Gambian lawyer Assan Martin has delivered a blistering critique of the nation’s political leadership, targeting Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe in unflinching terms.
Speaking on Star FM’s Wakenup Gambia, Martin warned that personal ambition without ethics or vision could destroy political careers.
“Mr. Bensouda’s political career is almost over,” Martin said, describing the mayor’s departure from the UDP as a desperate and poorly thought-out move. “Some think that being a minister, mayor, or member of a football club qualifies them to be president. That is not leadership. A president must have authority and honor their word.”
While Martin supported Bensouda’s second-term victory as mayor, he noted that the mayor’s past decisions particularly regarding UDP flagbearership were guided by “bad political advice” and risked further political disaster. Martin emphasised that Bensouda, like other prominent figures including Yankuba Darboe and Rohey Malick Lowe, owes his current positions to circumstances, not a proven mandate for national leadership.
Martin also took aim at UDP leadership, describing the party as fractured and plagued by internal strife. He warned that even if Darboe became the flagbearer, a significant portion of party members could refuse to vote for him. He predicted that if Bensouda led, up to 75 percent of UDP members might withhold support.
On Darboe, Martin was equally blunt: “He has made lots of lapses in judgment. Politics is not about money or empty promises like ‘I am the one who can remove Mr. X.’ Leadership is about uniting the country and addressing the real concerns of Gambians.”
The lawyer called on politicians to focus on the country’s critical policy challenges, including defense, security, education, and healthcare. “These are the issues Gambians care about. They go far beyond holding the position of mayor,” Martin said, reminding listeners that the Gambian people fought hard in 2016 for democracy and will not be easily fooled or bought.
Martin concluded by linking President Adama Barrow and Darboe, saying both belong to “the same school of thought,” shaped by their time in the same administration a connection he believes has contributed to repeated political missteps.
Martin’s remarks are a stark warning to Gambian politicians: ambition without ethics or vision is a fast track to failure, and the people demand leaders who prioritise substance over personal gain.
