President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has used a meeting with his supporters to boast about his popularity with the electorate.
Mr Barrow said he is the right person to lead the country and he will continue to work hard to develop the country to a level never seen before.
While failing to reveal whether he will step down from office next year as part of a coalition agreement in 2016 or whether he will form his own political party, the president said he encouraged by the unprecedented multitude of people who stormed his office regularly to pledge their support and loyalty to his leadership.
“When I was selected to lead the Coalition [of opposition parties in 2016] a friend of mine came to my house to warn me about the risk I was about to take, but I told him I have climbed the tree already and nothing can bring me back because the Gambian people have hope in me and I was not prepared to disappoint,” the president told a visiting delegation from Niumi and Jokadu at State House.
“Many Gambians were pessimistic about my ability to lead the country but now it is clear that I am the right person for the country.”
The president who defeated former President Yahya Jammeh in December 2016 said he is the first Gambian opposition leader to unseat a sitting president through elections and Gambians should expect more from him.
He added: “There used to be opposition leaders in this country, Sheriff Dibba and others were here with former President Jawara, but none of them was able to win elections in this country. I am the first opposition who won an election in this country. It has never happened. So people should expect the unexpected under my presidency.”
Alright! It’s becoming clear that this whole popularity thing is getting into Barrow’s head.
However, we shall live to see the outcome in the next elections as I believe that Gambians now clearly understand where and how to cast their votes!
The fellow clearly has got his head in the clouds and here lies the danger of having buffoons in positions of leadership!!
In Manding the adage goes, NYO LONG KUNDA, MANG KONTONG NYININKAA KANING.
I think Sir, the more important and pressing problems facing our nation are:
1. Economy
2. Healthcare
3. Education and
4. Infrastructure
One can safely say that most citizens who are unable to provide for themselves and their family are looking for results of work product such as:
1.How many jobs have been created.
2.How have we improved our healthcare system.
3.How many household earn above minimum wage.
4. How many children have access to free education, to name a few.
Gambians don’t care about who is popular or not. They care about who delivers results.
It is now clear that the only achievement post Jammeh is ……. I can’t name one.
An F grade does not make a President popular. So far that is your grade Sir.
God I thought we have gone beyond this point by now. This is sickening.
Are you ok?
Big job on the way
Not unexpected from a man who only measures his success by projects built through expensive loans, and no one should be surprised if he goes on to become another 2 decades President.
The architects of the game are already hard at work and Gambians aren’t showing that they’ve learnt any lessons.
Hey Bourne. Saaku Horom Angi Santa Def Chi Chinn.
So Bii Domorr Foday, Dinanu Ko Toga Bemu Saff Sap Beh Nopi Deff Ko SARRAHHI Kambi Bolongo!!
Kinda like KAUR SADAA! Hehe!
And then we’ll vote him away singing,
FODAY NYING KILLING TABAA TABAA SUMBU LAA…
Eh Andrei Gromyko and Dr Derr Torr are still here.
Bourne, I dare not skip your questions albeit that I think you may be trying to pull my leg here.
1. Yes I will vote in the upcoming elections as it is every Gambian’s inalienable right to do so.
2. The candidate that I’ll vote for hasn’t arrived on the scene yet!
3. Diversity is not a critical element in my opinion at this moment in time. May the best candidate win.
4. The candidate doesn’t have to be from academia or a half baked Suu Korma PhD. Overall, they tend to be overrated, self serving, weak in spirit, ambivalent and haven’t served Africa well. Just take a good look at the Gambian President’s advisers.
5. YES Bourne, I believe that I’d make a great president as I can serve out both the carrot and the stick.
I’m a good judge of character and can put together a great and well motivated team to lead. Not afraid to deal with sackings either where the public trust was breached.
About PDOIS, uhmm uhmm, I like both Halifa and Sidia on account of character that’s worth emulating. However, I believe that PDOIS isn’t quite ready to lead The Gambia and that the party has had insurmountable problems with messaging and growing the leadership cadres. I will be quick to add that I’m perturbed by Halifa’s wish to not seek another term in the legislature as the body will certainly be watered down on account of his departure. Where my choice of a candidate doesn’t arrive in good time Bourne, I will vote for PDOIS out of pragmatism. So Bax, here’s your work cut out for you to win me over. Smile.
Eh Darboe Kundanko! Nsanaw.
E Ning Baara. E Wuli Ta?
Benna Kinolu Ning Tiya Duurangolu Ko Nyadi Angalterre?
