JT Kujabi Deputy Ambassador, Washington, DC & Yus Bojang Deputy High Comm. Nigeria
By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief
Barely a year after his meteoric rise to the coveted position of Press & Public Relations Officer at the President’s office, 31-year old Ebrima JT Kujabi has been appointed Deputy Ambassador to the United States of America. Says our most competent State House operative Kissy Kissy Mansa, President Jammeh wants JT to galvanize greater support among Diasporan Gambians to join the APRC party and he thinks that Ebrima JT Kujabi has the requisite wherewithal to take up the job. While it is not clear whom JT replaces at the ill-fated Washington Embassy nestled at 1156 15th Street, what we can confirm is that JT is bracing for the new appointment based on purely tribal reasons.
In another twist, Yusupha Bojang from Farababanta and a career messenger at the Banjul Breweries in Kanifing is the new Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. Yusupha who now works for Gambega located in the same area with Banjul Breweries is a fanatical supporter of the regime and has neither the finesse nor the qualifications to run a diplomatic mission especially, at a time when the regime is increasingly being isolated.
Together, the duo, Kujabi and Bojang punctuate Gambia’s new normal; a country where ethnic affiliation has become the most tangible barometer to success usually; through Nepotic appointments to very important positions.
For all we know, Yahya Jammeh’s uncle; Headmaster turned diplomat John Paul Bojang of Kombo Lamin brought up JT Kujabi. After his rustic Secondary Education, JT was recruited as an NIA operative planted at the Daily Observer disguised as a reporter and there is evidence aplenty to support the allegations. Within a brief stay at the Observer, JT was destined for greatness, as Momodou Sanyang and Neneh Macdouall Gaye, two Board members of the Jammeh-owned and operated company could not do otherwise. Tales of Dr. Sarja Taal and JT almost at fistfights pervade the corridors of the Daily Observer even to date, at this very hour. Kujabi quickly rose to the rank of a State House Correspondent and shortly thereafter, he was moved to GPA-The Gambia Ports Authority as a Media Officer a fitting oxymoron for political intelligence in Yahya Jammeh’s police state. It was from the GPA that he was moved to the Ferry Services in a managerial capacity and then finally, to the corridors of power at State House.
Two months ago, journalists Malick Sam Jones and Mam Sait Ceesay were arrested and detained for days before they were brought before a magistrate only because they wrote that Almighty JT Kujabi was sacked. Sarja Taal was also arrested and subjected to grueling interrogations for a whole day in connection with the same story. In the end, Taal was let go while Jones and Ceesay proceeded to court on frivolous allegations of espionage. In the past month, Taal was sacked and reinstated twice before what many now think is the final adieu.
Curiously though, it is reported that JT’s main mission is to recruit APRC supporters in the US because Tejan Masanneh Ceesay has not performed to expectations. It remains to be seen what difference JT can make for a retromingent Head of State- an utterly despicable dictator whose indictment on crimes against humanity is no longer a question of if, but when. What we do know however is that for the past year Yahya Jammeh has spent enormous sums of money recruiting agents to be posted to Raleigh North Carolina, home of The Gambia Echo. We are privy to the discussions about the potential recruits even before their recruiter left for North Carolina and can reveal that two of the people approached have declined on grounds of their personal security and or immigration status. How can you recruit illegal immigrants to spy on legal immigrants? We dare ask!