Alhagie Abdoulie Everybody Mbye, a leading traditional griot in the country, has refuted rumours in town that he has been arrested and currently detained at the state central prison, Mile II.

Mbye who walked to Observer offices yesterday described the rumours as false allegation levied against him by people he said he doesn't even know. "I am not arrested and have never been arrested. I have not done anything that would warrant my arrest and detention. For the person who said so, it is between him/her and God. I have forgiven him from the bottom of my heart," he said.

According to him, when the rumour started spreading, he was in the provinces, at a village called Sutumo Serer where a number of opposition supporters were defecting to the APRC. "We were on the ground, working tirelessly for the APRC party and President Jammeh. Then people started calling me about the issue which is never true. If the case is because I am supporting President Jammeh, then let them say anything they want but I will never betray President Jammeh," Mbye assured.

He urged people who are in the habit of going around castigating other people to desist from the act, urging them to work towards national development. He prayed for peace in this country and its leadership and reiterated his fullest support to the Gambian leader.