Allow me to respond to the misleading, sensational and baseless allegation you carried in your medium as per the above caption. The allegation has come at an interesting time especially going by the on-going struggle against dictatorship in our country which some of us have signed up to and which I’m aware goes with a price sometimes.
En passant, let me point out that the document pasted therein raises more questions than helps clarify, notwithstanding the rest of the allegations which supposedly took place in 1997 when I was commissioner, Western Division. Good journalism practices would dictate the you as editor of a RESPECTED online paper would have contacted me for my version of the story prior to publication because this falls under the purview of INVESTIGATIVE journalism. Whatever your decision not to do that is a matter for you as editor but as far as I am concerned something is missing in the jigsaw here that anybody with an idea of professional and ethical journalism would agree with.
While I do remember Pa Saiku Kujabi as a one time contender for the National Assemby seat for Combo East Constituency against the late Kebba Toure, the allegation he is peddling is baseless and therefore can only earn him self-redicule, the clamour of a bad loser in an election 17 years ago, and angry with someone who had nothing to do with your misfortune. Anybody conversant with issues at the time, knows that I was a civil servant who had the interest of all the people of Western Division at heart; I was the leader of all across political divide, a posture that made me a target of some supporters of the APRC. My doors were opened to all who had issues to bring onto the table. Infact I was known for stance against politically motivated arrests or intimidation. I’ m on record for having foiled and averted moves by supporters of the ruling party to harm the opposition which at the time included you Pa Saiku Kujabi, late Imam Karamo Toure, Dembo Arra, Buba Sanneh etc. To narrate my role in the maintenance of peace , stability and good governance as leader of perhaps the most volatile region in the country is not a subject of this rejoinder otherwise I could go on to let those you intend to mislead, have a better insight into the man you are maligning for selfish reasons. But let me put it to you that I now have a better idea where you’re coming from, your affiliates and the agenda you’re pushing.
Now let me delve then into the the allegation proper, the so-called document, and the sensationalism that goes with it. I wish I could read this document clearly in its entirity, to be able to break it into parts, to prove to the readership that it was all made-up. However, the little I can scrape from it in addtion to the fact that It is a “Republic of The Gambia” letter head is as follows:
1. The reference which reads like LG/34… is a document that emanated from the Ministry of Local Government and Lands and as such the office of Commissioner of whatever Division could not have used to reference a document. So clearly only you Pa Saikou Kujabi can explain how this has come about. Infact the Office of commissioner at the time was under the President’s Office and not Local Government Ministry.2. The other thing that I can see clearly is the signature that does not tally with mine. In other words the signature on this document is not that of Alhajie Kanteh, Commissioner Western Division. Again it is down to you to explain.
3. I have never participated in or ochestrated attacks of any nature against a citizen of the Republic of The Gambia both during my military service and as Commissioner of three Divisions in the Gambia.
4. As to your detention at the NIA which I was not aware of anyway, it is important to let the public know that I have never been the cause of anybody’s detention at the NIA. If I had I would say so without trepidation.
5. I had no role at the time or any subsequent period, in the firing of any village Alkali, or civil servant. If anything, it was my role to guide and protect them. This has been my attitude throughout my tenue as public servant. That was why civil servants rejoice wherever I went. I was not a bully but a humble servant of the people.
As far as I am concerned, and for this reasons, I’m done with this joke but would advise you Pa Saiku Kujabi, to try something else that can catch the eye and convince the Gambian people that after all you are not just a disgruntle loser having to nurse his wounds 17 years after infliction. It goes to show how this event in your life broke you down and clouded your judgement for ever. Today our country is faced with one of the most heinous totalitarianisms of modern time, and all some of you can do is to attempt to derail those making genuine efforts to fix it and to continue planting seed of discord and confusion. Neither you, nor your sponsors are any effective fire to stop the advances by the NRMG on the path of liberty, freedom and independence.
Let me get back to work for the Gambian people!
Alhagie Kanteh Spokesperson NRMG
Editors’ Note: It is to be noted that Pa Saikou’s article was in fact a response to public pronouncement made by former Commission Kanteh who publicly put his records as Commission under public scrutiny. He challenged citizens to come forward with anything on his records. A citizen who was there did so and as a result Gainako editorial team is within its ethical bounds to publish the article without further consultation with Mr. Kanteh. The burden is therefore on Mr. Kanteh to proof Pa Saikou’s document supported allegations false. Let Mr. Kanteh too provide evidence or witnesses to collaborate his stance. The days of making public pronouncements without being challenged are over…. Gainako Radio is open for a debate between Mr. Kanteh and Kujabi conducted in the most respectable manner… Will you response to the challenge for public scrunity?