By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The NPP’s campaign manager Lamin Cham has said the ruling party wants Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to join its ranks, saying Momodou Sabally is not an insignificant political operative in The Gambia.
“We want all of UDP to join us. We want even the father of the President and all of us, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, to come and join us. We want them to come and join us to develop the country. Both the ruling party and the opposition are invested in how to move the country forward. So, whether we belong to the same party or not, let us embrace each other and nurture our relations. Let us not allow politics to drive a wedge between us,” CM Cham said as he delivered a speech at the NPP HQ in Churchills Town on Wednesday to formally welcome Momodou Sabally to the NPP.
According to Mr. Cham, the formal welcoming of Sabally to the NPP fold was a great source of joy and satisfaction for the party.
“Today is a day of rejoicing because if you go on a fishing expedition and get lucky to catch a barracuda, you’ll be excited. The one that the NPP dragnet caught today is not a small fish in this country. If UDP’s former campaign manager Momodou Sabally joins the NPP today, then the NPP has made a huge achievement. If you have his sister Ramou Sabally in our ranks, then NPP is rejoicing. Momodou Sabally, we welcome you to the NPP. I would like to welcome you to the NPP as your host and I assure you that any work that you want to do for the party, you will get my unreserved support,” said CM Cham.
He told his audience that the NPP is the rejuvenated version of the PPP. He explained: “We knew from history that when The Gambia was liberated from colonial rule, a lot of political partiescame into existence and there was a lot of euphoria and excitement and everyone wanted to be a leader. But when Allah chose Jawara and after he was enthroned and the political waters calmed, other parties disappeared. During the PPP dispensation, what we know is that it was only the NCP and PDOIS that were challenging Jawara, politically. And we know that their strength was such that they were unable to get even 10% of the votes. I want to tell you that NPP is the reincarnated PPP. NPP will surelyconsume all the opposition parties. It’s only Momodou Sabally’s defection to the NPP that is known but there are a lot of people cross-carpeting to the NPP without the public’s knowledge. This is what is happening every day and we will reach a day whenelections would just be a formality in this country. Let’s watch the future. NPP will not have any credible opposition here. All will join the NPP. What would be left of the opposition would be very insignificant.”
The NPP chief strategist called for national unity and preservation of peace in the country.
“My fellow opposition, let’s unite. The goal of President Barrow is for all Gambians to unite as one family. The Gambia is too small for acrimony. Gambia is too tiny for us to destroy each other because we are all related in one way or another. My advice to Gambians is that let’s shun politics of insulting and damaging each other’s reputation. Soiling each other’s reputation does not increase any political party’s growth prospects. The good things that you say are what endear the people to the party. Therefore, I would like to call on my fellow UDP, GDC, and all those opposition supporters to endeavor harder to preserve the country’s peace because peace is what benefits and develops the country as no nation-state can develop in the absence of peace,” he stressed.
CM Cham pointed out that Sabally has the right to switchallegiance to any political party of his choice.
“Momodou Sabally has accomplished a lot for the UDP and we are all well aware of that. For him to join the NPP is hisconstitutionally guaranteed right. So that means no one should castigate him. I would like to call on the opposition to jump on theNPP bandwagon. Politics is like a farm and everyone holds a stake so that the farm could be clear. One person cannot develop anation. NPP is the compound for national development. The party is a reflection of all tribes in The Gambia be it Mandinka, Wollof, Manjago, Serere, Balanta, Jola, Fula, Serahule, or any other tribe. NPP does not discriminate on tribal, regional, and religious lines. What matters is for us to unite and push the party’s agenda. If NPP moves forward, we’ll all benefit. Let’s tolerate each other. NPP is the future of this country,” he added.
He used the occasion to congratulate President Barrow for his peace award.
“I would like to congratulate His Excellency President Barrow for winning the prestigious 2024 Africa for Peace Promotion Prize. I have always emphasized that Adama Barrow is an embodiment of peace. This is what was manifested across Africa and the globe because we have 53 States in Africa and for him to be singled out in all these countries of Africa for this coveted prize is a great achievement for The Gambia. Your Excellency, we thank and congratulate you for the award,” acknowledged the NPP’s chief mobilizer.
