OJ is the man! It's about time too...
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The former Agriculture Minister in the deposed PPP
administration Amadou Omar Jallow, alias OJ has vowed
to defy the controversial Decree 89, describing the
ban as a joke and a gross infringement on his
fundamental human rights. The former Serrekunda East
representative in the National Assembly told The Point
in an interview that he will participate fully in the
coming October presidential elections. OJ who
described himself as a political animal, accused the
APRC administration of violating Decree 89, which
banned all former politicians from participating in
politics.

"The ban has become a joke because we have seen former
ministers who are affected by the ban participating
effectively not only in the political campaign of the
APRC but even in elections, during by elections to
campaigns for candidates of APRC. For me, I am a
political animal I cannot do no other job than
politics", said the banned politician. OJ said his
primary objective is to restore democracy, the rule of
law, human rights and good governance in the country
when he returns to the political arena. OJ added that
there will be serious consultations between the former
members of the PPP, NCP, GPP, NRP, UDP and PDOIS on
how to formulate a formidable action to flush out the
Jammeh's administration from power come next
elections.

OJ suggested that the system that was used in Senegal,
Guinea Bissau and Ghana should be adopted by the
Gambian opposition to un-sit the dictatorial APRC
regime through the ballot box. OJ accused the APRC
goverment of rampant corruption, claiming that
President Jammeh is living beyond his earnings. "We
know from the salary of the Head of State that it is
not possible for him to have saved the amount of money
that he has been dishing out in the last few months.
About seven million Dalasis, just to pay for people
going to pilgrimage. D150,000 to rap groups, one
hundred and something thousand Dalasis to the Students
Union and one hundred and something thousands to other
organisations and institutions.

And these are all personal gifts of the Head of
State", said OJ adding that President Jammeh is also
bent on donating fleet of vehicles to people. He cited
in an instance in which, he said, President Jammeh
used to brag that he is so wealthy that his grand
children will benefit from his wealth. OJ said
President Jammeh always travels with special flights
and high powered delegation, when former President
Jawara in 30 years used the scheduled passenger
airlines. The banned politician therefore called for
judicious management of state resources further
aexpressing dissatisfaction at the way the country is
being governed.

According to OJ, democracy is dead in the country
following the passage of the unpopular indemnity bill.
He argued that the bill is meant to cripple the
opposition as members of the security forces are
empowered to disperse opposition meetings and other
social functions if controversial statements are made
against the government. He added that if anybody is
killed or hurt during the process by the security
forces on the ground there is an indemnity bill to
protect them from prosecution. OJ argued that if
Pinochie, Mobutu and the Germans involved in the
massacre of the Jews didn't escape justice, nobody
will escape justice. He reminded those responsible for
the killing of unarmed school children that one day
they must face the full force of the law. For OJ,
human rights violation cannot go unpunished.



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