The opposition-led Kanifing Municipal Council leadership has been labeled as the enemies of development by President Adama Barrow, who also charges them of showing partiality in the allocation of coronavirus relief funds.

Barrow addressed citizens from several Kanifing Municipal Council districts personally at a combined meeting in Bandung, where he delivered these remarks.

Speaking to the assembly, President Barrow said that certain people—whom he called opponents and haters—spread false information, alleging that the appointment of coordinators is unlawful, after he announced the appointment of a coordinator for Banjul and KMC. “Beware of someone who is well-informed but hypocritical; they have the power to devastate an entire generation or nation and even the entire world.” May Allah save us from educated but hypocritical individuals,” he said.

Barrow stressed that because government officials were present in every other area, why weren’t they in Banjul and KMC, where they could support government development agendas? He questioned the reasons for the resistance to these selections, pointing out that the councils’ deficiencies must be filled in order to advance.

If the coordinator were there, Barrow said, “he would be a board member or chairman to supervise everything for the benefit of all the projects in KMC.” He said that the current KMC mayor could not represent the national government, much less an opposition council, even if he belonged to the governing party.

Not only are they opponents, but they also oppose the nation’s progress. Development in these areas won’t occur if these councils are run without a coordinator, he said. Barrow used the council’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 emergency food box distribution as an example, claiming that they gave preference to their supporters while ignoring others.

Barrow said that the new coordinators will have the authority to fulfill the public’s expectations. He made clear that he was determined to get rid of those in the administration who undermined his plans for national progress. “We won’t spend time on anybody. We want to grow this nation, therefore if you are not prepared for progress, we will remove you and move on. The Kanifing Municipal Council has several initiatives, and we will keep going, he said.