President Jammeh condemns rumour mongering
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Gambia<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>
Friday, August 05, 2011
The president of the Republic has condemned in the strongest terms rumour
mongering, notably by detractors that spread misleading and unfounded
information, especially concerning the dismissal of public officials.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Thursday
at State House grounds while presiding over the distribution of thousands of
bags of sugar he gave out as Ramadan gift to Gambians through the regional
governors. He stressed the need for citizens to distance themselves from
rumour mongering and wish each other good rather than evil. While describing
this negative vice as ungodliness, President Jammeh warned that as far as he
and other religious leaders are praying for the progress of the country,
anyone who harbours bad intentions for the country will only have such evil
intentions heaped on his/her head, whether the person is residing in the
country or elsewhere.

He said: “What is even disheartening is that you will see somebody working
hard with me and the person is wished bad luck. It is unfortunate that you
don’t wish anything for the person working tirelessly with the president,
but for him or her to be dismissed. Many people will just sit and gossip
that soon the president will give them their marching orders.”

The Gambian leader stressed that he will never fire anybody who is working
hard with sincerity and honesty, while denouncing any bad wishes against
hardworking citizens.
“There are many people that they rumored that I will soon give their
marching orders. You are just sitting down without making any effort or
doing nothing, you don’t worship God and not God-fearing; your heart is not
clean; and yet still you harbour bad wishes for those hardworking and
patriotic citizens – that very soon the president will fire them.

I am not such a leader who will just wake up, dislike somebody and fire the
person, he stated. ”President Jammeh cited the case of the APRC national
mobiliser and mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Yankuba Colley, who
he said was a victim of the rumour mongering. “I overheard the rumour that
if the tour ended, Yankuba Colley, the lord mayor will be the first person
that I will fire! What has he done to warrant that? And what benefit do I
derive from that? But what I want to tell you is to stop the rumour
mongering and hard feeling. Why can’t you wish somebody good rather than bad
luck?” he queried.

He added: “There are people who go about [saying] that ministers Mamburry
Njie, Mamadou Tangara, Dr Njogu Bah are my boys. From then on they are
always speculating that very soon I will fire them. But what I want to put
across is that I don’t sack a hardworking person; I sack one who is
dishonest and the person is not ready to work. If you want to be my friend
in the cause of the development of this country, you must be honest,
hardworking, clean, and God-fearing.”

The Gambian leader gave as example, the vice president and minister of
Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, and minister of
Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye as people that have served
in his government for more than 14 years and seven  to eight years
respectively. “How many years has the vice president been serving the
government under my administration? But she is serving in that capacity for
more than 14 years. Have I fired her all these years? But why didn’t I sack
her?

 Is she the only woman that can be vice president or if she is removed
nobody will be capable enough to replace her? If you are working, you have
no cause to worry. If everyone is just like Vice President Aja Dr Isatou
Njie-Saidy, then I will  not have fired anyone. How many years have Minister
Fatou Lamin Faye served in my government? Have I ever fired her? No! If you
are just like the vice president and Fatou Lamin Faye, I will not have fired
you,” he stressed.

President Jammeh said that what is even more painful is the fact that the
rumour mongers discourage those public servants who are working hard by
telling them that they should slow the pace as they will soon be fired.
“So, what does this mean -discouraging that hard working official? Imagine a
minister who is working day and night, everyday people will advise that the
said person should take it easy as very soon ‘you will be fired’.

 Sometimes they will even advise that person that before the president sacks
you, dip into the coffers. But anyone who does that, I will sack you and
take you to court,” he warned. The Gambian leader urged a change of attitude
in this regard, enjoining the citizenry to wish peace and good for each
other. He stressed the need for people to wish others what they have wished
for themselves, something he said will foster peace and progress in the
country.

He added: “So let’s stop this kind of attitude and wish each other good. I
don’t just wake up and fire somebody. Just ask the people that I fired
whether they were not warned three times. Sometimes I send elders to warn
the person that if he or she continues with that type of attitude I will
sack him or her.

“What I heard from town is that someone reported me and that is why I am
sacked. But a good citizen must report anyone who is bent on doing bad
things at the detriment of the nation. We are all related in this country no
matter how far the distance is. Anyone you see in the government system has
a relative in the country. If he is complaining that he was reported, which
led to his or her sacking, let the person also explain what he or she did
wrong.”
Author: *Hatab Fadera*

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GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *


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