Africa-Press – Gambia. Hon. Sainey Jawara, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Lower Saloum under the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has publicly criticized Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, Majority Leader and NAM for Kantora, stating that he is unfit for the leadership role he holds in the National Assembly.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eye Africa TV, Hon. Jawara accused the Majority Leader, who represents the National People’s Party (NPP), of failing to fulfill his responsibilities—particularly in relation to the recent parliamentary inquiry into the petroleum scandal.
“The majority leader is not fit for his position. The reason I say that is because representing government business in parliament is not an easy thing. Something worth 30 million dollars—we are discussing that. The first day he came, he said nothing will come out of this and that there is no evidence,” Jawara said.
Jawara expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of support and interest from Tunkara during the investigation. He claimed the Majority Leader made no effort to engage with him or understand the details of the case.
“He did not call me and ask me to explain how it happened, whereby he can filter that information to the principal because he placed you here, but belittled me on my work since the beginning,” he said.
According to Jawara, Tunkara’s involvement in the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) was minimal and disruptive. “When we started, he was in the PEC, and he only came to that meeting when the ministers were coming. In fact, he came to distract the meeting,” Jawara alleged.
Jawara also criticized the Majority Leader for undermining the credibility of the petroleum investigation. “This petroleum issue, the citizens knew more about it because the Republic made a publication about it. You, that is, a NAM, telling people that it is not true, not knowing that people already have the truth,” He Said.
He further alleged that much of the committee’s findings were carefully documented and that Tunkara’s remarks appeared to be motivated by loyalty to the executive branch rather than the pursuit of accountability.
“We filter most of our information in this document. That is why I say it is very important to me. We did our work. All that the majority was saying was just to satisfy the executive. The majority is just a position and title, but he is not doing the needful,” He Said.
Jawara recounted that his motion to investigate the petroleum scandal was met with hostility from the former Minister of Petroleum, Abdoulie Jobe.
“The day I put on that motion, the former petroleum minister Abdoulie Jobe was angry. When I finished reading the motion, I went out, and he refused to shake my hand, and I was like Something happened.” Jawara said.
He added “During the day of my motion, the Attorney General asked me to brief him on it. I told him that I cannot because this has been on your domain for years and you did not know about it. I cannot tell you about it,” he said.
He also stressed that ministerial appointments should be based on competence rather than political affiliation.
“But during that appointment, there was no oath of secrecy that shows that you belong to a particular party. And in fact, it doesn’t appoint based on the fact that you are in NPP. It says this person has knowledge in this particular thing which is why we appoint him. There are people who are appointed now, but they were not in this fight. When they put you in a ministerial position, you should do good because no position is permanent,” he explained.
Lastly, Jawara suggested that the president should consider dismissing the Director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), questioning the handling of financial oversight.
“If I should advise the president today, the director of NIA should be fired. You trade four billion Dalasi in this country, and you say there is no evasion? That is the budget for how many ministries?” he concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
