The supporters of Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) have been tasked by the Serekunda West legislator to brace up to accord Lawyer Ousainou Darboe a hero’s welcome from his European tour, which is currently in full swing.
Addressing party faithfuls in a political gathering on Saturday, Serekunda West NAM Madi Ceesay challenged the UDP supporters to prepare to welcome their party leader in spectacular style.
Ceesay hinted that Darboe’s home-return provides an opportunity for the UDP to show its strength in a way that the world would not fail to notice.
He, therefore, issued a strong call for immediate mobilization, urging UDP regional chairpersons to settle down to the task and to also ensure that the date and time of Darboe’s home-return are widely publicised.
The lawmaker used the meeting to not only build enthusiasm around Darboe’s return, but to also preach party unity. He down-played concerns over recent resignation of key party figures, describing resignation as a normal and historic aspect of Gambian politics.
“Since the advent of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s political party, many people have decamped from his party and those people were not ward councillors, chairmen, or mayors,” Hon. Ceesay recalled.
He specifically mentioned high-profile departures from the PPP such as those of former vice president Sheriff Mustapha Dibba and Assan Musa Camara, who left the PPP to form their own parties. He stressed that those resignations “have not done anything to the PPP”.
He further recounted that Sir Dawda’s former finance minister Sheriff Ceesay also left the PPP to form the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA), reiterating that “resigning from a big party is a normal thing in politics.”
The Serekunda West lawmaker appealed for calm and urged the UDP supporters to neither “worry nor go anywhere.”
Despite the recent developments, Hon. Ceesay expressed confidence in the UDP’s prospect, asserting that the party will make it to the State House come 2026.
He issued a strong appeal for unity and dedicated work, urging party members to “vote massively for their party leader and close all gaps to ensure that no one comes in between them.”
Ceesay highlighted the commitment of UDP militants in Serekunda West. He revealed that the militants have, alongside others, committed to embark upon weekly visits to a particular ward to enlighten voters about the current realities so that when the time comes, UDP will be ahead.
Concluding his address, NAM Ceesay delivered a poignant message about individual commitment and accountability within the party structures, warning against complacency in leadership roles.
“For the UDP, no one can set us back because we have hardworking people among our ranks but if we think that the positions we are holding are made for us, then we are fooling ourselves,” he cautioned.
