Reliable sources have informed The Alkamba Times (TAT) that the Vice President, Badara Joof, has chosen to stay at his family residence at Banjulunding rather than move into the official State residence at Fajara.
Consequently, our sources said, Badara Joof’s residence is being provided with requisite gadgets and services to make the place functional and fit for use by the country’s number 2.
These include a generator installed and maintained by NAWEC staff, a network system for computers, Internet connection, WiFi access, and other equipment required to enable him to stay put at his private residence.
Meanwhile, it is being said that the new Vice President was compelled to stay at his own house because the VP’s official residence at Fajara has been run down, including being stripped bare of the furniture there, among other things.
Sources said the immediate past VP, replaced by Badara Joof, had removed some if not most of the furniture and other household items at the State residence, including material that was there since the days of First Republic Vice President Saikou Sabally.
It would be recalled that there were reports that Joof’s predecessor, Dr. Isatou Touray, was seen still using the VP’s official vehicle even after she ceased to be the holder of that high office.
Observers note that Joof opted to stay put at his Banjulunding house because renovating the VP’s Fajara residence would cost a fortune for him to move in.
However, they also say that refurbishing the premises at Banjulunding with public funds is an expenditure that the state could not afford, especially when it should be exercising austerity and cutting avoidable spending.
