NPP – The Incumbent: President Adama Barrow
In 2016, our tiny nation, The Gambia, stood tall on the world stage. We did the unattainable—we overthrew a wealthy, brutal, and entrenched dictator by means of unity. A historic coalition of political events got here collectively and gave us our “Moses,” Adama Barrow, the person who was supposed to guide us to the promised land of democracy. The world cheered. We cheered. But what did we actually get?
From the onset, it was clear Barrow lacked the intelligence, imaginative and prescient, and management we desperately wanted. Even children warn us, “This guy is not impressive.” But the UDP, the strongest opposition occasion, vouched for him. They bought him as sincere, a person of integrity. We purchased it wholesale, satisfied that if the UDP believed in him, he was good for the nation. How mistaken we had been.
Once in energy, Barrow systematically dismantled the coalition, eradicating opposition figures one after the other. The solely occasion left standing was PDOIS, which by no means took an govt function within the first place. He even kicked out his political mentor, Ousainou Darboe, the very man who catapulted him to the presidency.
And then, in desperation, he sought an alliance with the very dictator we eliminated! Yahya Jammeh publicly humiliated him, calling him a donkey—and but, he nonetheless pursued remnants of the dictator’s occasion (APRC). Reason a few of us, giving him the good thing about the doubt, bolted out fast.
To his credit score, he efficiently cut up the APRC into factions: the “Yes to Barrow” camp and the “Jammeh loyalists” (or no matter complicated names they name themselves). It was like watching a circus. In all of this, Barrow turned his again on the very individuals who put him in energy— together with the diaspora, grassroots activists, and the victims of Jammeh’s brutal regime.
Instead, he embraced Seedy Njie and the likes, Jammeh’s right-hand man—the very man who fought tooth and nail with the dictator to make sure Barrow by no means turned president. When Jammeh was ousted, Seedy Njie absconded with the dictator, solely to be welcomed again by Barrow and rewarded with the place of deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. What a betrayal to our battle!
At least, underneath Barrow, we gained the liberty to say no matter we needed. He is mild-mannered and appeared innocent—a far cry from his predecessor. But delicate manners and harmlessness don’t construct nations. Leadership does. And in that division, he has failed spectacularly.
For the primary time in our nation’s historical past, industrial planes can’t land because of a scarcity of electrical energy. Corruption is uncontrolled, consuming away at each establishment, whereas the federal government drowns in sheer incompetence.
The destruction of forest parks for egocentric acquire continues unchecked, with lands being bought off to non-public residents, erasing our natural world. Even properties seized from the previous dictator—belongings that might have been used for presidency initiatives comparable to future parks, military barracks, colleges, and hospitals—are mysteriously being bought off.
Everything, from actual property to even Jammeh’s cattle, is being liquidated with out accountability, as if the state itself is up on the market. This stage of recklessness is unprecedented, and The Gambia is bleeding from it.
One of his most disgraceful acts was hiding behind constitutional loopholes to disenfranchise Gambian residents overseas from voting. The very diaspora that tirelessly fought for democracy and contributes practically a billion {dollars} to the financial system was shut out of the electoral course of by his occasion, the NPP, NRP, together with their allies in Parliament. It was a blatant betrayal, a calculated transfer to weaken opposition forces and preserve his grip on energy on the expense of democracy itself.
And now, as if two phrases of failure weren’t sufficient, Barrow is working for a 3rd time period—one thing that have to be discouraged, even when he had carried out exceptionally properly. The Gambia can’t afford to slip again into an period the place presidents endlessly cling to energy. Enough is sufficient.
UDP – The “Biggest Opposition”?
UDP claims to be the most important opposition occasion. They led the coalition, however when the federal government collapsed, what did they do? Declare battle on Barrow. Their chief, Ousainou Darboe, vowed to make the federal government ungovernable—regardless of his personal function in dissolving the coalition or turning a blind eye to its downfall, till Barrow dismissed him from the Vice President and Foreign Affairs ministry positions. Their politics is about absolute energy and management, not about The Gambia.
Organized? Yes. Disciplined? Absolutely. Smart? Without a doubt.
But right here’s the issue: they’re a particularly harmful occasion. They function with a cult-like mentality the place there isn’t any room for dissent—both you’re with them or towards them. The conceitedness, intolerance and bullying outline their strategy, permitting zero tolerance for opposing views. Their aggression is so excessive that many Gambians confer with them because the Janjaweed—a ruthless pressure that eliminates opposition. They are additionally dubbed ‘Sonkadoo,’ in Mandinka which means ‘quarrel kingdom,’ or ‘quarrel territory’ a reputation that matches them completely. They thrive on hostility, turning each disagreement into an all-out battle.
They rain insults on opponents like drunken sailors, harassing, intimidating, and threatening anybody who refuses to toe their line. Their obsession with energy is so intense that even those that respect their mind worry them on the poll field.
They run like a parallel authorities, utilizing threats and intimidation to silence opposition. We have witnessed this within the 2021 elections once they had been rounding up polling stations, checking on ‘foreigners’ who vote, intimidating these they think of not belonging. This was not only a political technique—it was outright voter suppression, an try to regulate and manipulate the democratic course of by means of worry and exclusion.
