FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Abdoulie G. Dibba
1 July 2009
In his contribution to the adjournment debate at the National Assembly on Thursday, Hon Singhateh told his colleague, that Governor Edwarr Seckan has threatened that he will die before the end of this rainy season. Hon. Singhateh asserted that as the Chairman and Desk Officer of the APRC in the Region, it is his responsibility to select the Speakers to address public meetings during the tours of the president.
He said that the President had only two meetings in the North Bank Region, that is, in Kerr Jarga and Farafenni during this year's Dialogue with the people's tour.
Hon. Singhateh indicated that he assigned his fellow members in the region to select those who were to speak during the meeting. He said that his colleagues' reported that one person was allowed to speak against the will of the Governor.. Hon Singhateh told his colleagues that before the Farafenni meeting he traveled to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and when he returned from Nigeria, a delegation told him that the governor has sent them to him to inform him that he (Suku) will die before the end of the rainy season if his Marabout is indeed a Marabout.
. Reacting to the allegation, the deputy speaker Hon. Abdoulie Bojang asserted that if the allegations are true, then the Assembly should denounce it. He said the allegation of the governor is uncalled for and unreasonable. He told Hon. Singhateh to have faith, adding "if you are doing the right thing, have no fear". "The governor is not God and cannot destroy what God has created" he added.
He said the allegation is serious. Reacting to the allegation, the majority leader and also member for Serrekunda East Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta asserted that the Manifestoes of all the parties in the Gambia contain the principle of probity, accountability and transparency and the APRC is no exception. He said they as the National Assembly Members are ready to probe all government institution with the view to ensure accountability and transparency. He called on members to unity as one to confront all challenges facing them. He told Hon. Singhateh to have courage and assure him that the National Assembly will endeavour to resolve the problem.
When this reporter contacted Governor Seckan on the issue, he vehemently refuted that he has sent any delegation to meet Suku on any such matter, and therefore referred this reporter to the Deputy Governor Modou Marr. According to Mr. Marr, he has never been a party to any delegation that was sent by the Governor to Hon. Suku Singhateh on their personal difference.
In reacting to the reporter's questions, he said:"I told him (The Governor) in that meeting that he cannot use the office of the government to settle personal differences with any one. I told him that as deputy governor I would not be a part of such as I am here to defend government policies and programmes'.He made reference to a meeting during which the Governor expressed dissatisfaction over the conduct of Hon. Singhateh and expressed that his position is so important to him that any body who undermines it will suffer the consequences.
Editorial Note
Foroyaa has observed that there is a contradiction between Governor Seckan and National Assembly member Suku Singhateh. We are yet to fully identify the substance of the contradiction. There is accusation and denial. The fact that it has become public knowledge, makes it incumbent for the authorities to intervene to resolve the contradiction rather than to allow it to be blown out of proportion.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 FOROYAA Newspaper. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
