Gainako has confirmed that former SG Momodou Sabally has been in detention for several days following his final sacking as Minister of higher education. According to the local newspaper the point on its Monday edition, Sabally was detained since July 8th, 2014 almost a week today. His exact where about is not known at the time of going to press. Close sources also confirmed that Sabally was indeed detained at the NIA headquarters.
Sabally’s detention was inevitable as President Jammeh keep referencing the reason for firing Sabally – as “arrogance” in the conduct of his duties as Secretary General and minister of Presidential Affairs. In a daily observer story on Thursday President Jammeh was reported to have “decried the attitude of people using their power or position to terrorize other’s, vowing that he will not appoint anyone to trample on colleagues”. According to his own mouth piece – the daily Observer, The president also condemned what he described as “double standards among some Gambians, especially those who fail to correct a particular government official doing the wrong things, but yet speculate once the person gets his marching orders”.
It is crystal clear that President Jammeh’s constant reference to his ministers’ arrogance towards others came after Sabally’s removal. Without mentioning names he keep referring to that behavior saying “I will not appoint anyone to trample on others”.
Many observers see the President’s gossip as un-presidential and a mockery to what has been happening to Gambians since he came to power. Without a doubt Gambians have witnessed President Jammeh’s very own arrogance towards others publicly calling his staff “stupid” The world to get to hell etc. The behaviors of his Ministers and staff are a direct reflection of how the President conducts himself in office. It is therefore, really ironical for this President to keep distancing himself from a ‘culture of behavior and abuse of office’ he has championed since coming to power. He certainly wins the golden award in abuse of office, arrogance and trampling on others.
On a related story, the man who was insistently reported to be in comma and eventually Dead by a leading online paper from an automobile accident several months ago is now the New Secretary General of the APRC Party. Balla Garba Jahumpa also doubles as Minister of Transportation. Mr. Jahumpa was quoted saying “I am greatly and deeply honoured to be appointed by His Excellency the president and national chairman of our revolutionary party as the APRC secretary general. It’s a great honour; I have been behind our leader for 20 years now and since the inception of the APRC as we all know, I have been one of the militants. So it’s a great honour to be appointed SG because that’s an indication of the confidence our leader has in me and I am sure he will support me so that we can move the APRC to higher heights.” . He is certainly one of the longest serving ministers in the Jammeh cabinet. He vows to unite the APRC party.
For Mr. Sabally, his fate remains in limbo but as customary of President Jammeh, when he falls apart with anyone, you are certain to pay a heavy price for it whether you are right or wrong, found guilty or innocent in a court of law. He does not only get you out but ensures that your every past record is scrutinized so charges can be brought against you to justify his actions. As a supporting evident; Dr. Njogu Bah Sabally’s predecessor is languishing in jail and facing more charges of abuse of office. Sabally too may face the same ordeal.