The
contention in your story that OJ was bribed by Jammeh is not only
fallacious; it is totally preposterous. I spoke to O.J on Friday
September 8th, in England , where he is undergoing treatment
for his sudden sickness that your paper reported. It is thereby very
clear that OJ’s sickness is widely known in the Gambia and beyond.
Coach Jow
I
can assure you that O. J is still a member of NADD, and still keeps in
touch with them as they tour the country. It however did not come as a
surprise to me that people have found the need to spread vicious lies
and innuendos about NADD. No amount of lies can hold us back. NADD is
on the move. Anybody who knows O.J would know that he would never sell
his soul to Jammeh. As for Ganji Touray and former NRP guy Mambajick
Njie and all those selfish politicians are the very reason why we are
in the predicament we are today. For one to claim that the lack of
unity in the opposition justifies joining the murderous APRC regime is
just ludicrous.
Please
allow me to refer your readers to this article published in the
Foroyaa, September 4-5 issue, in which OJ dealt with this issue.
“Omar
Amadou Jallow (alias O J), has given a vivid picture of why he was
absent during the nomination of Halifa Sallah as the presidential
candidate for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development
(NADD).
Jallow’s
statement came on the heels of speculation that he has abandoned NADD.
He said he was stricken by illness and was hospitalized. Jallow pointed
out that he still supports Halifa Sallah as the candidate of NADD. OJ
made these statements on Friday 1st September
at his residence in Pipeline during an interview with this reporter. OJ
indicated that NADD is a unifying factor and has the solution to the
ills created by the APRC during its twelve years of misrule. He pointed
out that in the Memorandum of Understanding establishing NADD which he
is a signatory, it is stipulated that NADD would put in place
constitutional and legal instruments as well as democratic institutions
and practices covering all areas of state administration and management
so as to put an end to self perpetuating rule which is the
characteristic of the APRC rule. OJ said NADD is committed to create an
economic environment that will ensure the development of the productive
base of the economy and maximize economic growth, employment and
general welfare of the youth and women.
This
OJ said, is necessary to put an end to the suffering of the Gambian
people. He asserted that the interview Halifa granted to the
journalists after the nomination showed the supremacy of the NADD
candidate over the two candidates. OJ pointed out that the interview
showed that Halifa Sallah possesses all the qualities of the type of
leader the Gambia needs under these circumstances.
He
finally called on all Gambians at home and abroad regardless of tribe,
religion, political affiliation or place of origin to give their total
support to Halifa Sallah the NADD presidential candidate.”
I hope this helps in clarifying the matter.
Editors
note: Coach, thanks for the clarification. We never instituated that OJ
was bribed. Horomsi merely reported what he heard. He even quoted the
said Foroyaa piece you cited. Please read between the lines to digest
his piece. Besides, OJ is the right person to set the records straight.
We respect your views. Chi Jaama.