By Binta Jaiteh
It was a worrying moment for the people of Banjul and the politicians in the city as NPP elected councilors in the city boycotted a swearing-in ceremony to the office on Wednesday, 31st May 2023 during an official swearing-in ceremony held at the council, saying their fans were not provided a place to sit.
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of the United Democratic candidates elected Councilors for BCC, Mayor Rohey Lowe and her councilors with the nominated members, the NPP team formed their delegation, and the councilors were sworn in by the CEO separately at the New Building of the Banjul City.
This unfortunate circumstance resulted in a commotion between the two parties which resulted in fights, while their fans were raining offensive words at each other but the PIU officers were able to resolve issues through the aid of teargas.
In an interview, Councilor Tunko Jammeh of Soldier Town Ward said their people had to leave before the swearing-in because there was no place reserved for them to sit.
He stressed that they know that every Councilor has its fans even though “We the elected Councilors were provided with seats but what of the people we came with,” he asked rhetorically.
He said it is the right of their fans to have places to sit because the ceremony is not for only one party “and they should be given the right to sit because they cannot stand outside while the UDP fans are inside. We can’t take that which made us leave the ground and discuss how to swear in our councilors,” separately.
Seedy Njie, Deputy Spokesperson of NPP and the Deputy Speaker at the National Assembly said we have journeyed with them up to this far and it has come to our notice that they walked out based on technicalities but on the instructions that our party leader, President Adama, advised us that they should return and do what is expected. All of us having been elected by the people of Banjul should come and take the oath of office to assume duties and they have done that.”
He noted that the next action should be the first meeting which according to the law to be conveyed by the chairperson adding that as the majority councilors which is the NPP they expect their elected councilors to go back and “our party leader is very happy that we are working in unison and the best interest of the NPP, Banjul and the country at large.”
However, Hon Seedy said the President congratulated all the councilors and wish them success ahead of their mandate. Saying “We are hopeful without any doubt that the deputy mayor of BCC will be a member of the elected councilor of the NPP and then we will work together to ensure that the interest of Banjulians is addressed.”