Fear Is Gambia’s Biggest Threat- OJ Told Journalists

….As OJ Implores On Gambians To Reject Any Kind Of State Oppression

By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, Banjul

Former Agriculture Minister in the first Republic Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ) has called on his fellow politicians to break the culture of silence and wage a unified front in exposing lawlessness, banditry and impunity in The Gambia. Mr. Jallow who was addressing journalists at a symposium marking the fifth anniversary of the slain Point Newspaper boss Deyda Hydara  said due to fear Gambians continued to be oppressed by the despotic Jammeh regime. He says for Gambians to be free from such oppression, the politicians must take a leading role in confronting agents of terror and oppression.

"We must depart from the culture of fear and silence if we truly want to liberate our country. I am appealing to all politicians to speak against lawlessness, impunity and other negative vices posing as a threat to press freedom, liberty and human rights in The Gambia.  We should not negotiate for our constitutional rights,”OJ said.

Emphasizing the importance of the press in any democratic settings, OJ noted that in the absence of press freedom, there cannot be meaningful democracy. He said all decent nations are embracing press freedom, but in the case of The Gambia is the reverse. He said Gambia’s private press suffered all kinds of persecution from the current administration of Yahya Jammeh. OJ assured journalists that freedom is on the way, and certainly one day the private press  would operate freely in the country without having the fear of being persecuted.

" Victory is yours. Justice will one day prevail and God the almighty will stand by you the journalists in all your endeavors, “said the popular politician.

OJ said both the Government and the opposition need the press  in a bid to highlight its programs and policies.  He observes that in the face of oppression and fear, there cannot be just and free society. He says the press should be allowed to hold the powers that be accountable to The Gambian people.  He underscores the importance of accountability and check and balances in any democratic dispensation.

Taking a swept at  his opposition colleagues, OJ expressed dismay that the country’s opposition were conspicuously absent during the anniversary of Deyda Hydara’s murder. OJ said it was unfortunate that his colleagues were not in attendance, as the majority of the conference’s  attendees were journalists.

He says Deyda’s anniversary transcends beyond journalism. He adds that every Gambian citizen, including the opposition should grace such an important occasion. He said Hydara devoted his entire life in fighting for press freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. He said the opposition should complement the press’s efforts in advocating for press freedom in the country. He said the opposition needs the press to articulate its programs and policies effectively.

Mr. Jallow who is also an official of the opposition NADD laments about the lack of tolerance in the country. He said Gambians should remain united in their quest for a just and free Gambia. He says in the absence of tolerance nothing wouldn’t work.

The PPP leader urges the country’s private press to keep up the good work. He said the opposition are behind them. He says it is the duty of any good citizen to expose lawlessness and impunity. He says Gambia’s press would one day regain its much cherished press freedom, which he says have been undermined by the dictatorship. OJ says fear is the biggest threat to the country’s peace and prosperity. He calls on Gambians to reject any kind of oppression meted out to them.