Kebba Ansu
Honorable Ousainou Darboe, former vice president and leader of United Democratic Party (UDP) has emphatically stated that late Solo Sandeng, is the architect and author of Gambia’s freedom and democracy from dictatorship and tyrannical regime of former President Yahya Jammeh,
He described the deceased as an iconic figure of the United Democratic Party and will forever be remembered for staking his live to free The Gambia from dictatorship.
Darboe made this statement at UDP Majai Political Bureau where faithful and militants of the party converged on Saturday, 15th May, 2020 to grace the launching of the party’s National and Regional Football competitions dubbed the Memorial Tournament in remembrance of fallen heroes of the biggest political camp in the country.
Late Solo Sandeng was the National Youth Leader of the United Democratic Party until his death on the 14th April, 2016, at the Headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
He was arrested and tortured to dead by notorious hit squad (junglars) of the former President Yahya Jammeh for merely leading a pre-election protest on electoral reforms and term limit of the presidency.
“Today we are pounding our chest saying we are this, we are that, saying there is freedom and democracy in this country but the architecture and author of that freedom and democracy is Solo Sandeng.
“If anyone agree is him and who don’t agree are merely cheating him of his legacy,” said Lawyer Darboe.
He added: “UDP believes that Solo Sandeng is our icon and he’s the Steve Biko of The Gambia.”
According to him, Solo Sandeng has made a supreme sacrifice for The Gambia and has contributed more than anyone else in bringing back freedom and democracy in the country, adding that his contribution to the party and the nation warrant the naming of the National Troupe after him.
Darboe said although a lot of personalities contributed significantly towards the development of the United Democratic Party physically and financially not everyone has been luck to name troupes after them, noting that this doesn’t mean the party did not recognised or value their immense contribution and sacrifices.
He said it was a mammoth challenge to the committee to finalised the naming of the troupes to deserving prominent and distinguish sons and daughters of the party, adding that the main purpose of the tournament is to remember the party’s fallen heroes thus breaking unity, harmony and understanding among the militants of the party.
According to him, though the National Troupe of the tournament is named after Solo Sandeng the regional troupes has also been named after distinguished sons and daughters of the country who sacrifice everything for the United Democratic Party.
He disclosed that the troupe has been named after Alhaji Dembo Dye Tunkara of Upper River Region, Late Cherno Fofana of Central River Region South, Late Alhaji Lamin Jawara, of Central River Region North, Alhaji Fanding Saidybah of Lower River Region, Late Alhaji Karamo Fatty of North Bank Region, Late Sarjo Kunjang Sanneh of West Coast Region Late Rt. Col. Sam Sillah of Kanifing Municipality and Late Femi Peters of Banjul.
UDP Party Leader recalled that on the 16th of April 2015, when he set out for a protest in demand of Solo Sandeng, death or alive late Femi Peters insisted of joining the protest. This he affirmed that Femi Peters was a true patriot and loyalist who always ready to die for UDP and the country.
He called on all militants to take the tournament as a fun but not otherwise, adding that it is meant for remembering people who made great sacrifices for the party thus there will not be loser or winner in the tournament.
