By: Momodou Justice Darboe
Former international civil servant and UDP official Dr. LaminManneh has said the characterization of the UDP as a Mandinkacentric and political grouping of envious people was designed to undermine the Gambia’s largest opposition political party.
He explained that former President Yahya Jammeh employed tribal politics against the UDP to weaken its support base among other tribes, adding that the UDP has the best of intentions for The Gambia and her people.
“To stain the UDP, Yaya was, for a long time, bent on portraying the party as a Mandinka party,” Dr. Manneh told Fine TV in an exclusive interview.
“We are just famous and as a result, all sorts of accusations are directed towards us. But you have Serers, Fulas, Serahules, Mandinkas and Wollofs in the UDP. Ousainou is the party secretary general but his deputy is a Wollof. UDP has an open-door policy to all tribes and demographics,” he added.
According to Dr. Manneh, the UDP has given responsibility and positions of trust to youths and women.
“Look at Yankuba Darboe of BAC, Talib Bensouda of KMC, Landing B. Sanneh of Mansakonko, Rohey Malick Lowe of BCC and Modou Lamin Bah of Banjul North. All these people are of different ethnic background and are young. The National Assembly Member for the biggest constituency; Sanimentereng, is a woman. The party that succeeded in doing this yet you call it a Mandinka party? We don’t entertain tribalism in the UDP. The two wives of Ousainou are not Mandinkas. Can he hate Wollofs? His children are half Wollof, half Mandinka,” he stated.
Dr. Manneh maintained that The Gambia without other tribes cannot be The Gambia.
“If you take Wollofs, Mandinkas, or Fulas out of Gambia, Gambia will no longer be Gambia. So, we abhor tribalism,” he added.
He described as untrue the branding of the UDP as a party of envious people.
“All that we’ve been advocating for is a corrupt-free government, how farmers could be supported and how youths could be educated and trained to become productive citizens,” Dr. Manneh explained. He continued: Ousainou has sacrificed his wealth so have other UDP members. If we did not love this country, we could have stayed away to enjoy our money in comfort. We believe that we can help the country so we can all live a good life. So, accusing us of envy is misplaced. If Ousainou was envious, he could have advised his followers to take to the streets to burn the country down when the election was stolen but he said he didn’t want anybody to die. He begged his supporters to the point that he was singing for them. He wanted the country to be developed without anyone bleeding or anybody’s child dying. An envious person cannot surely do that.”