It’s great to hear from you.
Yes Andrei Chipsenko is still alive and kicking. I did go by Kombo Duuma and Bombadaa in December and had lunch at SANDELE Lodge in Kartong.
Andrew, great to know that PDOIS is an “open” option for you. I hope Bourne also has PDOIS as an “open” option in 2021. I do not agree that PDOIS is not ready to lead. I think it is more than ready to lead and today, it wouldn’t be controversial to claim that is the only credible alternative to take The Gambia into the Third Republic.
I would also like to vote in the next elections, but my worry is the escalating internal war of words between the Darboe and Barrow camps within the UDP. I am fearful, given the ferocity, vociferous and toxicity of the competition between these camps, that physical violence could erupt between them, if Barrow decides to break away, form his own party or alliance of parties, and contest in 2021. The signs are all there and we must not ignore them.
Bourne, I found that you placed “and also heavy investment in agriculture“ at the bottom of the list. I’m parsing out your piece here like I always do. And it’ll be Mbahali Tamaateh or NAA DAA this time around. Cheers.
If I’ll reiterate my stand on agriculture and hopefully echo Dr Sarr’s sentiments on feeding our hungry nation, I’d say that A Hungry Nation will never make headway until the population is well fed. Consider our “big wayward brother” that is Nigeria as an example! Don’t they keep digging themselves into a hole at every turn?
My message to you and others that are sitting on the fence when it comes to voting is to not let terror tactics employed by buffoons in The Gambia deter us from showing up to vote in the upcoming elections or allow Haadama Barrow and Wisainou to stay for five (5) years.
You can’t count on cheap popularity or your predecessors’ flaws when looking to provide vibrant and objective leadership that’s worthy of emulation.
Haadama and Wisainou have been there for more than two years but haven’t delivered anything but HYPE, HOPE AND SYMPATHY! It also appears that the current leadership in The Gambia is incapable of articulating key facets of their own National Development Plan or selling the same to the population. All they know to offer are shiny objects that unwary Gambians, busy as they ostensibly are, at the Masjids and Majilisses are quick to grasp and latch on to. Then to add insult to injury, the president (no caps) hires odd buffoons together with aspiring PhD candidates and run of the mill “intellectuals” to fill advisory roles on the poor taxpayers dime.
Here’s exactly a rerun of the old PPP and APRC schemes.
However, we must agree to give the devil his due for Yaya Jammeh did go for big and bold programs at the outset albeit being labeled white elephants.
The Banjul International Airport that’s emblematic of his regime is certainly expandable and is miles ahead of the chicken coop of an airport terminal that the PPP was glad to live with while carting away The Gambia’s fortunes to overseas accounts.
The Farafeni Hospital is still usable and could be transformed into a full fledged regional hospital. Schools were also built but the fact remains that Gambians are just so poor at the upkeep of new or existing facilities that everything keeps crumbling. Then we go borrowing to fix our own mess! Quite a contrast from the shiny Khaftans and suits that we see with local “bosses”.
They will carry every resource home. Even the laundry soap, hospital blankets and Lysol sanitizer. The repair budget doesn’t see the light of the day either.
I have said and will say it again that the worst enemies and obstacles to progress in The Gambia are public servants in central government and public corporations.
Yes, we hear you from the diaspora that you haven’t been beyond the shores of The Gambia but you’ve made it! Certainly through theft, plunder and The Gambia’s self inflicted Dirimocracy.
Now, here’s what Wisainou and Haadama are sprucing up for MO’s. What have they got to show for accomplishments thus far? ZILCH, I’d say!
Agricultural production is at the lowest ebb.
No medicine at the main hospitals.
Nosocomial infections galore at local hospitals.
Expectant mothers have to take their own bedsheets, towels and laundry soap to the maternity clinics for childbirth.
The majority of home based doctors are quacks!
The foregoing are nothing to be proud of.
One still has to BEG for good customer service at local banks and offices albeit that you’ve got your own hard earned money in the same banks on top of your taxes paying for public officers’ salaries. First I get a strange stare and a frown (scare tactic) because the clerk thinks that I’m a NYAKK. Then I speak a local language fluently and then surprise surprise, the clerk says, Haye, Dama Forgon Neh NYAKK Nga Di.
Where do you come from?
In disgust I retort that I come from BAJONKO TO. Then I walk away with all my cash including the ragged looking Ten Dalasi bills.
So Bourne, not voting isn’t an option. Where we couldn’t cast a ballot, our hands, mouths, eyes and other resources must be employed to make a difference.
