Written by Pa Nderry MBai
Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has branded the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) voter registration patrol team as bunch of thugs, who are bent on destabilizing the tiny West African country, The Gambi
“ For the history of this country, we have never seen people being profiled this way. We have never seen a political party operating a patrol team monitoring voter registration centers, profiling people, saying who is a citizen and who is not a citizen, not in Jawara’s government, not in Yahya Jammeh’s government. It is happening today in The Gambia. The UDP party is profiling people in this country, these are thugs bent on destabilizing the country,” Barrow remarked.
Barrow warns that the conduct of the UDP thugs is a recipe for instability, as he vehemently condemned it.
“Who are they to determine or define who is a citizen of this country? They have been branding everyone as a foreigner. I even heard them saying that I am not a Gambian. They said my last name is not Barrow, but Barry, that I am from Guinea Conakry. These people are thugs who are determined to set this country on fire,” he added.
Barrow has called on Gambians to resist UDP’s politics of bully and terror.
“These guys are not in government yet and they are profiling people, they are preventing people to be registered, causing disturbances at voter registration centers. Imagine what would happen if they are in government? No one would be safe in this country if they are in government, I mean the the UDP, these are criminal thugs, they have no respect for the rule of law. They are questioning virtually everyone’s citizenship. They are behaving as if they own this country,” Barrow told the local government leaders.
He has advised the Chiefs and the Alkalos not to be afraid in executing their duties and functions. He also implored them to consider the opposition as opponents of the government.
“ if you support them, you are supporting your downfall. You should treat them as your opponents. You are part of the government,” said Barrow.
President Barrow has also queried what he called Sedat Jobe’s hypocrisy and political double standards. Sedat Jobe was Gambia’s Ambassador to France. He is a top UDP surrogate.
“ Sedat Jobe recently wrote to the Senegalese High Commissioner advising him to restraint his citizens not to meddle in the upcoming Gambian elections. He acted out of malice to traffic fake information. The relationship between the two counties no one can jeopardize it,” Barrow stated
Barrow added that the likes of Sidat Jobe are up to no good. He accuses Jobe of trying to smear the image of the country.
Barrow is also concerned about the UDP leader’s endless press conferences. He said Darboe was brave enough to be vocal during Jammeh’s regime as he manifests today.
a. Barrow made the statement today at the State House while addressing chiefs and Alkalos, who paid a courtesy call on him, to reaffirm their support for The Gambian leader, ahead of the December 4th Presidential elections.