Africa-Press – Gambia. In a pointed critique aired on West Coast Radio, Hon. Fatoumatta Touma Njie, National Assembly Member for Banjul South, urged Gambians to reject President Adama Barrow in the upcoming 2026 elections, warning that continued support for his leadership would prioritize individual gain over national interest.
Reflecting on the 2021 elections, Hon. Njie said she remains thankful for not having cast her vote for President Barrow, describing his administration as a disappointment to the ideals of national development.
“Barrow was voted by the people and every day I wake up, I am grateful that I did not vote for Barrow in 2021. I am grateful because my conscience wouldn’t have allowed me because of what is happening. I love the Gambia. I don’t think he (President Barrow) loves Gambia. If he loves Gambia, if Barrow had loved Gambia, he would have been humbled by stepping down in 2026. He does not love Gambia. We are hoping he will (step down in 2026). Barrow stood on National TV and he could not, so he was depending on people to help him,” Touma Njie said.
Hon. Njie added that the presidency is not a position to learn on the job, asserting that Barrow has failed to grasp essential governance principles even after years in office.
“You cannot learn on this job, this is not kindergarten where you go and learn. He learned that he did not learn anything or he did not learn the good things because he wasn’t taught well. With all due respect, he’s our president until 2026 but i am begging Gambians not to vote for him in 2026 because we should love Gambia first. Anybody who is joining Barrow at this point, they are not joining Barrow because they love the Gambia. They are joining him because they want to have a piece of the cake,” she said.
She also criticized Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, accusing him of misleading the public with inaccurate narratives.
“In our laws, we don’t have a hierarchy of Ministers, we have cabinet ministers. Each member of the cabinet has a portfolio, the Foreign Affairs Minister has a portfolio of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians abroad, and the Minister of Information has a portfolio of Minister of Information. So when it comes to Information it is the Minister of Information who should be dealing with it which he’s doing but what Information is he feeding us? He’s feeding us with Information that we don’t need; false information. We need to be told what is happening in the Country. We need to be told about how His Excellency built an office (NPP Headquarters) for two million dollars,” she said.
Commenting on the recent ceremonial attire worn by cabinet ministers—known locally as ashobee—at the opening of the NPP bureau headquarters, Njie expressed particular disappointment with the Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow.
“All the ministers are part of the NPP. I will not mince my words for that, but the Minister that really shocked me as being part of NPP, is the Minister of Justice because we need justice in this country. What does wearing an ‘Ashobee’ mean? The Attorney General should be the legal adviser to the President on legal issues. Justice should be for everybody when you look at the Minister of Justice, we should have that confidence that whatever happens, because in our constitution before certain criminal procedures are done, they must have the advice of the Minister of Justice for it to go ahead, what if we don’t have that confidence in the Minister of Justice? Justice should be across the board for everybody. Thank God i didn’t see the Chief Justice in Ashobee because i would have been very worried for this country,” he said.
Turning her attention to the state of the National Assembly, Hon. Njie lamented its increasing politicization, blaming President Barrow for manipulating appointments for political loyalty rather than national merit.
“Outside we can be political but when we are in the Assembly, the reason we are called National Assembly members is to think of the National interest first. But the fact that Barrow polluted the National Assembly by bringing in Seedy Njie, bringing in Fabakary Tombong, and bringing in a member who was rejected by her people (Fatoumatta Jawara). It is a fact that this happened. He has the right to nominate anybody as the constitution dictates but when you nominate, nominate with conscience, nominate bearing in mind what the people would appreciate.”
Hon. Njie concluded with a call for civic responsibility, urging Gambians to reclaim the nation’s dignity by rejecting political opportunism and demanding accountability at every level of leadership.
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