The Gambian president His Excellency Adama Barrow has made it very clear and known to the traditional rulers that ‘every opposition in this country’ is their ‘opposition.’
President Barrow while meeting the Chiefs and Alkalolou at State House over the weekend said: “I am the head of the government as president. However, I cannot develop The Gambia alone. I need partners. Who are my partners – My Minister for local government is here? He is my employee. He is in charge of local government. Anything from me (President) goes through him to the Governor, to the Chiefs and then to the Alkalolou. You (referring to Alkalolou and Chiefs) are part of the government.” he added.
“Therefore, every opposition in this country is your opposition. So, you people (Alkalolou and Chiefs) opposition are your opposition. You are the government. So, if you are in government, anyone opposing you, how can you help that person in return? It is like a betrayal to oneself,”
He said no matter how knowledgeable one is; or status he or she attends, it is useless without loyalty.
“No matter how much higher your knowledge and status are, it is useless if you are not loyal. They are useless [knowledge and status]. Loyalty is above them. Your positions are keys. I once told the Chiefs, your position is for life, if you know yourself, know your work, know how to behave and you are loyal to the government you belong to, you are a lifetime chief.
“The same goes for the Alkalolou- it is a position of honour; it is an important position and leadership. So, I think it’s a lifetime appointment. I am appealing to the Alkalolou and Chiefs to continue working with the government to develop this nation. No one will develop this nation except us Gambians. It’s only us who can develop this nation,” he said.
He also denounced the profiling of people based on their origin by saying all Gambians have equal right to live in any part of the country. He advised the Chiefs and Alkalos to continue to foster unity among the people and avoid the politics of tribalism.
Meanwhile, Henry Gomez, an advisor to President Adama Barrow said: “If you see Ousainou Darboe, former president, jumping today, he had passed through somewhere… through the hands of Adama Barrow. We all knew how it was for UDP.
“Ousainou cannot rule a nation. Ousainou is old already. Ousainou doesn’t have the power. If you give Ousainou this country, he will convert State House into a hospital and his office a pharmacy because he would always be on medical treatment. If I see on the papers UDP wants to form a coalition with other parties… A fish and a goat cannot be friends. You know why? A fish likes water, and a goat hates water. Halifa and Ousainou could never get along. So, let’s stop the trash talk. Adama Barrow developed this country, let’s accept it. Let’s vote for President Adama Barrow.
“If you want to take this country and give it to other hands, you will make the country and our families suffer. Someone who never gave you breakfast would be provoking you if he comes back to say he would give you lunch and dinner. He will not give it to you. We all knew each other,” he said.
The Governor of the West Coast Region, Lamin Sanneh said the meeting is an opportunity for him and the leaders to build understanding with the President to facilitate the smooth functioning of government from the national stage to the community level.
The Alkalo of Brufut, Malamin Manneh, who spoke on behalf of the West Coast Region Alkalos Association, also echoed similar views. He said the West Coast Alkalos Association comprises 343 Alkalos and Imams and their objective is to facilitate smooth and effective governance at the local level.