In his conversation with Omar P. Jallow and others, Seedy Njie made deeply contemptuous references to two identities: Mandinka and UDP. His questions and statements clearly reveal hostility toward both and point to a deliberate attempt to target citizens on the basis of ethnicity, political affiliation, and freedom of expression.
The removal of Abubacarr Darboe and the threat to remove Ousman Ceesay, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Vice President, are not isolated matters. They are direct evidence of abuse of influence, ethnic profiling, political persecution, and contempt for constitutional rights.
Here are relevant questions and statements from a social media transcription of his conversation:
Seedy Njie: Omar, isn’t Bubacarr Darboe still with you guys at GRTS?
Seedy Njie: Do you know why he was removed from his appointment? Do you know the real reason behind it?
Seedy Njie: … I made sure it happened, and after his removal, the minister contacted me and appealed for his reinstatement… I told the minister that Bubacarr is a strong critic of President Barrow and one of his biggest critics on social media… and insisted that Bubacarr’s appointment should be suspended immediately. The President agreed without hesitation.
“Seedy Njie: Do you know that your DPS is also a UDP member?
Seedy Njie: Isn’t the DPS a Mandinka?
Seedy Njie: … As for the DPS, I will ensure that he is thoroughly scrutinized because he is also a UDP sympathizer. I will personally raise this matter with the President and make it clear that Omar’s DPS is a UDP member. I will also call the DPS directly, confront him, and make sure he is dismissed.”
In these comments, Seedy Njie has admitted that he ensured Abubacarr Darboe’s removal from office because Darboe was critical of President Barrow on social media. He further threatened to raise Ousman Ceesay’s alleged UDP affiliation with the President, confront him directly, and ensure his dismissal. These are not harmless political comments. They are material evidence of discrimination, intimidation, and abuse of office.
Therefore, Seedy Njie’s 1,258-word statement must be rejected. It is not a genuine apology. It is a public relations exercise designed to evade accountability.
Rather than confront the substance of his misconduct, he resorted to diversion, false equivalence, and tokenism by claiming to have Mandinka friends and relatives, and by invoking personal relationships with ANM Ousainou Darboe. How can he boast of other Mandinka individuals but at the same time attack other people just because they are Mandinka? That contradiction is the epitome of hypocrisy and double standards.
Thus, none of what he said in his so-called apology answers the central issue: that he expressed anti-Mandinka prejudice, political intolerance, and a willingness to use state power to punish citizens for their identity, opinion, and political association.
As a Gambian, I totally reject this so-called apology. It is nothing but an attempt to escape responsibility while continuing to harbour divisive, hateful, and exclusionary attitudes toward citizens on the basis of ethnicity and political affiliation.
The Constitution of the Gambia protects cultural identity, political association, freedom of expression, and equality before the law. Every citizen has the right to belong to an ethnic group, support a political party, and express political views without fear of punishment, dismissal, or persecution. Seedy Njie’s conduct violates these principles and represents a direct attack on constitutional democracy.
The fact that Abubacarr Darboe was removed from GRTS gives weight to Seedy Njie’s own words. His claim that he influenced the removal must be treated as serious evidence. Likewise, his threat against Ousman Ceesay must be taken seriously. If Ousman Ceesay is dismissed, the public must know that such action would bear the clear fingerprints of Seedy Njie’s ethnic and political targeting.
This intolerance is further reflected in the Sare Gainako matter involving Omar P. Jallow. Seedy Njie has not refuted the claim that Omar was targeted because Mayor Talib Bensouda was invited to a village event. If this is not political persecution, then why was Omar removed from the Office of the Vice President? Why was such a meeting held at Seedy Njie’s home in the first place? The facts are clear.
No decent society should tolerate discrimination or exclusion on the basis of ethnicity, religion, disability, sex, origin, political opinion, or any other status. If Abubacarr Darboe and Ousman Ceesay can be targeted for being Mandinka or perceived UDP supporters, then every Mandinka, every opposition supporter, and every outspoken citizen is potentially at risk.
I do not wish to live in a society where anyone’s identity, heritage, opinion, or political affiliation becomes a ground for exclusion, punishment, or denial of opportunity. I want to live in a Gambia where every person enjoys equal dignity, respect, protection, and freedom.
Seedy Njie wants to create a Gambia where ethnic discrimination and political intolerance are the order of the day. That vision is not only unconstitutional, but it is also genocidal in its logic. That vision must be rejected.
Seedy Njie is a threat to the Gambia. He must be contained. He must be held accountable.
For The Gambia, Our Homeland.
