Njie BP laid to rest Honoured with state funeral

The body of the late Alhagie Momodou Baboucarr Njie, a former speaker of the National Assembly, was yesterday laid in state at the National Assembly Chambers in Banjul, giving the opportunity for members to pay their last respects to the deceased.

Commonly called Njie BP,  Alhagie Momodou Baboucarr Njie served as speaker of the National Assembly from 1983 to 1994. Secretaries of state, other top government officials, religious leaders, family members of the deceased as well as cabinet members of the First Republic, led by former vice president, Alhagie Assan Musa Camara, paid their last respects to the deceased.

Speaking at the sorrowful occasion, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East, who deputised for Speaker Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, described the late Alhagie Momodou Baboucarr Njie as a great servant of the country who had served in various capacities diligently. According to him, during his tenure as speaker of the Assembly, the late Alhagie Momodou Baboucarr Njie executed his functions diligently and effectively without fear, favour, affection or ill will, and to the best of his ability.

“He also dedicated his entire life in the service of humanity. He was a great father and a son of the state, someone who served as a beacon of hope. He also contributed immensely to the private sector,” he said. Hon. Jatta then saluted the deceased for the great sacrifice he has done for the nation and the National Assembly in particular and expressed his condolence to the bereaved family. “Goodbye great son of the nation,” Hon. Jatta concluded on behalf of the speaker and entire members of the National Assembly.

Hon. Sulayman Joof, NAM for Serrekunda West, described the demise of the late Alhaji Momodou Baboucarr Njie as a great loss to the country. This, he said, is due to the fact that the late Njie had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the nation in various aspects.  “He also executed his duties diligently and has worked in the private sector, particularly in the petroleum industry. He was a generous individual and a man with an outstanding personality,” he said while extending his condolences to the bereaved family.

Hon. Sedia Jatta, NAM for Wuli West, described the demise of Njie as a great loss and a sad reality for the nation. He saluted him for his services to the nation. “He was both for the old and the young, and he was someone who lived for others. He dedicated his life to people and was a humanitarian. I pray that his soul rests in perfect peace,” he concluded. From the National Assembly, the body was escorted to the Pipeline mosque where special prayers were offered for the deceased.

Speaker after speaker described the deceased as a man of God who devoted his life to the betterment of mankind. The body was later escorted to the Jeshwang cemetery where   the late speaker was laid to rest in the presence of hundreds of sympathisers, relatives as well as friends, most of whom had earlier  on attended the state funeral. Speaking to Daily Observer shortly after the burial, Alhaji Momodou Lamin Secka, commonly called Elly, a relative to the departed, described the late Alhaji Momodou Baboucarr Njie as a man of God who devoted a lot of his life time helping the poor.

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The late Alhaji Momodou Baboucarr Njie was a two-term speaker in the First Republic.  Before this, he had served as a nominated member of parliament. He was also a founding member of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), serving as its  first president. He was a member of the Public Service Commission and of the Banjul Committee of Muslim Elders.

He also served as managing director of British Petroleum (BP) in The Gambia, from where he gained the nickname ‘Njie BP’ and later became chairman of TotalFinaElf.