Two opposition leaders in The Gambia have strongly condemned the people using of large convoy and distribution of cash in exchange for supports and loyalty to President Adama Barrow National People’s Party (NPP).
Karafa Sonko, National Campaign Manager for United Democratic Party (UDP) and Momodou MC Cham, National Youth Leader of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), expressed disappointment over the use of vehicles, motorbikes and the donations of cash.
“Donation of cash cannot change the hearts and minds of the electorates to vote for President Adama Barrow. The tactic of giving out largesse for cheap political gains is against the basic tenets of genuine multi-party democracy. Thus, encourages greed and selfishness in the society,” Sonko and Cham told The Voice.
“This form of politics that President Barrow and his party are currently engaging-in is not new thing to the United Democratic Party (UDP). We have seen here the former President Yahya Jammeh doing the same things but it did not stop Gambian people from removing him in 2016,” Sonko emphasized.
He added: “We have seen Yahya Jammeh dashing out cash, vehicles, tractors and even air-tickets to people to go to Mecca and Jerusalem in a bit to achieve his political goals but it doesn’t work. If President Barrow is duplicating the same political strategy today, it will not work and I am pretty sure Gambian people will reject this tactics come December, 2021, Presidential election”.
Sonko pointed out that Barrow’s political strategy is designed by people who were one time closed allies of former President Yahya Jammeh, stressing that such people were the very ones who helped the erstwhile Gambian leader to destroy the country’s political and socially.
“These are the people who are advising him that if you use money, you will be able to bring people. If money could have bought the people, Yahya Jammeh would have still been in power by now”, UDP campaign manager argued.
He therefore, called on the Gambian electorates to be aware of such tactics implore by President Barrow and his team, while urging them to be contended and reject every gift coming from the President and his NPP.
“Former President Yahya Jammeh was wealthier than Barrow and irrespective of all what he has dashing out in 2016, he was removed by Gambian electorates. The largesse been dished out by President Adama Barrow and his cohorts will not take them anywhere,” said Momodou MC Cham, National Youth Mobilizer Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC)
He went on that “People don’t believe in Barrow they are after their self-interest an anything they can get from him. I believe when it comes to presidential election they will vote for the opposition to effect changes.
More so “we have few that will trade the interest of The Gambia for their personal interest but majority of the Gambians knows that Barrow is not the right man to salvage the country.”
According to him, Gambians have realized their mistakes in voting in for President Barrow in 2016 Presidential election, revealing that both electorates and political parties are serious about the future of The Gambia and will not make that mistake to allow President Adama Barrow rule the country for another five years.
GDC National Youth Mobilizer said opposition parties are continuing their engagement with the grassroots across the length and breadth of the country, noting that this can be attested by the number of people deserting President Adama Barrow’s camp to join the rank and file of the opposition parties.
Amidst the political wrangling and dishing out cash to acquire political support and loyalty, GDC National Youth Mobilizer advised teeming youthful populace who did not possess national identity cards to rush now and grab one, disclosing that this will pave ways for them to participate in the forthcoming Presidential and General elections.