By Sulayman Waan
Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party has paid tribute to the late Ebrima Solo Sandeng and Others on Sunday at Youth Monument in West Field during a remembrance match pass procession from Tipper Garage to Westfield, as tens of hundreds people participated.
On April 14 Solo Sandeng, was killed by former government for demanding electoral reform ahead of the December 1, 2016 presidential election.
Few days’ later UDP leaders including Ousainou Darboe were jailed for demanding for the dead body of Solo Sandeng.
In his remark, the former vice president and leader of the UDP Ousainu Darboe, said the crucified Solo Sandeng and his colleague had liberated The Gambia.
“It was a march that was like that of Martin Luther King Jnr., and today 14 April we are here to commemorate and celebrate Solo Sandeng and others and the significant 14 April 2019, (today) happened to be on Sunday and it was the day that the Messiah Jesus Christ, went on the great march to free the world,” he said.
He continued that “He marched and subsequently He was arrested by brutal regime in those days He was subjected to mockery, trial and subsequently crucified. It was the same thing Solo Sandeng and his colleagues, they marched from tipper garage to Westfield and the brutal regime arrested them. He was brutalized and he died. For us he was crucified for The Gambia and as a result of his crucifixion The Gambia got liberated.”
Lawyer Darboe said they cannot do anything better than to acknowledge the contribution and sacrifice that Solo Sandeng, and others made for the country.
“It is a cumulative contribution of these people that liberated this country. We are grateful to them. Solo has been the forefront of this struggle. I have worked with him, for more than 20 years, and he is a person of great humility, dedicated and well focus with a sense of purpose,” he remembered.
He further said the late Solo Sandeng had never betrayed anybody; said it is often that people betrayed him.
Mr. Said stated that “it is always the hallmarks of an accomplished person that would never be cart by the betrayal. He always hold on and push on, otherwise the event of 14 April 2016 wouldn’t be.” He expressed the role late Solo and his colleagues with cohort of UDP played in pursuing the national agenda which led to the liberation of the people of Gambia.
He urged Gambians to join in commemorating the demised of Solo Sandeng, adding that other nationalities wouldn’t come and commemorate Solo’s death.
“UDP will do a great deal of service to Solo and other several people who were in these services and others who were subjected to torture. The sacrificed they made is for the nation and not for UDP, he added.
He urged people not to consider the commemoration as UDP affairs, but as a national matter day.