Standard bearer and party leader of United Democratic Party has urged the president to focus on problems that are affecting Gambia and quit making him agenda of his campaign.

He added that attacking him is not going to take Gambia forward. “The president should concentrate on the issues affecting this country which include the high cost of living. During Jammeh’s time a cup of rice was D8. He promised to bring it down if elected but today a cup of rice is D20. These are the issues he should concentrate on but attacking or talking about Ousainu Darboe will not take this country anywhere,” Darboe told supporters in Sabach Sanjal.

The former vice president, who was responding to the Gambian leader’s attacks on his person, said President Barrow will go to “any length to entrench himself in power”.

“But I am convinced that Gambians will vote you out of office because you want to bring back dictatorship and tyranny into this country. You do not deserve to lead this country; you do not have the character, the intelligence and the level of education and honesty to lead us. We don’t need such a president in this country,” Darboe said.

Darboe also apprised Barrow against attempts to demolish the UDP. “You said we are hypocrites and you will wipe out the UDP in this country. But I want to tell you that it is the NPP that will be wiped out in December. Adama Barrow, I want to remind you the day myself, Lamin Ndambu Dibba, Aji Yam Secka and Karamo Jadama were at State House at 5 o’clock, when I told you we would show anyone who wanted to disintegrate UDP that he cannot do it. Anyone who wants to wipe out the UDP in this country will be wiped out himself. Yahya Jammeh tried it and we all saw how he ended,” he said.

Darboe disputes that the only way Barrow wants to eliminate the UDP “is to suppress our rights but if you resort to the democratic process, you cannot eliminate any party in this country”. “We have always advised our people to avoid confrontation but if you are the president, you should be a role model and bring people on board. I have told you UDP wants a government that respects the rights of the people,” he added.

 

By: Fatimah Sonko