The Deputy spokesperson of the APRC Dodou Jah says no one can stop former President Yahya Jammeh from returning to The Gambia. Jah, speaking in an interview with this medium, said Jammeh’s home return is a must and no one can prevent him from returning to his native country. “I feel it is Jammeh, who is not settled yet, to come home, but I believe there is nothing that can stop him from coming home. People alleged many things against him, but I said that is for the courts to decide. If the government feels he has certain to proof himself right, the courts has to handle that, and they will decide whether he is guilty or not,” Jah remarked.
Jah was reacting to a question fired to him by this author as to what was responsible for Jammeh’s continued stay in Equatorial Guinea. He said Jammeh’s departure from the country, followed an agreement he reached with the African Union, the African bloc ECOWAS and the United Nations. He added that The Gambian government should respect that global agreement and avoid throwing it into the dustbin.
He also wants Jammeh’s seized assets and the APRC’s seized assets be returned.
Jah says the issue of the APRC forming an alliance with Barrow’s NPP party’s hasn’t been tabled before the APRC Executive.
“It has never been tabled at our executive meetings to discuss about it, to agree or disagree; they engaged one or two people discuss about them, but those discussions have never been tabled in any executive meeting. In other words, the executive of the APRC has never discuss it to agree or disagree, but you can engage anybody,” he said.
Jah has also expressed the need for President Barrow to change his cabinet and hire competent Gambians, who could assist him in realizing the nation’s developmental needs. He pointed out that he is not currying for any job opportunities or favors for the APRC but he stressed that jobs should be given to qualified Gambians.
“There must be a massive reshuffle in cabinet, not to employ or take APRC people, but bring in competent Gambians that would serve the interest of this country. Secondly, there was a joint declaration between the AU, United Nations, and ECOWAS, which they did on behalf of The Gambian government, for them they throw it to the dustbin. I cannot back or empower a government that does not respect agreement,” he said.
Still commenting on the issue of a possible merger between the NPP and the APRC, Jah said he had received unconfirmed information from a UDP radio host living overseas, who told him that Dembo By Force Bojang, recently met his Deputy party leader Ousman Rambo Jatta.
“I also had information, which was given to me by some UDP members, who told me that Dembo By Force has engaged Rambo. They went to Rambo and had a discussion, but what the discussion was centered about I definitely do not know. That is why I said it is not brought at Executive level, them going to Rambo doesn’t mean that they are engaging him for a possible merger, it could be, but the information is not brought to the Executive. Not every information that UDP give, I will take it as credible and accurate. It could be, I am not saying it is not, but I cannot just affirm,” he pointed out.
Jah says he never contacted Rambo to verify the veracity of the UDP supporter’s claims. He was quick to add that information coming from some UDP supporters should be treated with pinch of salt.
“They said NPP members or Executive went to Baxo’s compound, they had a discussion with him about a possible coalition between the APRC and the NPP. I got the information from some of our Executive members because Baxo, people frequent his home,” he said.
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