By Yusupha Jobe
The Deputy Spokesperson and Secretary for Alliance, Patriotic, Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) party has described the last weekend encounter between of the APRC supporter and lead council of the TRRC as unfortunate during the distribution of his food aid to some families in Kombo Lamin amid COVID-19 pandemic.
The confrontation between the APRC party sympathizer and the Truth, Reconciliation, Reparation, Commission’s lead council Essa Faal with some members of the fundraiser team in Lamin happened following the rejection of food aid package donated to the family of Landing Badjie.
Dodou Jah, in an interview with The Voice described the incident as something unfortunate, thus, anything designed to assist people during this time of COVID-19 should be embraced by all citizens.
“First of all I will like to thank every person that is distributing food and other relief packages to vulnerable and needy families in the country. We are currently in a situation that needs solidarity and tolerance from every person. So anyone or group of people, organizations who give out food aid to families is doing good deed and solidarity work,” he disclosed.
He stated that the unfortunate incident did not happened in his present but was later explained to him by MR Badjie, an ex-army officer in detail.
“I was not present but I was fortunate to watch the first video that was circulating in the social media and listened to some exchanged foul words between the members of the fundraiser team and the man’s family,” he explained.
He continued in his narration that when he was phoned by the man himself after his encounter with the lead council “he told me that he was sleeping in his room when the fundraiser team arrived in his compound with food aid and gave them to his wife including family members who had rejected the offer which he said caused the whole problem,” Jah narrated.
He disclosed that as per culture and traditions as Gambians are concerned when someone give out charity to a person it is always unacceptable to deny the offer “we are Gambians and we know how we live with our cultures and traditions. But I don’t think the matter worth confrontation or fighting, it should have not happened. I think it is unfortunate as APRC is concern. And to me it should never be taken as political issue.”
Quizzed further as whether the confrontation was not triggered by the official work of Mr Faal as the lead council of the TRRC where former President Jammeh was alleged of carrying heinous atrocities, he answered positive that it is no doubt that his job as lead council triggered the rejection and confrontation between him and the family.
However, he noted that “Essa Faal should expect such challenges as he continues on the distributions of food aid to families. He should know that some people and families will not be at ease with him because they might feel upset to receive any food aid from him because of their love to the party and how their leader was been alleged of crimes.”
He added that himself, ‘personally,’ will not accept the way he posses and ask questions especially the APRC. One example is the former Vice President. This people should at least be given regard as former officials. But the way he treats people at the commission was not acceptable,” he stated.
