By: Sekou Hydara
“The registration of National People’s Party (NPP) by President Adama Barrow is shocking and disappointing and a clear betrayal of Gambians that voted him into office on December 1, 2016,” stressed Vice Chairperson of the Coalition 2016.
On 31st December, 2019, President Adama Barrow has registered his own political party, National People’s Party (NPP) with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), while also reaffirming his resolve to continue on the helm of power till 2021 as affirmed by the constitution.
Musa Sonko, vice chairperson of the Coalition 2016, said his concern and disappointment is the move by a president that was voted in office by Gambians to serve a transition period to registered his own party and refusing to honour the agreement that brought him to power.
“To me this shows that the President is a betrayer at the highest level to both the coalition 2016 and the people who voted for him,” Sonko pointed out.
He stated that he has played a phenomenal role in the formation of the coalition 2016, that brought President Adama Barrow to power, revealing he break ranks with him when a splinter group of the coalition 2016 tried to extend his mandate in September 27, 2019.
He further revealed his defiance to the move of the coalition splinter group led to his fracas with the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the seizure of the coalition 2016 vehicle given to him as the vice chairperson of the coalition in the same year.
“I think what is more honorable for President Barrow to do at this hour is to abide by the coalition 2016 agreement that brought him to power rather than forming his own party.
Forming his own party is not the solution to the prevailing situation and I think the best for President Barrow to do is to publicly announce his resignation from the coalition first before forming his own party,” Sonko pointed out.
According to him, the agreement reached by the stakeholders of coalition 2016 is for the flag bearer to serve a period of three years and resign, noting that such person will not contest any future election neither to join any political party but rather to create the level playing field that will allow free and fair election.
“If you go by the agreement of the coalition 2016, President Adama Barrow has no moral reason to form his own political party neither can he support any political party. For Barrow to disregard all the coalition agreement that brings him to power is a betrayal of itself,” Sonko noted.
He added: “My advice to President Adama Barrow is to honour the agreement that brought him to power. President Barrow has the opportunity to make a legacy but am afraid, his hunger for power may make him to lose a lot for betraying the people who brought him to that power.”
Sonko could not ascertain when stakeholders will meet over the matter, stating that efforts are on course to bringing the stakeholders of the coalition 2016, to discuss over the issue.
