By: Kemo Kanyi
As hopes continue to fade fast on the prospects of a new constitution for the country, President Adama Barrow has expressed the willingness to dialogue with Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to chart a way forward to usher in a new constitution.
President Barrow pointed out that though he is the current President, any Gambian citizen, including Ousainou Darboe could occupy the office of the President.
He emphasized the significance of prioritizing engagements on issues national concern.
Following the rejection of the Constitutional Review Commission’s 2020 draft by the National Assembly, Lawyer Darboe has made it categorically clear that he would not endorse any constitution that fell short of the Cherno Jallow draft. The Gambia government is now popularizing a new draft constitution referred to in some quarters as the Barrow Draft Constitution, which the government insists was designed to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the citizens.
However, Lawyer Darboe and the UDP has insisted that this draft has been watered down and that it’s not acceptable to his party.
The NPP insists that the CRC draft sought to erode the power of the President and according to Mr. Barrow, the country could not afford to have a powerless President as such leadership cannot run a country effectively because nobody will fear him, saying such a scenario would not help The Gambia.
“I think with this draft [2024], we can disagree to agree, but we can debate, discuss and be conscientious over it to have a new constitution. I think there are very good clauses in this constitution [2024]. The laws in this constitution can accommodate and help move this country forward,” said President Barrow in a recent interview with QTV.
The Gambian leader explained that term limit is encapsulated in the 2024 draft, saying he is a big fan of term limit.
“We have term limit in this constitution… We have absolute majority in this constitution for election. I am a big fan of term limit because it’s good for our institutions because when leaders overstay in power, they run out of ideas, you don’t have energy to move things forward and we don’t want that to happen in this country. So, I think these things alone should make us vote for this constitution to limit the president’s term. We want this constitution to pass and we want to engage anybody. I am more than willing to engage Ousainou Darboe directly,” he stated.
Mr. Barrow described Darboe as an important stakeholder in the Gambian politics as himself [president], stating that both of them sitting together to share ideas about this draft will be welcoming. He added: “I will be very happy and more than willing to sit with Ousainou Darboe to discuss about this draft for the supreme interest of this country.”
The President stated that he and Darboe are not enemies, adding that they all have good intentions for the country.
“That’s the only competition between us. The dialogue stands to benefit all Gambian citizens,” he elucidated.