nyan, Mballow, Ceesay, Keita, Suso, Janneh, Fatty, etc are gargantuan eaters…
Ha!ha!Ha! Bajaw, I will accept Touray because anytime am with the Tourays they eat all the food. If i am Touray they will leave me some i guess.
I don’t believe you aren’t the gargantuan eaters when in company; I’m sure my siblings will always give you your preferred option to eat all you can first; & only let them follow you on halfway the bowl, with your (Sanyangs, Camaras, Ceesays & the rest) tommies half-fill already…
If you press I can embarrass you & a brother in your surname who lunched at mine once & forgot (left) his phone only to realise when we got back to his…
Funnily, his wife was Touray too; I had to go fetch his phone on my own because he refused to go back for his phone not face my wife in the embarrassment, who was herself also another joking-relative-cousin of mine in the surnames…
You now know, you owe me a mobile phone, don’t you…???
Bajaw, that is comical, am laughing my head off here because I have done a similar thing at my cousins house but mine was a jacket. I can understand what my brother was going through. I just put on a brave face and went back into the house for my jacket. And point of correction, my brother didn’t forget his phone he left it there LOL!!
Ok, thanks Sanyang…