The Yahya Menteng Sanyang-led Unite Movement for Change (UMC) delegation to Jarra Sukuta has found itself in an unfriendly environment as villagers expressed their disappointment in the team leader and the UMC for “betraying” the UDP.
The village representatives, who addressed the visiting UMC officials, the people of Jarra Sukuta will remain steadfast to the UDP for the attainment of its noble objective of ushering in a prosperous Gambia for all citizens. The speakers emphasized and re-emphasized that they form an integral part of the UDP and cannot enter any other political marriage.
“No-one co-opted us in the UDP. Ousainou found me in the UDP and he will leave me behind if he quits the party,” said an elderly villager Dembo Cham. He continued: “Ousainou didn’t form the UDP, we founded it and installed Ousainou as its leader. I can say that this village is with Ousainou. We are with Ousainou and we cannot enter another union.”
Respected village voice Alhaji Bakary Cham was the next to speak and when he spoke, he did not mince his words.
“As he rightly stated, we are all speaking in one voice. As he rightly said, Ousainou found this village already in the UDP. He will fall with us if he falls and he will rise with us if he rises up. And, we pray to God to give us whatever will be our source of peace,” stated Alhaji Fabakary.
“I heard the speakers and I pray to Allah that may we be at the intersection of good fortune. The issue is that the UDP came from a long way and it came when the country was in dire need. As the previous speakers detailed, Ousainou did not form the UDP in the way others founded their parties. I am aware that the time they were trying to form the party, the first person they approached [for leadership] drove them [founding fathers] away. That was the former director of Action Aid, Malamin Sonko. Malamin Sonko drove them away. From Malamin Sonko, they went to the former director of GPTC Ismaila Ceesay, but he too denied them access. That was the time they decided to approach Ousainou Darboe, who was at the time in the US. He was called and when he came, he accepted the challenge to lead the party.
He [previous speaker] is right. He [Ousainou] contested many elections in this country but he could not become the President. That probably is because Allah’s chosen time has yet to arrive because Allah decides everything. However, with the level of our awareness, we are convinced that if Ousainou didn’t win all the elections that were held in this country from 1996 to date, then it may be only one if at all he lost any. The reason Ousainou did not lead this country is because he does not want blood to spill in this country. This is why he did not force his way in.”
Alhaji Bakary pointed out that they have come to the realization that the youth betray the collective cause whenever they can.
“What we have also realized is that our youth-folk can betray the country. They can betray the country. We can count and the list will be long, but we needn’t do that because we all reside in this country, follow the developments and we are well aware of what’s going on,” he underscored.
He suggested that neither Yaya Menteng Sanyang or anyone can determine whether Darboe will become President.
“If at all you left the UDP because of leadership and the lack of confidence in Ousainou’s ability to become President, we leave everything to God because he decrees everything. No one knows what’s in store. You cannot take our fingers from our groundnut soup just on the mere promise of preparing another soup. That cannot be possible,” he stressed, adding: “Hon. Menteng, I knew you a long time ago. You knew my son, Sulayman Cham, who is a member of your constituency committee.
When the former MP [Saikou Marong of Latrikunda Sabiji constituency] betrayed the UDP, I used to be an avid follower of your interviews. I once told someone that I like this man for the sake of God because of his viewpoints. But when I realized that you had taken the same step that Saikou Marong took, I was monumentally disappointed.”
At that juncture, Menteng tried to cut Alhaji Bakary short and come in but some in the audience requested him to observe the Bantaba decorum and allow the speaker to continue since he [Menteng] had the opportunity to address the elders.
Alhaji Bakary then continued: “Why I was saying that is because it’s the UDP that gave votes to Saikou Marong, but he betrayed them in the House because of Barrow’s incumbency, followed Barrow and we couldn’t do anything about it. But his constituents taught him the lesson that it was them who voted him in and they voted him out and put you there. But if you also feel that Ousainou cannot be President and you will consequently believe in Talib’s electability, so be it. Rulership is decreed by God, He dishes it out to whosoever He wishes. You also followed in Saikou Marong’s footsteps.
I thought you would also join forces with us to sustain the party because Ousainou cannot outlive it no matter what. What we want to tell you is that this village was behind the UDP today and it will rally behind it into the future. And to be honest, we cannot play host to any party other than the UDP. We are not hosting Ousainou but the UDP. If at all you[ Talib people] were elected to lead the UDP during the party’s last election for a flagbearer, we will rally behind you. We would have endorsed Amadou Sanneh had the entire party endorsed him. We only go with the general consensus.”
In his response to the villagers, Mr. Sanyang, who was apparently hot under the collar, said:”I am also someone who doesn’t hide the truth. I went to Lawyer Ousainou Darboe on the second day of Tobaski. I informed him that I am here to greet you and we can also use the opportunity to pray for each other. I told him that if he vies for the presidency, I will not get what I want. I told him that our elders trusted him and this is why he stood unsuccessfully for five consecutive times.
But our elders have been struggling for a long time and they want their children to be something in the party and in the country. I also told Ousainou this and Mbemba Tambedou was sitting by his side at the time. I explained to him that if he vies, the UDP will split because of what other UDP members and Gambians were saying. I made it categorically clear to him that I will break ranks with the UDP if he seeks the flagbearer position. I emptied my chest to him with discipline and decorum.”
But the elders were unconvinced by Sanyang’s explanation. One of them put it to him that he went to Hon. Darboe with an ulterior motive.
“You went to greet Ousainou with your own agenda. You are a typical Mandinka and we are typical Mandinkas and we heard you crystal clear when you spoke,” one of the elders said.
