The secretary-general of Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has asserted that no weapon can succeed in destroying the UDP, lamenting that he has come to the shocking realisation that some UDP youths were being used by the party’s adversaries as weapons against the party.
In a powerful address to the UDP youth base on Friday, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe warned the youths of his party not to allow themselves to be weaponized against their own party.
The UDP leader capitalised on the moment to clarify that the Gambia’s biggest opposition party is not split into camps as touted.
“Those they said are in Talib camp, Yankuba camp and Rohey camp, there should be no camp. There should be only UDP camp. And anybody bent on pulling Talib down is not degrading Talib but the UDP, it’s the UDP that you are slowing down. Anybody, who wages a war against Yankuba Darboe, is not battling Yankuba Darboe but the UDP. And at the same time, those trying to fight Rohey are not fighting Rohey but the UDP. You have to be serious. Do not allow your enemies to use you as an instrument to destroy,” Darboe stated, adding, “Yesterday, we saw people who were ready to take a life just for the mere mention of the UDP and today, you want to allow yourselves to be used as a tool for those people to the extent that you are battle ready for Rohey Malick Lowe, Amadou Sanneh, Yankuba or Talib. If you are really committed to the UDP, you must desist from that. I have realised that our enemies of yesterday and even today, are using UDP members as weapons against us, propagating untruths.”
The veteran politician reiterated his call for the youths of the largest opposition party to be wary of the party’s “enemies”.
“I am not telling anyone to support anyone on falsehoods, but do not allow yourself to be used as an instrument,” he warned. He continued: “Our youths are being weaponized by our enemies against us. But God willing, the prayers that were offered for the UDP, the prayers that Kemeseng Jammeh offered for the UDP, the hardship that the likes of Lamin Ndambou Dibba endured for the UDP, the likes of Alhaji Sambou Kanteh, Ansumana Dibba, Aja Jambanding Drammehs…the hardships that they came across and the recitations of the Quran they did for the UDP, these foolish young people, who are being weaponized by people, cannot do anything to the party and this is the party that will rule in 2026. I have no doubt about that. Our ambition is to build so that you can take over from us, but you decide to destroy the man before we move. You cannot do it. You don’t have that blessing, tongue to disintegrate this party. Nobody can stop this party from reaching where it is headed for. What God wills for anybody in this party will come to pass but anybody, who wants to force himself through or people instigating you to do certain things, you are only destroying yourself. I swear, I am saying this with the greatest belief and without any fear of contradiction that 2026, UDP will rule.”
Darboe counselled youths to be conscious of the fact that the future belongs to them.
“Since 1996, the executive of the UDP never wavered from their principles. We never changed and we will never shift our position. This party will surely thrive. Anyone who wants to be with us can remain with us otherwise, you will be left behind. There is no doubt about that. Thank you. My statement is not borne out of anger but it’s a piece of advice to my children,” the UDP leader told his audience.
Earlier in his address, Hon. Darboe reiterated his call on UDP members to support each other “based on the truth”.
“I want UDP supporters to know that if you scheme against Amadou Sanneh, attempt to soil his reputation and destroy him, that will not be Amadou’s destruction but that of the UDP. Let’s desist from casting aspersions on the character of party members. Anyone, who is true to the UDP, should not resort to the media to severely criticise Amadou Kora if he does anything wrong, you are not divided by the sea. Call him instead to sort things out,” he stated. “We all have our wishes as there exists in the party those who do not want Amadou Sanneh to be the treasurer, others prefer someone else to the chief fund-raiser Zeinab whilst others prefer another deputy party leader to Aji Yam Secka. Every party member has a right to their wishes but the expression of these wishes should not take the form of peddling falsehoods against Amadou Sanneh, launching an unjustified fight against Amadou Sanneh just to destroy only Amadou when you are, in fact, destroying your own party. Let us be very mindful of our utterances. Whatever is written is already gone for public consumption because even if you delete it, others have already picked it up. It doesn’t make any sense.”
