Folks, there is chaos in the house that Jammeh built. Culled from the
Observer Newspaper:
Wednesday, September 27, 2000
KMC'S CONTEH SUSPENDED
"Early Monday afternoon, the chairman of the Kanifing Municipal Council,
Abdoulai Conteh, was given a terse three-sentence letter suspending him from
office indefinitely.
The reason for his indefinite suspension was not publicly announced but
sources said the decision was provoked by differences between the KMC
chairman and the secretary of state for Local Government over "certain
projects" in the municipality.
As a result, the president was said to have instructed the department of
state for Local Government to write to Lt Col (Rtd) Conteh, ordering him to
proceed on immediate indefinite leave. Following the spread of the news of
Conteh's suspension, a group of women from the municipality and staff of the
KMC yesterday afternoon boarded eight mini-vans and picketed State House to
lobby the president to reinstate Abdoulai Conteh.
Some of the protesters displayed banners reading, 'We Need Lai Conteh
Because of His Dedication to the Development of KMC', 'We need Lai Conteh
for his foresight in trying to make KMC a model which could be compared to
any municipality in developing countries', 'We need Lai Conteh for his
political maturity and love for his municipality', and so on. At 3.30pm,
after three hours of camping outside State House, the president dispatched
the commander of State Guard, Captain Lang Tombong Tamba, assistant
secretary, Office of the President, Baba Jobe, and three other security
personnel attached to the Close Protection Unit of the Presidential Guard,
to meet the group.
Narrating their grievances to Tamba and others, a spokeswoman for the group,
said, "We are here today to express our utmost dissatisfaction with the
handing of an indefinite suspension letter to Lai Conteh yesterday. We came
to appeal to the president to rescind his decision, with due respect.
We are all behind him and the APRC and shall remain so forever. But we want
to explain to him that we have started a process with Lai Conteh and if he
is removed from office especially with the coming local government election,
those ends may not be met. Lai Conteh is very hard-working and we are not
here to blow his trumpet but to give His Excellency a firsthand indication
of our mutual feeling about this matter. We are here representing hundreds
of others who feel exactly the same but cannot make it here due to other
pressing engagements.
We are not saying that Lai Conteh is indispensable, but replacing him means
taking us back to square one." In response, Captain Tamba urged the group to
remain calm and return home to re-direct their grievances "through peaceful
channels. We know how you feel but please do take things easy. You are right
to show your unhappiness but this you could have done with less commotion.
Just go home and identify representatives who can have audience with the
president on your behalf." Baba Jobe added, "We know you are all loyal to the
president and the APRC, so let us treat this as an in-house matter if the
opposition are not to say there is infighting within us. Your face,
(referring to a woman with tears running down her cheeks) is familiar to me
and I am certain that you will die for President Jammeh but as the commander
has just told you, everything can be solved through appropriate channels.
Take things easy to avoid worsening the situation." Following this
statement, the sombre crowd dispersed, with a number of the protesters
deigning to leave immediately. Others burst into tears as they slowly
marched towards the Quadrangle. Both the municipal clerk of the KMC,
Mustapha Njie, and the PRO, Aminata Hydara, declined to comment on the issue
when they were contacted yesterday morning at their offices.
Mr Njie referred our reporter to the department of state for Local
Government and PRO Hydara said she was not officially notified about the
suspension of the chairman. The secretary of state for local government,
Momodou Nai Ceesay, and his permanent secretary both declined to comment on
the issue, saying they were "very busy." Sources have reported that
lobbyists, including SoS Yankuba Touray, Susan Waffa-Ogoo and Dr Sarja Taal
met the president to plead for a reconsideration of Lai Conteh's suspension.
Meanwhile, former police chief and commissioner of Western Division, Famara
RI Jammeh, was tipped to replace Lai Conteh as KMC chairman. Up to press
time, no official reason was given for Conteh's suspension and his official
car, KMC 1, was seen parked in the KMC parking lot. Lai Conteh has been the
KMC chairman since the change of government in 1994. Alieu Badara Ceesay,
Lamin Sagnia, Augustus Mendy contributed to this story."
Is this not the same Lie Conteh that Jammeh recently decorated for
outstanding service and all that claptrap. In the company of crocs everyone
is a potential meal. Well, Lie can now join the company of Dominic Mendy,
Henry Baldeh, Musa Mbenga and a host of early retirees. Next!! On a more
serious note, I am still puzzled why many intelligent brothers and sisters
associate with this rabid dog called Jammeh, only to be infected, used,
abused, and then jettisoned when they are most vulnerable. You know the
remaining steaks for Jammeh's barbeque have already died several times
within the day of this announcement, for they know their number could be up
any minute. Lie and his predecessors did not see the missile that hit them,
even though they saw it happen to the ones before them. Yahya is now tied
with Caligula Caesar in the neurotic category. This guy is a star, the same
door that enforcers Tombong Tamba (The Hyena) and Baba Skunk Jobe exited,
whence came Pimps Yankuba, Susan, and Sarja. Talk about the parade of, for,
and by idiots. The band plays on... Stay tuned, more roasts to come - ribs
anyone!
Joe Sambou
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