By Lamin Kinteh, Banjul
Dignitaries who witnessed the 4TH Convocation of University Students in The Gambia, were taken aback following President Yahya Jammeh’s claims that he owns the University of The Gambia. “ This University is mine. It’s my University.” Jammeh tells graduates. The occasion was greeted by a wild reaction from students and parents who were taken by surprise by Jammeh’s wild claims. The gathering believe that such a statement was out of place and wondered why the President should bragged owning the University.
Addressing students at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Jammeh also openly insulted the British Envoy to The Gambia by claiming that the British sold good a portion of our land to the French. Applauded by his excited crowd, Jammeh went on anti British bashings calling the former Colonial Masters as neglecting the West African country. Jammeh told the Ambassador that he should not be surprised if University History students knocked at his office doors demanding an explanation about the British’s role in disposing off our land to the French.
It was a night of wonders and wild allegations. Coming from a desperate President. For Mr. Jammeh the British have not done anything meaningful for The Gambia and her people. Jammeh also claimed owning the University.
The Freedom Newspaper Correspondent interviewed some of the University Students who described Jammeh’s statement as “irresponsible and immature.” One of the students speaking on conditions of strict anonymity says the University of The Gambia belongs to Gambian tax payers and not President Jammeh. He says funds used to built the University came from the tax payers pockets and therefore dismisses Jammeh’s ownership claims.
"If we were not there as students, who would have been there, Mohamed and Mariam Jammeh? He should stop calling it as his own. It belongs to all." She opined aloud.
Another student warns against the politicization of the University. He says if such a thing happened, many students would rather go to private learning institutions than to study at the University. He says it was morally and fundamentally wrong for Jammeh to claim that he owns the University. He maintains that the real owners of the University are the Gambian people and not Jammeh.
Many observers here believe that the President is trying to attract international attention by openly insulting the British. They call Jammeh’s accusations against the British as a direct provocation.