Yahya Jammeh Fails To Attend The ECOWAS Summit In Abuja

As Jammeh Fears Being Toppled By The Military

VP Njie Saidy Deputizes President Jammeh

By Staff Reporter M B Ceesay, Banjul

Amidst growing fear of being toppled by the country’s military, Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has decided not to attend the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Summit held in Abuja—Nigeria, the Freedom Newspaper can report. Mr. Jammeh has delegated the Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy to deputize him at  the regional meeting, which saw the massive presence of Heads of State on the continent. The VP and her delegation are currently in Abuja to take part in the ECOWAS Summit—which kickoff Tuesday.

Gambia’s mentally challenged President has been disqualified from taking part in the election of the ECOWAS Chairmanship in view of his conspicuous absence at the meeting. The VP’s presence does not filled the leadership vacuum—as ECOWAS protocols clearly stipulates that Heads of State must be physically present in such important sub-regional forums to enable their election as Chairman.

The Vice President who is technically running The Gambian state due to the President’s fears of being toppled, as reported last week by the Freedom Newspaper, is currently overseeing Jammeh’s overseas travels pending the normalization of the country’s fragile situation.

A highly placed source accompanying the VP at the Abuja Summit said the VP has been complaining behind closed doors "for not being paid as a President, even though she is operating under that capacity."  The source said the VP is not happy that the President Yahya Jammeh is using her for overseas errands, which does not pertain her role as VP.

“ Here she is acting like an idiot. She has no voice whatsoever in the Abuja meeting. Despite her constant bitching, she would be paid travel allowance upon her return home. Technically, she is our President, as we speak because the President is afraid to leave the country in the short term,” said a member of the delegation.

Mr. Jammeh has been cancelling his overseas trips in the recent past. This is his sixth trip to be cancelled. He is apparently worried about the loyalty of the military—majority of whom are unhappy with his leadership.

The Abuja Summit would elect a new Chairman, who would be entrusted with coordinating the sub-regional body. ECOAWS is mainly comprising of West African countries. The  main goal of  ECOWAS—is for the promotion of regional trade and the free movement of people without undue hindrance. The maintenance of sub-regional peace, and security are  also high on the body’s agenda.          

Meanwhile, news just came in that the acting President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan has been named as the new Chairman of ECOWAS. Mr. Jonathan has been entrusted with the mantle of leadership to head the regional body.