By Ramatoulie Jawo
Former President Yahya Jammeh has issued a strongly worded critique of President Adama Barrow’s administration in a WhatsApp audio message, alleging failures across key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and security. Despite threats of arrest upon his return, Jammeh boldly declared his intention to come back to The Gambia and hold the government accountable.
“Whether anybody likes it or not, by the grace of the almighty Allah, I am coming. Threats of sending me to jail; let them wait until I arrive there and see who is going to jail. All they are telling you is a bunch of nonsense. You are making the country suffer—the Gambia that the Gambians were proud of and respected wherever they went, today; they have become the laughingstock. All sorts of crimes have been committed in the Gambia with nobody ever being prosecuted and convicted—the armed robbers, rapists and killers, you can name it,” he stated.
The former president emphasized that during his tenure, Gambian hospitals and the medical system were admired by many countries. However, he lamented that today, these hospitals have turned into mortuaries.
He expressed deep sorrow over the tragic reality that women who go to deliver often end up losing their lives. He criticized those in charge of misleading the public by claiming that the situation remains unchanged from before, labeling such assertions as false.
“Those who brought that toxic syrups, have they been held to account? No.”
Discussing the agricultural sector, Jammeh remarked that buyers are acquiring groundnuts on credit instead of making direct payments.
“And then getting money is a problem that has never happened during my time. This credit buying started with Jawara’s government, but even with Jawara’s government, farmers were paid at some point; it will be late, but they were paid,” he said.
He emphasized that the schoolchildren, particularly primary school students, whom he fondly referred to as his beloved students, have always been his greatest source of inspiration to strive for development.
“When I see them and see how they are, it inspires me to do more good for the country, have to drop out of school. The UNICEF report indicates that 51 thousand people in 2021 has dropped out of school, that is sad and pathetic,” he said.
He remarked that the current government, which claimed to have purchased a brand-new ferry within its first three months in power, has now been in office for seven years and has failed to maintain the existing ferries—ferries that were procured during his administration.
He further stated that, by the grace of Allah, the day of reckoning is approaching, and it will be a moment of accountability.
“So whatever you are relying on, count on that the day that the almighty Allah designated for me to come, I will come and let me find you there. Do not run away and in fact even if you run anyway I will get you. Just stay and arrest me and put me in jail, do you think I am afraid of going to court,” he said.
He stated that anyone who wishes to work with him is welcome, and, by the grace of Almighty Allah, he will return regardless of anyone’s approval.
He emphasized that those attempting to convince ECOWAS or others that he will never return are misguided.
He also claimed that some individuals even consult marabouts in an effort to prevent his return, but he firmly believes they are powerless to stop him.“You have been going to countries, to the marabouts, taking my name there but what will happen to me Allah has designated that before I was born and nobody can change that,” he said.