Gambian leader President Adama Barrow has stressed that “been a politician for 30 or 40 years doesn’t mean that you will become a President. I am here to work, politics did not bring me here,” he harped.
He added: “That’s why I never give you political promises. My relationship with you guys has been bonded by work; I am here to serve you.”
Speaking in a meeting held at State House on Saturday, he stated that under his administration more political parties have been registered, stressing that Gambians should be grateful that he brought democracy in this country.
“There is too much noise in this country. Everyone is talking. I have been insulted and called names on Whatsapp and other social platforms because there is democracy in the country. Some even claimed that they will kill me if they win the upcoming elections. Democracy is at work in this country,” President Barrow told a meeting organized at State House.
He pointed out various political party leaders who had tried to defeat long time Gambian monarch ex-President Yahya Jammeh, without success and in his first attempt he defeated Jammeh’s in the country’s widely held election in 2016 and also forced him into exile.
He stressed that there are many people, who are hungry to contest the 2021 elections, “they think that it is easy to ascend to the presidency because it took me only three months to defeat Jammeh. They forgot that for fifty years, we only had two presidents in this country.”
He continued that “it is God that chooses Presidents. I don’t even know how I got to the Presidency. I was just called to come and help run for President. It took me months before I made up my mind. I answered to their call because I wanted to help,” he said.
Speaking in the meeting held in State House, Environment Minister Lamin Dibba said: “With the ambition he (President Barrow) has to develop this country, I want to tell you for these good works to continue, we should take our votes and give it to Adama Barrow and NPP.
“That’s what’s good for us, that are what is good for our children and that’s what’s our development and the country’s development. You will see that if that happens, the things we want would arrive. That’s when you would see how beneficial President Barrow is,” he said.
Also speaking at the Saturday meeting in Banjul, Tourism Minister Hamat Bah warned Gambian Fulas against voting for the ‘rats’, insisting it would spell the suffering of Gambian Fulas.
He said: “The rats are moving. Be alert and make sure you do not let them pass through any door or window. But do not insult anyone and do not wrong anyone. Be law abiding but we will do what is expected of us.
“We have heard what you have complained about on the issue of ID card. There is something we know about it but anything we’re addressing we would do it according to the law. Where have you seen someone get an ID card in 30 years and he comes and you tell him ‘you’re not going to get an ID card’.
“But there’s something happening in this country: it’s us Fulas that are suffering the most. If you go to look for an ID card if you’re fair in complexion, they would say ‘you’re a Guinean, you don’t live here you’re a Senegalese’. They would not do that to a Mandinka, a Mandinka from Kolda, a Mandinka from Guinea Bissau. They would not do it to a Serahule from Mali. They would not do it to a Wollof from Senegal.
“It’s just us Fulas that they pick out and make us suffer over a card. And President Barrow we are part of this country. We have a right in this country, we belong in it and we would stand and make sure that doesn’t happen in this country. Even when you’re in a car and fair, they would look at you and say ‘come down, come down’ – and they would say you’re a foreigner.” He disclosed.