President Yahya Jammeh on Saturday revealed that his Kanilai farm does not belong to him alone but rather to all Gambians, irrespective of political affiliation, as the proceeds of the farm goes to the welfare of the public.

The Gambia leader made these remarks during a conducted tour of his farm in Kanilai over the weekend, where thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians assembled to answer to his clarion back-to-the land call for sustainable food self sufficiency.

He expressed his appreciation for the work rendered at the farm, re-echoing that the farm belongs to all Gambians. “I thank you for a job well done,” he said.

He confirmed that the proceeds of the farm is annually used to pay school fees for students, as well as sponsor people to undertake pilgrimage in Mecca, among others.

Chief Sabally’s reinstatement

Commenting on the removal of Chief Harouna Sabally of Jarra Central, President Jammeh affirmed that he was not responsible for the removal of the chief.  He pointed out that when he took over in 1994, Chief Sabally was among the first chiefs under the AFPRC regime, who supported him at a time when things were hard and tough. He told the gathering that Chief Sabally was retired while he (President Jammeh) was away. He said he later conducted findings into the issue and was given no “tangible reason”. He then added that this is why he reinstated him back to the chieftaincy.

President Jammeh further recalled that Chief Sabally has stood and supported him in all corners at the time when it was tough and has seen no reason why he should sack him now when things are normal. “I don’t just remove people from their positions just like that. I only remove people base on reasons. So why would I remove him. I don’t betray people and I am not a betrayer. What has happened, has happened and be rest assured that I am not the one who remove him. Whatever Allah said will happen to you, must happen, no matter what,” he explained.

For his part, Chief Sabally disclosed that he always support a leader in power, adding that “what President Jammeh has done for me, was not done by the then President Jawara. President Jammeh has decorated me with two medals. So I owe him an obligation. I assure you, on behalf of myself, my family and the entire district that Jarra Central are behind you. In fact, the reason why the APRC National Assembly member lost in Jarra Central was that the candidate selected was not the choice of the people. I told the selection committee about it, but they did not listen to me,” he said.

The reinstated Jarra Central Chief then assured the Gambian leader that as long as he lives, APRC shall never lose in his district.

Thousands of people from various government departments, institutions gathered at the President’s farm. The Nigerian Community in The Gambia, led by the acting Nigerian High Commissioner, Obasi B.Okongor, also came to the President’s farm to complement his efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Speaking to journalists, High Commissioner Okongor, observed that The Gambia is bless with a President who is very hard working and has a vision to transform The Gambia into a Silicon Valley.

He added that the Nigerian Community decided to join the Gambia leader at his farm because the proceeds of the farm is for all Gambians, saying that “if each country in Africa has the like of President Jammeh, the continent will be completely liberated”.

According to him, a country that cannot feed itself, will continue to be dependent on others, acknowledging that President Jammeh involvement in farming also encourages people to respond to his clarion call of back-to-the-land.

High Commissioner Okongor said The Gambia and Nigeria are one people, saying that their move to assist President Jammeh was in the right direction. He then paid tribute to President Jammeh for announcing to waive the payment of alien registration for Nigerians by 2008. “So for us to come to the President’s farm, couple with all these moves, is therefore, a positive move and we say a big thank you to the President,” he concluded.

Chief Mike Nwanna, President of the Nigerian Community in The Gambia, Madinatu  Salihu and Christie Mosi Aturu, both members of the Technical Aid Community attached at  the RVTH, lauded President Jammeh’s call for ‘Operations Feed the Nation’.

A group of Gambian musicians, students of the Gambia College and the University of The Gambia, volunteers of the Gambia Red Cross Society, nationals of Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau, the Kayung Kalon and Western Region Football Committee led by Lamin King Colley, all provided labour at the Kanilai Farm.