Seedy Njie, Deputy Speaker National Assembly also Deputy Spokesperson of NPP
By Buba Gagigo
In an extensive response statement directed at Lawyer Ousainu Darboe, Secretary General and Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Seedy Njie, Deputy Spokesperson of the National People’s Party (NPP), levied accusations against him, alleging he weaponized institutions during his time in government.
“It is fact Mr Darboe weaponised the institutions of state when he was foreign minister and vice president. He was the most powerful man in the Barrow government and presided over the worst clampdown on both perceived and real political opponents,” Seedy Njie said.
Njie stated that he was arrested and detained in 2018 under the directives of Mr. Darboe.
“It was his nephew, Muhammed Kanteh, who is a senior member of the UDP and National Assembly Member who arrested me. Appointment to positions of authority or influence both local and foreign service by his recommendations were mainly based on political,friendship, family and or tribal inclination at the expense of competence and loyalty to state. No wonder, Gambians started enjoying the fruits of good governance and unprecedented development after you were yanked out of it,” he said.
The NPP deputy spokesperson also alleged that under Mr. Darboe’s leadership, the denial of permits to legally registered political parties for meetings and rallies was a frequent occurrence.
“It was during his time APRC supporters were tear-gassed and a siege was laid to their leader’s home in Tallinding. Their leaders and members were routinely arrested, detained and charged and all these became history after Mr Darboe ceased to be a member of the government. But also, do not forget his threat against Gambian teachers, members of the security forces with dismissals,” Njie said.
Seedy Njie also insists that he was never involved in the arrest, detention, or dismissal of any Gambian throughout his tenure, and he challenges anyone to provide evidence if such claims are made.
“Alhamdoullillah, I have NEVER been involved in the arrest, detention and dismissal of any Gambian throughout. Any person with evidence of my involvement in the arrest, detention and dismissal of anybody is invited to come forward. I find it funny that Mr Darboe who championed the plan to ban APRC while he was in government in 2017, 2018 and 2019 is the one defending and fighting for a faction of the same APRC. It should be our collective responsibility to our constituents and country not to render it ungovernable,” he explained.
Seedy Njie said his style of politics has always been underpinned by respect, maturity and restraint.
“It has always been my view that the better and more serious politician is the one who puts across his views without being over-zealous or unmannerly. I plan on always living by this principle. Yet, I want to address UDP leader Ousainou Darboe’s attack on my person and our security forces here,” he said.
Seedy also said It is dishonesty and plain pretense for anyone to suggest that there is no democracy and respect for rule of law in The Gambia.
“Any honest, truthful, right-thinking and God-fearing Gambian will accept and appreciate the democracy and rule of law reality in The Gambia. To keep repeating that, one would be living a life of idleness. To put it out there, I would have been one of Mr Darboe’s most celebrated men if I had accepted his invitation to join UDP. But after I declined his invitation, he settled on the only other choice: to antagonize me,” he said.
Seedy S.K Njie is the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy spokesperson of the National People’s Party (NPP).