This is exactly what HAADAMISAINOU is gonna give us! Alas, Yaya Jammeh’s BIG MAN syndrome is making a comeback while the poor get poorer.
So let’s all go to sleep with one eye open. Otherwise we may live to see FAR Ltd do exactly as Bourne predicts. And that’ll be siphoning off our oil galore with no checks in place save for a Kiangko and a Mayor, that’s a FAR blue eyed boy. Exactly how oil companies sink far reaching pipes into the very fabric of African society and governments.
And folks, I’m neither angry nor feel like I’m missing out on the fruits of the office. Just sickened that my dear GAMBIA is again being ripped off!
Folks if we have to buy air time or slots on Senegalese and international media to counter the lies and misinformation, let’s do just that!! It’ll happen this time around.
And we shall sing, HAADAMISAINOU BONDO TEH BAYI LAA!!
Couldn’t help miself again Bourne. I can be self-deprecating too. All for a good cause. Smile.
ACHTUNG Babu Soli!!
@Andrew: “In disgust I retort that I come from BAJONKO TO.”
Wait a minute, Andy! Which Bajonkoto are you referring to? Is it the one by Tabokoto?
The BAJONGKOTO that I share with my great SII NYOLU Maudo BAX, Bra Bourne, Afang Bajaw Demba Duu and Baa Ko Mwalimu. All under the shining TILLY BO sunlight! All while my Darboe Kunda Taadibo took a hike.
Smile.
I meant my Darboe Kunda Taalibo. My bad!
All those sitting on the fence and wondering whether PDOIS could be an alternative to the decadent status quo, I can assure you that the leadership is always ready to engage in dialogue with citizens and even change their positions if a superior idea emerges.
That’s an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and responsive party that recognizes that times change, and so we need to adapt to the challenges and the realities that present themselves.
And one more thing: Ba Koo Mwalimu will from now on take it upon himself to collect all serious questions from this Bantaba and personally get answers to those question or queries from the leadership of PDOIS or any designated person for that matter.
Resignation should not be an alternative. We need to keep hope alive and fresh. Especially in this critical times.
Bravo Mwalimu.
I must admit that I treasure the extent of commitment, resolve, fervor and sense of purpose that permeates the PDOIS structure. Tells me that the membership (BARRA MAALU/PILLARS) are well vetted and groomed in the true belief of the French term, “Immersion”. I note the congruence in viewpoints and speech that’s absolutely commendable.
See, there are quite a number of traits that I appreciate about PDOIS but I still do not believe that their tent was designed to be large enough at the outset to accommodate all world views.
Thus Mwalimu comes out with the qualifier that follows:
“That’s an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and responsive party that recognizes that times change, and so we need to adapt to the challenges and the realities that present themselves”.
Leads me to believe that BAX presents a richer and more pragmatic leadership role when compared to the noble Karanta To Karamo.
No need for a rebuttal as I believe that my thoughts reflect my embrace of pragmatism to “adapt to the challenges and the realities that present themselves” in these changing times that are inherently richly bestowed with opportunities for inclusion and compromise.
Teyrry Maa Andy is waiting for clues that truly reflect that PDOIS’ is the “responsive party that recognizes that times (indeed) change”.
Each and every Gambian has the inalienable right to belong to any political shade, ideology or belief system and is also free or at least should be, to propagate such in conformity to the laws of the country.
You can do some further reading of the alternatives offered by DOI here: http://pdois.com
If still that does not answer the issues important to you as a citizen and a voter, there is always a way to find it.
The above is also no effort at rebuttal.
Bourne, Mbahalu Tamaateh, Mbahalu Netteh Tuu Akk Kobo Bu Lakk, Sombi, Laahh, Tiya Kerreh Sato, Bukolo, Naa Daa and the popular Fana Fana coat of arms, Cherreh Mbuum Akk Dimba, all symbolize the basic tenets of Senegambian culinary experience. Also points to the humility and simplicity that has been long associated with traditional cuisine. Am I making your mouth water? There’s no frying associated with any of the fares but just a simple boil. And they all come out tasting great though!
OK I’ll stop here before Bajaw calls me out for the other Domorr Laa Baa or Bisaalo! Smile.
Bourne you must learn to take cues from simple Mansaalingolu, Taamangserolu and what the Wolof call CHAHH. What’s Chahh you may ask?
That’ll be a research undertaking for you my friend. You may also seek help from a guy called Samba.