Dr. Ousman Gajigo, an economist and prominent opposition figure, has sharply criticized President Adama Barrow’s handling of a recent scandal involving Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Seedy Njie, accusing the president of prioritizing party loyalty over national leadership.
Gajigo described Barrow’s long-awaited response to Njie’s controversial remarks as a clear demonstration of weak leadership. Njie, who was recorded boasting about blocking civil servants’ career advancement based on ethnicity and perceived political affiliations, holds his position solely through presidential nomination. The remarks have been widely condemned as both immoral and illegal.
“Eventually, Adama Barrow broke his silence… but it would probably have been better to remain quiet,” Gajigo said.
He said the president’s decision to address the matter privately and urge party members not to criticize Njie publicly revealed his true priorities. “It is now absolutely clear that Adama Barrow is not a national leader in the true sense of the word,” the economist declared.
According to Gajigo, the episode exposes how Barrow views himself primarily as a party leader rather than a president for all Gambians. “He sees himself first and foremost as a partisan,” Gajigo argued, suggesting that this mindset explains many of the administration’s policy choices.
Development initiatives such as road construction and electricity connections, while potentially beneficial, are being used as campaign tools rather than part of a coherent national strategy, he claimed.
The opposition politician further accused Barrow of undermining key institutions. He pointed to the politicization of the civil service, where merit is allegedly sidelined in favor of party affiliation and nepotism. “The civil service should never be an arena where partisan considerations influence hiring or promotion,” Gajigo emphasized.
Gajigo linked this partisan approach to widespread corruption under the current administration. He alleged that political loyalty, rather than national needs, drives personnel appointments, contract awards, and project implementation. As an example, he cited contracts reportedly awarded to political associates, including Abubakarr Jawara of GACH and other patrons of the president.
The statement also revisited Barrow’s early decision to appoint Seedy Njie as Deputy Speaker, describing it as a calculated move to weaken the National Assembly’s oversight role.
Gajigo recalled the controversial removal of the Auditor General, who had investigated alleged corruption and waste in government.
Dr. Gajigo argued that Seedy Njie’s actions reflect President Barrow’s own leadership style. “Seedy Njie is an extension of Adama Barrow, acting with his full blessing,” he stated. “The real problem, therefore, is not Seedy Njie – it is President Adama Barrow himself.”
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions as The Gambia prepares for the December elections.
Dr. Ousman Gajigo, a former World Bank economist, has emerged as a vocal critic of the Barrow administration, often highlighting governance, economic, and institutional issues.
His latest intervention is likely to fuel ongoing debates about leadership, ethnic neutrality in public service, and the separation between party and state in the country.
