In a democracy, criticism sharpens convictions. Speech challenges orthodoxy. What we must never tolerate is moral inconsistency disguised as civic righteousness.
Mr. Pa Njie Girigara’s recent appeal to President Barrow to silence former President Yahya Jammeh’s political commentary is not the cry of a democrat—it is the echo of a hypocrite who once cheered the very autocracy he now decries.
Let me be clear: this is not a defense of Yahya Jammeh. His twenty-two-year reign was marked by repression, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the erosion of institutional dignity. But even despots retain the constitutional right to speak—because democracy, unlike dictatorship, doesn’t revoke citizenship based on past sins. It holds individuals accountable without extinguishing their rights.
A Pipeline Memory.
During my tenure as editor of The Independent, Mr. Njie—then my neighbor in Pipeline—called out to me across the road opposite his residence. He was displeased with our editorials that criticized Jammeh’s regime. His words? “Give the boys a chance; they are doing very well.”
At the time, Jammeh’s government was actively attacking the press—including two suspected state-sponsored arson attacks on our newsroom. Mr. Njie remained silent. No condemnation. No defense of journalism. Only proximity to power.
The many Masks Of Pa Njie Girigara
Mr. Njie’s political journey has been defined not by principle, but by expedience. From claiming to have donated D1,000,000 to the UDP, to contesting under the GDC banner, to endorsing President Barrow’s NPP—all while praising Darboe’s leadership—his allegiances have swung like a pendulum in search of favor.
He has supported parties, attacked their leaders, left in protest, and returned with fanfare. This isn’t political maturity—it’s ideological inconsistency masquerading as strategy. He says he despises injustice—yet said nothing when journalists were persecuted. He calls for democratic integrity—yet demands the silencing of a citizen’s voice. He champions development—yet cosigned authoritarianism when it suited his business interests. Such contradictions do not build trust. They corrode it.
As an ex-president, Yahya Jammeh retains the constitutional right to express himself. That doesn’t absolve his record—it underscores ours. Our democracy must be measured not by how we treat saints, but how we restrain ourselves against sinners.
Jammeh should refrain from political meddling. His legacy is too stained to offer moral guidance.
But it is the courts—not Pa Njie’s outrage—that must determine the limits of Jammeh’s actions. President Barrow, if truly committed to democratic reform, must uphold rule of law—not rule by resentment.
Contrast this with the dignity of Sir Dawda Jawara, who after his presidency, chose restraint, silence, and grace. He did not retaliate. He did not incite. He honored the republic, even when the republic dishonored him. That is statesmanship. That is civic discipline. That is the moral clarity missing in On Mr. Njie’s commentary. Let Governance Outperform Tyranny
If Barrow’s regime wants Jammeh to fade, it must outperform him—not censor him. Political intimidation only reignites sympathy. Democratic brilliance extinguishes it. Let truth—not opportunism—guide our national discourse. Let consistency—not convenience—define civic leadership.
And let Mr. Njie remember: the credibility of a democrat is measured not by the loudness of their criticism, but by the steadiness of their conscience.
Alagi Yorro Jallow is a civic advocate, writer, and former editor of The Independent. He writes to honor legacies and challenge the moral fractures that distort justice and democracy.
