By: Kemo Kanyi
The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) has reminded President Adama Barrow of his campaign promise of leaving office three years after the 2016 presidential election.
President Barrow recently told QTV that as for him, it’s time to step down but all his party militants think that it’s too early for him to leave office because they think if he had to leave now, he will be killing the party.
Responding to the President’s remarks, the CoPG said, “Mr. President, please be reminded of the promises you made to Gambians when you came into power in 2016. It was supposed to be a transition of three years during which the necessary mechanisms for a credible democracy wassupposed to take place. Basically, it was a new constitution with the necessary provisions to prevent what happened from 1994 to 2016. Unfortunately, Gambians were disappointed by your immediate U-turn to remain in power for five years and subsequently a second term which, to Gambians, is enough to call it off.”
The CoPG said the President’s recent interview has shown that he has decided to go beyond a term limit he advocated for and continued to advocate during the interview.
“Mr. President, are you taking Gambians for a ride or testing their patience? We think it’s better to think wise and leave whilst some Gambians are still clapping for you than to leave like your predecessor. You must not allow yourself to be fiddled by selfish and opportunists who are bent on nothing but their personal gains,” CoPG said in a statement shared with The Voice.
The pressure group said it expected the President to talk about a decision to step down or otherwise present a new candidate for his party.
“We, the CoPG, expected you to drive towards a good legacy by keeping to your promise in the beginning of last year to call for a referendum on the 2020 Draft Constitution, which never happened. Mr. President, we can never take you for your words and believe that your interview on QTV is just to ride over the weak-minded Gambians as nothing of what you said is taken seriously except your decision to contest for a third term, Mr. President,” said the coalition. It continued: “A lot of expectations are yet to be realized by Gambians under your government. The TRRC, audit reports and recommendations, the 2020 Draft Constitution, Security Sector Reforms, the readjustments of the poor economic performance of the country, the total annihilation of the primitive Public Order Act, which is contrary to sections 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The continuity of the 1997 Constitution and many other irregularities are negative legacies which will never be forgotten in our political history and have tarnished your political image and career and a reason Gambians no longer have confidence in you.”
The Coalition of Progressive Gambians urged the President to reconsider his decision and take time to pillow over them, encouraging him to leave the stage whilst some Gambians are still clapping for him as it can better his legacy than to leave when it’s too late.
