Freedom Newspaper has just received this very sad news of the demise of Honorable Omar Amadou Jallow known as O J Jallow, a veteran Gambian politician and a former minister of agriculture who passed away on the 14th of May 2023. May Allah’s Rahmah be upon O J until eternity. Heartfelt condolences to our entire nation Gambia and and beyond, especially the Jallow family.

Omar Amadou Jallow was a Gambian politician who was the Minister of Agriculture in President Adama Barrow’s cabinet. Jallow was also the leader of the People’s Progressive Party, which has two seats in the National Assembly.

Jallow was a People’s Progressive Party government minister under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, being the incumbent Minister of Agriculture when Yahya Jammeh staged the coup d’état that saw him seize power in 1994. Throughout Jammeh’s time in power, Jallow was arrested on 22 separate occasions. He was tortured on four occasions. On the day of Adama Barrow’s inauguration in February 2017, Jallow told Reuters “Today, I have been vindicated.”

Honorable Omar Amadou Jallow Alias O J leader of the Peoples Progress Party (PPP) and former minister of Agriculture in the first Republic has challenged sons and daughters of the first Republic to “defend the legacy of their parents”. Mr. Jallow was speaking from Banjul during an interview with Gainako Radio when he called upon decent citizens of the Gambia to live up to the expectations of their parents and grandparents by defending the legacy of Democracy, Human rights and dignity for all in the tiny West African State of the Gambia.

Mr. Jallow said although he has reached the age of retirement where he can no longer contest for Presidential elections according to the present constitution, he owe an obligation to defend his country on Democracy, rule of law and human rights for all Gambians. He said “for me it was how I was raised by my parents that I should always stand up for the values of Democracy, fairness and equality for all”. OJ said he was not in politics for personal gains but to “serve his country”. He cited a corruption inquiry by the Military Junta after the overthrow of the PPP regime which cleared him and many others on corruption as alleged by Yahya Jammeh and his military junta.

O J in responding to a question on why he thinks the current generation of Gambians appears to be indifferent from standing up for the true values of nationhood which their parents fought for all their lives, Mr. Jallow said the current generation must understand that they need to get involved in the affairs of their nation, that every citizen owes allegiance to their nation and should therefore do everything they can to ensure that the values of the nation are not lost. He said the young people of the Gambia should know that they have choices other than fleeing the country and some dying through the back way. He revealed that he has renewed his commitment for democracy in the Gambia and that he has started mobilizing youths in the urban areas and will be expanding to the provinces to educate young Gambians that all is not lost and they need to get involved.

The PPP vibrant politician said the Gambian opposition was faced with difficult challenges but that they were working behind the scenes to craft a path to put pressure on the Jammeh regime to conform to the demands of electoral reform. He said Gambia has lost all forms of credibility in the International community and that Gambians must increase the pressure on the regime to change its continuous monopoly on power.  He said Yahya Jammeh failed miserably and that Gambians must rise up to reclaim their country before disaster hits. He cited the difficulties faced in the country from lack of agricultural incentives to flooded streets of Banjul, Serekunda and other urban areas. He also added that the warnings of the IMF and the world Bank on Gambia’s debt crisis and economic conditions were a cause for concern.

In commenting on the prisoner pardons, Mr. Jallow scolded President Jammeh’s pardon as a political stunt which has no merit but designed to show the international community of his compassion which was devoid of any humanity. O J added “How could you pardon prisoners, lure them into parades to thank the President for what? Exercising his duties as a President?” He added, parading prisoners on National television asking them what crimes they committed was not only inhumane but humiliating to the families of those convicted prisoners.  Mr. Jallow said if Yahya Jammeh meant to open a new page he could have released the remaining political prisoners, stop all illegal arrest and detention and respect the constitutional rights of every citizen to participate in the Democratic space.

O J made it clear that the PPP leadership was willing to negotiate with other political parties for a coalition without preconditions. He said with adequate resources he can utilize his social mobilization experience to tour the country and let the young voters and women know that they deserve better than the so called development Yahya Jammeh promise to bring them. He  challenged the online media and Diaspora Gambians to invite other opposition party leaders to clearly state their position on a coalition. He stated that the Opposition was going to contest elections in 2016 but that they were pushing forward with the electoral reform agenda. O J concluded by appealing to all Gambians to rally behind the Gambia Democracy Fund and raise the needed resources to help the opposition organize a formidable challenge for President Jammeh who he said was “very unpopular” throughout the country. O J said those who pledged to contribute needs to follow their promises as a pledge is like a loan and once you make it then you owe yourself the honesty and integrity to follow through.

Omar Amadou Jallow without a doubt epitomizes true patriotism, living a life of unselfishness by dedicating all his life to the fight for democracy and good governance. Mr. Jallow was one dynamic politician who could reach across all demographics and could effectively mobilize citizens to rally around a common platform. O J understood the social norms that is a building bridge for youths, women and ordinary citizens to rally the country. He will go down in history as one of the bravest citizens willing to put his life on the line to directly challenge Yahya Jammeh and his regime. OJ refused to be silenced thus insisting on exercising his constitutional and civic rights to stand up against political oppression in Gambia.