By: Kemo Kanyi
The leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has, in no uncertain terms, expressed his discontent over the internal squabbles that rocked his party recently.
There was an uproar within the party when some of its top officials launched verbal warfare against each other.
The mayor of Banjul and a top UDP official RoheyMalick Lowe accused the mayor of KMC of orchestrating a scheme to supplant Darboe with himself.
This elicited a rapid response from the UDP’s organizing secretary Ebrima Dibba, who called on the Banjul mayor to cease fire. Dibba contended that much of muchness is too much as he accused the Banjul mayor of the words of advice of the UDP executive and rank and file.
Lawyer Darboe described these developments as infantile petty quarrels, which the UDP was in no mood to tolerate.
“I have observed with dismay and disappointment how some members of our party engage in juvenile spats and name-calling only for such tiffs to degenerate into the use of abusive language and dragging their family names into the gutter. For me, it is distasteful and totally unacceptable to invoke, in a demeaning way, the name of venerable elders in one’s personal squabbles,” Darboe said in a statement shared with this medium this morning.
The veteran politician admitted that personal ambition, candidate choices and policy disagreements are all part and parcel of the political terrain but that these are not mutually exclusive with civility in speech and decorous conduct, particularly on the media platforms.
Darboe pointed out that an apology after the fact does not minimize the damage already done, saying the unnecessary hurt caused to individuals and communities, though unintentional, is still entirely avoidable.
“Why not guard your tongue in the first place and weigh your words before carelessly throwing them into cyberspace forever?” he questioned.
“To be clear, this is not the United Democratic Party way,” he added.
The UDP leader renewed his call for the maintenance of peace, stability, and respect within the UDP camp.
“Therefore, I wish to renew the call I have been compelled to make on several occasions in the past to all members of the UDP to conduct themselves with decorum at all times and to desist from making disparaging comments and trading insults with adversaries and allies alike,” he advised.
“I urge all Gambians to shun leaders who engage in divisive rhetoric and I appeal to the militants and supporters of the UDP to at all times conduct themselves with dignity and be respectful to all no matter what the circumstances,” he added.
He further called on every leader to respect the values of Gambian society.
“As political leaders, our means of ascent to high office must always be based on our Gambian values of basic decency, respect for our elders and respect for one another. I believe that we must earn the respect and confidence of our compatriots only then will they entrust us with the high honour of governing the affairs of our homeland,” he underlined.