Their deep-seated anti-immigrant sentiment fuels their rhetoric as they constantly blame Fulas and Senegalese for his or her political failures, fearmongering towards so-called ‘foreigners’ to divide and management. They drown in their very own noise, mistaking it for nationwide recognition.
They misplaced the 2021 elections to Barrow and nonetheless can’t perceive why. The fact? Even a few of their sympathisers worry them and refuse to vote for them. Their occasion executives and members on the bottom and within the diaspora are sensible, educated, and very loyal. Some of their frontline leaders, together with Lamin Sanneh, Talib Bensouda, (Rohey Malick Lowe), and Yankuba Darbo, are daring, sensible, and severe intellectuals.
However, even with a contemporary face on the helm, if the occasion stays in management, many Gambians should hesitate to vote for them. Their aggression, intimidation, and intolerance maintain Gambians from entrusting them with final energy.
Imagine UDP in charge of the armoury, the military, defence, police, immigration, and intelligence providers. Imagine that. Just think about! Does. Hitler. Mein Kampf. Ring a bell?? Do we actually need that type of unchecked energy of their fingers? WE DARE NOT.
PDOIS – The Unwanted Saints?
Halipha Sallah and Sidia Jatta are political titans—principled, clever, and sincere. Yet for 30 years, Gambians have ignored them. Why? Because we love drama, corruption, and mediocrity. Instead of voting for integrity, we applaud thieves and demagogues.
The PDOIS report is spotless. No corruption, no betrayal. Just uncooked, unfiltered management. Why not give them an opportunity? What do we’ve got to worry? For as soon as, can we select honesty over theatrics?
GDC – Mama Kandeh, The Wild Card
Mama Kandeh is eloquent, courageous, however a spoiler in each election because of his pocket of loyal supporters—making him a harmful opponent. He understands our struggles and articulates them properly. The solely ‘scandal’ round him? He reportedly has many, many, many wives. Not our enterprise—however he ought to know that State House solely has room for 2. He stays a robust political pressure, one to look at in any alliance. He is a superb orator and might mix properly in any coalition.
The Sobeyaa Movement – Essa Faal, The Lawyer-Turned-Politician
Essa Faal entered politics on the final minute in 2021 and made no affect. He is a global lawyer who rose to prominence after presiding over the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
While Gambians appreciated his potential to carry perpetrators of Jammeh’s crimes accountable, we can’t overlook the numerous attorneys who risked their careers and lives to assist victims escape Jammeh’s brutality—Lamin Camara, Jobarteh, Antouman Gaye, Lamin J. Darbo, Borry Touray, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, Chey Yassin Secka, and even Pa Harry Jammeh, who, regardless of working underneath Jammeh, at instances confirmed empathy. And many different harmless civilians, Journalists, activists and politicians that misplaced their lives and jobs in that very robust period.
Unlike them, Essa Faal and his staff of ‘legal experts’ had been nowhere to be discovered through the robust years of dictatorship. Some of us held that towards him for some time. But no time for grudges now! Yet, he efficiently leveraged his TRRC fame into politics. Still, he’s articulate, clever, and undeniably sharp. His imaginative and prescient for The Gambia is obvious, and his phrases resonate.
Now, he believes it’s his time to contribute, take part, and save The Gambia. His message is obvious: he understands our predicament and is asking for our help.
Should we take an opportunity on him? WHY NOT? A contemporary begin is lengthy overdue. Maybe he’s the breath of contemporary air we’d like. Maybe, simply perhaps, he’s the disruptor who can shake up this damaged system. But let’s be clear—he has loads to show.
GMC, CA
We have Mai Ahmed Fatty of GMC, Dr. Ceesay of Citizens’ Alliance (CA), (Henry Gomez-not certain) already in alliance with NPP.
Women Must Rise!
It’s time for daring, fearless ladies to take centre stage: Lizzie Eunson, Touma Njie, Neneh Freda Gomez, Fatou Cham, Zeinab Darboe, Tukulor Sey, Niania Darbo, Ndey Jobarteh, Nancy Jallow, Fanta SB Manneh – to call just some from many. These ladies have the integrity, intelligence, and political acumen to guide—determined instances name for daring measures.
Our Predicament: The Ultimate Challenge
How will we rid ourselves of the ungrateful political monster that’s Barrow and the aggressive, illiberal, power-hungry UDP?
The UDP and NPP quarrels have price us some political peace, and each should go! Honestly, we’re drained BUT WE MUST create a mini revolution round these two events so The Gambia can breathe once more. Let the remainder of the opposition events’ band collectively and save The Gambia for a second time.
This is the query that defines our era. Gambia is at a crossroads. We can select management primarily based on integrity and competence, or we are able to keep away from pricey political mishaps that may set us again but once more.
The selection is ours. The Gambia’s future is on the road—what is going to we do? Enough is sufficient—our nation is held hostage by NPP & UDP leaders! From dictatorship to catastrophe—how will we repair Gambia? Who will break Gambia’s curse? The folks should resolve. Gambia should rise. Now. AIWAA
By Fatou Jaw Manneh
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