Social and political commentator Cheikh Ahmed Cisse has contended that Talib Bensouda did not pin his hopes on the UDP flagbearer role, stating that the young mayor has instead hatched a grand scheme with the objective of pitching Gambians against the UDP leader.
Cisse recently told citizen journalist Pa Manneh that Bensouda had an elaborate plan to undermine Lawyer Ousainou Darboe due to his unbridled presidential ambition. Cisse claimed that Bensouda in furtherance of his presidential ambition jockeyed to gain the trust and confidence of wealthy businessmen in the country, giving them the impression that he could become a president.
Cisse argued that Bensouda used the UDP as a launchpad to establish strong business ties with businessmen with the goal of feathering his political nest.
“When Talib came to the KMC, he first shoved away the UDP and befriended the wealthy people in the country and became close to them. He created opportunities for them and dumped the UDP,” he maintained.
Cheikh Ahmed Cisse also argued that Bensouda used the UDP to empower himself.
“He used the party to establish himself. Due to the kindness of Lawyer Darboe, he was notwithstanding entrusting him with more responsibilities. But Talib on the whole was preying on the party,” stated Cisse.
He further stated that Bensouda was using the UDP to drive his political ambition unbeknownst to him that Darboe was in the know.
“He [Darboe] was patient with him in order to give him another chance but we saw Talib emerge again. After realising that he has strength because most of the youths in the UDP are with him and others started to shout out Talib, Talib…That was the time he should have shown his gratitude to the UDP and face Gambians and tell them that he is part of the UDP and whoever adores him should support the UDP to thrive. Talib said he wants to stand. Talib never wanted to stand. He wanted to force the UDP to accept him because he was a candidate. That is why he was acting decorous and behaving like an innocent person,” he stated.
Cisse asserted that the motivation for Bensouda’s application for the UDP flagbearer position was to pitch Gambians against Darboe by pretending to the citizens that his presidential prospect was thwarted by Darboe, despite being “a young and so-called winable candidate”.
