Breaking News: Edward Singhateh Replaces Speaker Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay?

By Njie Khakatarr in Banjul & Ebrima G. Sankareh in Raleigh, NC

According to our most competent and highly placed sources at State House, the probability is more probable than impossible for Edward David Singhateh a co-conspirator in the July 22, 1994 coup that toppled the PPP government and a former Cabinet Minister in the Jammeh regime to replace Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay as Speaker of The Gambia National Assembly immediately after the conclusion of the House’s current session, which officially opens Friday. 

“In fact,” reveals a highly placed and highly confident source, “President Jammeh had wanted her replaced immediately. It was Singhateh that prevailed on the President to hold off until the end of the current session of Parliament. The reason he advanced was that the current Speaker has invited her counter-parts from the sub-region to attend the State Opening of Parliament and it would be odd, if not down right embarrassing, to have her removed in the midst of it all.”
 
Observes our main State House operative Kissy Kissy Mansa, Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay's recent political posturing particularly, her clownish display of political gravitas, and high profile diplomatic maneuverings–coupled with her close association with Major Gen. Lang Tombong Tamba has caused Jammeh to act swiftly to stifle any machinations that the pair may harbor. As an appeasement measure, reveal our competent sources, Speaker Jahumpa Ceesay would be appointed High Commissioner to Senegal to replace his Excellency Mr. Gibou Joof whose fate is yet to be determined. According to our sources, Isatou Njie Saidy, Yankuba Touray and Musa Bala Gaye may also have to go but that is not as conclusive as that of Speaker Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay. Initially, President Jammeh had allegedly, wanted her transferred to Radio Gambia but it was later felt that she might have problems with Momodou Sanyang.

This latest twist comes in the wake of major and amazing changes only days ago within the Jammeh government; a change that saw the sacking, redeployment, removal or demotion (whatever name you choose) of key lieutenants like Information Minister Neneh Macdouall Gaye a charismatic woman who dented what little dignity she may have had left, blowing hot air all over the horizon even when she knew damn well, that President Jammeh’s lunacy had methestasized. In the end, Neneh was a metaphor for Jammeh and vice versa. For now though, it remains to be seen if Kissy’s predictions will pass the test of time to allow our disgraced brother, the butcher of Banjul to perspire pending the inevitable day of reckoning. As we went to press, numerous theories are being thrown around the corridors of power that after all, Singhateh since his sacking as Forestry Secretary last September had wanted to flee The Gambia but could not. This new job they argue, avails him that opportunity.All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this article or any other article or image, or portions thereof, in any form or context without the expressed permission of The Gambia Echo Newspaper.