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Breaking News:The Big Interview: Former NRP Admin Secretary Buray Alpha Jawoh Speaks!! Govt's move to takeover NRP Exposed!!

Former Administrative Secretary of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP’S) Buray Alpha Jawoh, today unveiled secret plans spearheaded by the Ruling APRC to get NRP on their camp, thanks to Baba K Jobe’s behind the scenes work. Jobe was tasked among other things to neutralize the NRP, but according to the erstwhile NRP Administrative Secretary the said request was declined at the Party level. “In the past the Jammeh Government through Baba Jobe and other high profile APRC members wanted NRP to merge with the APRC but we declined. This is because it’s obvious to all of us, Jammeh could hire you in the morning and fire you in the evening. So no I will not take any position in Jammeh’s Government.” Buray Jawoh, a former Journalist and political activist now resides in New York City. He was reacting to a question fired by Freedom's Pa Nderry M'Bai, as to whether he Jawoh was going accept an invitation to work with the Jammeh Government if ever contacted. In this Exclusive interview, Mr.Jawoh commented about his past/present political life, his association with the NRP, the disintegrated opposition NADD, his association with the pro-Government opposition Newspaper Foroyaa, among a host of other topical issues. Below is the full text of the interview we had with Mr.Jawo. Please read on….
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Freedom Newspaper: Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

Buray Jawoh: I am 52 years of age. I first contested the Niani Constituency Seat against the then P.P.P incumbent Talib Omar Bensouda in 1987 and 1992 parliamentary Elections under the then Gambia People’s Party – G.P.P Ticket.

Freedom Newspaper: What's wrong with the Opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP)? Is the party dead or alive? Nothing much is being heard about NRP these days.

Buray Jawoh:The National Reconciliation Party (NRP) is fully functional. Recently, the party distributed nine motorcycles worth over D300, 000.00 throughout the country. This is because NRP is busy re-organizing the constituency committees. The party is also busy preparing for the announced Local Government Elections.

Freedom Newspaper: President Jammeh once said that by the time he finishes with the NRP leader Hamat Bah, Upper Saloum would be a no go area for the opposition. Bah had lost his Parliamentary seat for two consecutive times. What would you attribute Bah's political failures to?

Buray Jawoh: President Jammeh knows how effective Hon. Bah was in the National Assembly in exposing his Government. President Jammeh’s pronounment to do everything to get Hon. Bah out of parliament shows how undemocratic his Government is. He gave Blake checks to the chief Malick maybe who was NRP Chairman, and the former Governor of CRD Amulaye Janneh to use all means to get Hon. Bah out of Parliament. Despite all that, upper Saloum will never be a no go area for NRP.

Freedom Newspaper: Is the NRP a serious political party? One of your former party officials, Mammbagic Njie, who defected to the Ruling APRC accuses Hamat Bah of being self centered by hijacking party matters. Sanna Manneh alias Tixs, also claimed that NRP is a one man show. What do you make out of these allegations?

Buray Jawoh:Look PA, every political party has some disgruntle members for one reason or the other. Mambanick njie had his own objectives and realizing he couldn’t attain those objectives in NRP he made up his mind to quit N.R.P is a serious political party like any other party.

Freedom Newspaper: As a Former administrative Secretary of the NRP, what can you tell us about Hamat Bah? How do you come into association with Bah?

Buray Jawoh: I was in form four Kaur Junior Secondary School when Hon. Bah was in form one- the same school. We both went to The Gambia College the same year as Education Students. We started politics on campus. We use to have real political meetings candidates and elections on campus for various positions in the student union. We both use to be on the same side.

Freedom Newspaper: Have you resigned from the NRP?

Buray Jawoh: No Pa, I didn’t resign from the N.R.P.

Freedom Newspaper: Why are you silent or dormant?

Buray Jawoh: Pa Nderry, I am not silence. I have not been in contact with you but I am active in politics though away from the field.

Freedom Newspaper: Political observers have opined that the NRP'S political career is bleak, in view of its repeated failure to make it in the past Parliamentary elections. What do you make out of such observations?

Buray Jawoh: That observation could be erroneous. The NRP is now a household name in The Gambia.

Freedom Newspaper: What can you tell us about the merger between NRP and UDP?

Buray Jawoh: The NRP supported the United Democratic Party in the last Presidential election with a view to unite our resources and defeat Jammeh. We shall continue to strategize with the U.D.P and any other party interested in forging tactical Alliances.

Freedom Newspaper: Reports reaching us suggest that Hamat Bah, is working very hard to succeed the UDP leader Ousainou Darboe due to the age limit attached to the Presidency. Is Bah Presidential material? Will the UDP allow him to lead if Darboe considers quitting active politics?

Buray Jawoh: How can Hon. Bah work towards succeeding Mr. Darboe. Ridiculous? If in the event Mr. Darboe no longer has interest in politics or otherwise, the United Democratic Party will call a congress and elect a successor to Mr. Darboe. What is clear is, whoever is the Leader of U.D.P or NRP will see the need to work together tactically.

