Omar A. Jallow
Omar A. Jallow | |
|---|---|
 Jallow in 2017 | |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 1 February 2017 – 9 July 2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Lamin N. Dibba |
| Leader of the People's Progressive Party | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Omar Amadou Jallow 26 October 1946 Serrekunda, The Gambia |
| Died | 14 May 2023 (aged 76) |
| Other political affiliations | Coalition 2016 |
Omar Amadou Jallow (26 October 1946 – 14 May 2023)[1] 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 held two seats in the National Assembly at the time of his death.
Political career
Jallow was a People's Progressive Party government minister under Dawda Jawara, being the incumbent Minister of Agriculture when Yahya Jammeh executed the coup d'état that saw him seize power in 1994.[2] 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."[3]
Jallow was re-appointed Minister of Agriculture by Barrow after he won the 2016 presidential election. However, Mr Jallow was fired in June 2018.[4] Gambian journalist Mustapha Darboe did the story, which was further verified by the State House. State agents would later investigate the issue and the presidency would cover it up until Kerr Fatou would make an expose on the incident. On 10 October, Gambian justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou told journalists that the Government has requested further investigation into the incident.[5]
However, the tough-talking Gambian politician claimed he was defamed and sued the news media and the journalist for the story, seeking D20 million in damages. In his first press conference since the story broke, Jallow did not refute the core of the story, being that the fertilizer in government custody was contracted to Modou Dibba to sell it, though he maintained that he was not aware of it nor did he benefit from it financially.[6]
Jallow made a name for himself as a tough-talking Gambian politician with a liberal mind. He was Gambia's first politician to have called for the legalization of marijuana and to repeal the country's tough anti-gay laws. Jallow, a key member of the coalition that brought down Jammeh, also held a different opinion with the Gambian leader Barrow on whether he should stay in power for five years. Jallow always said Barrow should quit after three years even though Barrow has shown ambitions to stay for even ten years.[7]
Jallow died on 14 May 2023.[8]
References
- ^ "OJ Faults PPP Gov't and narrates his torture/condition in detention". foroyaa.net. 29 January 2019.
- ^ "President Adama Barrow's cabinet-in-waiting: here's what we know so far". SMBC News. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Gambia leader heralds new dawn for minister jailed 22 times". Reuters. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Barrow makes 1st MAJOR Cabinet reshuffle - The Point Newspaper, Banjul, The Gambia". thepoint.gm. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
- ^ Darboe, Mustapha K. (26 July 2019). "Gambia's full terror exposed before the TRRC". JusticeInfo.net. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Gambia: Agric Minister OJ Giving Press Conference On The Conspiracy About Disposal Of The Fertiliser. YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021.
- ^ "How Gambian minister colluded in selling obsolete fertilizer in Senegal - Kerr Fatou Online Media House".
- ^ "Renowned politician OJ passes away, attracts nationwide tributes". The Point. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.