By: Kemo Kanyi
Lawyer Assan Martin, leader of the newly formed political movement, the National Alliance for Change, and social and political advocate, has sounded his condemnation of President Adama Barrow’s recent address to the Mandinka voters of the Lower River Region.
In an inclusive interview with The Voice newspaper on Wednesday, Martin registered his condemnation of the remarks, describing them as ‘’desperate and divisive’’ way of politics by the president. He stated that The Gambia is a diverse nation and this is the ‘’dumbest strategy’’ of politics and another poor advice consumed by President Adama Barrow.
There was recent viral video of President Barrow, attacking Mandinkas of LRR that they did not vote for him last time around.
“Unfortunately, this shows that President Barrow doesn’t understand the consequences of his comments each time he is in the political arena. He also cannot discern between what’s right and wrong. He is mostly out of touch and sounding like someone from a barbecue served with hippo beef, talking parables at a ‘Bantaba’,’’ Lawyer Martin observed.
He stated that in the 21st century, words matter and children learn from leaders, stating that the country deserves an exemplary leader who can unite and not divide the nation for political gains.
‘’Like we witnessed previously when he spoke of his involvement in exhuming corpses for rituals and that viral video is a shame and self-destructive. It seems President Barrow has no vision and still no clue on how to govern the nation. He is mostly into pettiness and idle talks against political opponents. We do not expect such comments from a sober and stable leader,’’ the social and political advocate stated.
He indicated that corruption is consuming the country and its resources, adding that the fight against corruption should have been the priority of the government.
‘’Currently, the nation is sinking due to corruption and economic hardship and unending scandals. All the sectors are struggling with our national assets/state owned enterprises are being mortgaged to foreign companies. The state of our nation is like a ship with a confused captain who doesn’t understand his duties and priorities. With the level of incompetencemanifested by this government, there is no justification for President Barrow to stay in power come 2026,’’ he added.
Martin stated that politics is about solutions and not attacking tribes or groups for self-perpetuation as exhibited by Barrow, adding that any leader who employs these tribal politics, whether present or future ones should be booted out of power.
‘’My advice to Gambians is that we should fight against any tribal resentments in our society. Tribalism has no place in our politics and should not be a party strategy in our political discourse. We are all one, despite our political affiliations,’’ he advised.
He opined that the opposition can build a formidable coalitionin 2026 and flush out the Barrow government.
‘’Our unity is our strength for a progressive and prosperous nation,’’ Martin underlined.
