The 53 elected national assembly members including the new speaker and his deputy and nominated members today took oath of office for the next five years.

The speaker and his deputy appointments however sparked controversy and condemnation among Gambians, who accused President Adama Barrow of trying to replicate exiled former President Yahya Jammeh’s style of governance.

Speaking exclusively to Gambiana, the new deputy speaker Seedy Njie hit back at critics of their appointments as “people who are entitled to their opinions.”

He welcomed President Barrow’s courage to nominate him as the deputy speaker of the sixth legislature, adding he came to know his appointment through a communication of the president signed by the spokesman of the government.

“They are entitled to their opinions. We have a wealth of experience in how parliament and government work and we are committed to development and building the country,” the deputy speaker said.

He added: “Through a communication of the president signed by the spokesman of the government, I received the information with great delight and I am grateful to the president and the people who re-elected him in office.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba