Staff Reporter
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, leader of the Citizens’ Alliance Party (CA) has confirmed a partnership with the National People’s Party (NPP) clarifying their agreement to be in the best interest of The Gambia.
“We sat at an executive level and decided that we want to support the President’s agenda. Within the context of the 2023 Local Government elections, we are going to ally Local Government Election, but also use our manifesto, and our ideas, our knowledge, and our vision as in the 10 point-plan, work with the NPP, also with their ideas, their manifesto, their vision and combining this is in the best interest of this country,” Dr. Ismaila Ceesay told journalists after meeting President Barrow on Saturday.
It could be recalled that on January 31, 2018, the Gambia Police Force “invited” Dr. Ceesay for questioning. However, upon arrival at the Police headquarters, he was arrested, detained, and charged with “incitement to violence.”’
Dr. Ceesay’s arrest and detention were a result of two publications by The Voice Newspaper in which he criticised President Adama Barrow government’s handling of security issues in the country. The first publication was on January 23, 2018, quoting Dr. Ceesay as saying President Barrow “lacked focus.”
Following the publication of the January 23 article, the Director of Press at the Presidency, Amie Bojang-Sissoho, called the editor of The Voice newspaper complaining about the headline of the story and also the content. She also asked the Gambia Press Union to regulate the content of its members.
However, the January 31 article drew a hash reaction when Dr. Ceesay was invited by Police to be interrogated on his claim that, “ECOMIG (ECOWAS security forces), will not prevent long-term security risks if the President does not win the trust of the army.” Upon arrival, Dr. Ceesay was arrested, detained, and charged.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia said that the partnership alliance ruling party is in the interest of this country.
He noted that “we see The Gambia first and it’s not about Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, it’s not about President Barrow, but about The Gambia.