Elder statesman Pa Njie ‘Girigara’ has advised the head of state to return to the state the property he is developing on Atlantic Boulevard in Fajara.
In an audio released over the weekend, Njie, a vocal supporter of President Adama Barrow, stated: “Your sycophantic supporters will tell you I do not honour and respect you. I do not need anything from you and you have not done anything for me. However, I value you for the work for which the whole world is heralding you. You are a brave person and you love the country and you are doing a lot for the country. But at the same time, you are doing a lot for yourself.
From the time you assumed office in 2017, you have committed a fundamental mistake which no one can defend. The mistake is taking a state land and building a mansion for your retirement. Whoever advised you to do so, has destroyed you, even if you do not know that. He has dug a hole for you…”
“You don’t appropriate [such] state land because no Gambian, whatever his status, will be allocated that land. Restitute the land back to the state. You don’t own it, it belongs to the state. Whatever structures you put up there, including the land itself, give back to the state. It will not diminish anything from you. It would simply be rectifying a mistake. People err. There are lands all over The Gambia where you can build a home. You have the wherewithal – people, businessmen like myself give you money. Give up that land, give up that mansion. If you want, you can complete the construction and gift it to the state. This is the only thing I cannot defend about you as we move towards the election.”