Hamat Recalls ‘2 Options’ Barrow Offered Jammeh During The Impasse

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By MOMODOU JARJU

Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture and head of NRP recalled what he called “two main options that President Adama Barrow offered erstwhile President Yahya Jammeh during the political impasse in 2016 and they were either for him to voluntarily retire with increase salaries and other benefits or go into exile with more peace of mind and enjoyment.

This statement was contained in NRP Leader’s welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of his party’s congress, held in Jarra Soma Lower Basic School, Lower River Region.

“Let me tell you something that Gambians don’t know. During the impasse, President Barrow offered former President Jammeh to either retire him with an increased salary with extra privileges to go and stay in Kanilia provide him with security, hence enjoy his retirement or to go into a foreign country, where he will rest and enjoy himself with no harm,” Bah explained.

According Hamat Bah, he was the leading negotiator at the time and Jammeh at one time accepted the offer, but later failed to agree and the country’s economy was in a bad shape at the time, which could not continue.

Honorable Bah said that, Jammeh couldn’t believe the terms of offer, as such he (Jammeh) sent one man called General Badjie to him for more information as to whether the information came from he (Hamat) or not and I gave him all the information for former president, even whereas it is recorded.

Still commenting on the offer for Jammeh, Hamat Bah said he turned down Vice President position offered to him by Jammeh on grounds that, he (Bah) was not the winner of the election, but Barrow was declared winner.

According to him, he told Jammeh the following statement; that he Bah was not having the mandate of the Gambian people, he don’t want anything from him, all what he wanted was for Jammeh to hand over power to Adama Barrow and that he has witnesses to that effect.

“I told him that you destroyed all my investment. You made me suffer. You sent me to jail. Today I want nothing from you other than handing over power to Adama Barrow and that’s my only condition”, Bah told the congress.

He thank God for the intervention and support from Senegalese President, Macky Sall, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf former Liberian president, Nigeria’s President Buhari among others, the verdict and will of Gambians stood.

Bah alleged that his party was part of those who initiated the idea of spot counting system for elections in the country and that immensely contributed to the change that Gambians are now enjoying.

He said there are things that they cannot talk about right now, but if they are pushed to the corner, they would talk about them.

He added that some of the matters are before the court, thus they cannot talk about them, until when they are done.

He therefore called on Gambians to keep quit and stop castigating Adama Barrow, while assuring his party’s full support to President Barrow.

Meanwhile, the congress which was scheduled for Saturday 29 December couldn’t hold on the said date due to late start. It was held the following day. Ninety five per cent of their executive positions, where occupied by the previous executive members.

Hamat Bah was unanimously nominated as the party leader, whereas Musa Sonko came as deputy party leader, Hon. Samba Jallow is Campaign Manager, Hassoum Cham is National Organizing Secretary, Pa Bajinka is Administrative Secretary, Pateh Baldeh is Information and Public Secretary, Hon. Alagie Mbown is National Treasurer and Hon. Kebba Bah is National Youth Mobilizer.

The position of National women mobilizer and national women chairperson were declared vacant, hence differed them to extra-ordinary congress of the party scheduled for the coming three months.

However, the party leader and executive members promised to meet some of the demands made by delegates and such included increasing the percentage of women and youth in the executive.

Hamat Bah has been the party’s presidential candidate in 1996, 2001, and 2011general elections.

He has ever been the leader of the party since its establishment in September 9, 1996.

In 2006, Bah aligned with the UDP after efforts to form a coalition by the opposition parties failed to materialize.

In 2011 also, the opposition parties failed to form a single coalition against Jammeh, but Bah led the United Front supported by PDOIS, PPP and GPDP.

Bah is one of the coalition 2016 members who want Barrow to rule for five years as oppose to their said 3-year agreement in 2016.

His party has five (5) seats at the National Assembly among them is the minority leader, Hon. Samba Jallow.