Freedom Newspaper: In your own view, what led to the collapse of NADD?

Buray Jawoh: So many factors. Perhaps the registration of NADD as a political party might have been the biggest factor in my view.

Freedom Newspaper: As a former reporter of Foroyaa and strong supporter of PDOIS, what can you tell us about Halifa Sallah? Is he a principle man?

Buray Jawoh: I was a sympathizer of PDOIS and a paid Journalist for Foroyaa. I personally know that Hon. Sallah is highly respected. He is a Strongman with principles. Pa, how many Gambian interllectuals were offered positions by Jammeh and rejected the position. I personally don’t know of any other person except Hon. Sallah.

Freedom Newspaper: Critics say it was unfair for Sallah to lead NADD, since he coordinated the affairs of the political body during the period in question. Your reaction?

Buray Jawoh: Pa, critics are always critics, they don’t look at all the facts yet they jump to conclusions. Hon. Sallah was elected as a coordinator, but that does not in any way means he couldn’t seek the position of a flag bearer. If anything in my opinion, Hon. Sallah like any of them had the moral obligation to seek for office. The problem was, they didn’t start how the Senegalese started, by UDP being the largest party calling on the others to supports it with a view to defeat Jammeh

Freedom Newspaper: Critics also accused Sallah of being unprincipled by minces his earlier statement that he was not interested in leading NADD. That he was only mandated to coordinate NADD. Your stake on this?

Buray Jawoh: Of course, I have no doubt that Hon. Sallah is not interested in power struggle, but will always bow to pressure from his political party if they press him to seek the position. That is normal with any politician in my view.

Freedom Newspaper: What needs to be done to bring the opposition under one political platform?

Buray Jawoh: Sacrifice. It’s incumbent upon all of the opposition leaders to forget about their personal intrest and come together. The Gambian electorates were very unhappy with the opposition; their anger was reflected in the last presidential election. The implication of not uniting is what they are now living with. Hon. Bah lost, Hon. Sallah lost, and Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh lost. These were very strong voices in the National Assembly. It’s a big loss for the country. One can say with certainty that the Gambian people are now not represented in the National Assembly.

Freedom Newspaper: Is President Jammeh succeeding or failing as a leader?

Buray Jawoh: Well Jammeh to him is succeeding, since the opposition is more divided than United.

Freedom Newspaper: What makes you to oppose the APRC?

Buray Jawoh: Pa, I didn’t oppose the APRC. The APRC found me in opposition. When they over threw the PPP Government as of July 22^nd 1994, I was Convinced the military never bring Democracy anywhere in Africa. So I decided to continue to be in the opposition instead of joining the Junta

Freedom Newspaper: What major achievements have President Jammeh recorded since coming to power, in your own view?

Buray Jawoh: President Jammeh could be given thumbs-up for major infrastructural development as oppose to Jawara’s decadence. However, his record on human right and the rule of law is the worse in history.

Freedom Newspaper: If President Jammeh invites you to work with his government in the spirit of national unity and nation building, would you respond to his invitation? If no, why not?

Buray Jawoh: In the past the Jammeh Government through Baba Jobe and other high profile APRC members wanted NRP to merge with the APRC but we declined. This is because it’s obvious to all of us, Jammeh could hire you in the morning and fire you in the evening. So no I will not take any position in Jammeh’s Government.

Freedom Newspaper: Is President Jammeh evil, as widely portrayed?

Buray Jawoh: Pa, I wouldn’t characterize president Jammeh as evil.

Freedom Newspaper: Gambia's development has been retarded by brain drain. That, most of its intellectuals are outside the country. Who is responsible for this trend?

Buray Jawoh: The Gambian intellectual has nobody to blame except themselves. They helped Jammeh consolidate power. They help Jammeh draft draconian laws they tortured Gambian to please Jammeh. When they were winning and dinning with Jammeh they were praising him. Now that most of them fled the Gambia they are writing books criticizing Jammeh particularly those ex-military officers.

Freedom Newspaper: How is life in America?

Buray Jawoh: Life in America is not easy. As you know you can live with a friend in the same house but will not see for weeks. America is not the place for idleness, since you must punch hours to pay bills and take care of family members back home. The extended family system is a big border for most of us in the United States. Their problems cannot be solve but cannot be ignored.

Freedom Newspaper: Is President Jammeh a dictator?

Buray Jawoh: Anybody can call Jammeh whatever name he/she wants.

Freedom Newspaper: Any last words:

Buray Jawoh: I would like to advise you to report constructively. If any of your reporters on the ground is reporting on National security issues you should insist they put their real names. Reporting things like rebels in the Gambia when the reporter cannot identify any Rebel is irresponsible.

Freedom Newspaper: Thanks Mr.Jawoh for granting us this interview.

Buray Jawoh: Thank you Pa Nderry for the written interview it’s a pleasure to talk to you

Mr.Jawoh can be reached by email at: jawohburay2007@yahoo.com

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Posted on Friday, October 26, 2007 (Archive on Monday, November 19, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

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