In debunking presidential affairs adviser Momodou Sabally’s “wild allegations” against Talib Bensouda, the UDP Media Team described Sabally’s inconsistency of political thought as the “classic behaviour of a political opportunist who has traded principles for patronage”.
The team said Sabally in his “desperate attempt to ingratiate himself with his new political masters”, accused the mayor of the Kanifing Municipality of mis-spending the diaspora campaign funds during the 2021 general election. The Gambia’s largest opposition party’s media outfit went on to state that Sabally also “made wild allegations about disappearance” of fuel reserves kept at the KMC for the 2021 presidential election campaign.
The UDP categorically denied these allegations, describing them as figment of someone’s imagination orchestrated to besmirch “the impeccable reputation” of the young mayor.
The UDP team issued a statement on Monday, explaining that all UDP’s campaign funds, including diaspora contributions, are properly banked and managed under muscular fiscal guardrails.
“The party’s finance committee provides oversight on all funding with regular audits conducted,” the statement read. “The campaign committee has never been a custodian of party funds as falsely claimed.”
The UDP media arm said mayor Bensouda has remained a “pillar of support since 2018 and was a major donor to the party.”
“Besides, Mayor Bensouda self-funded his two mayoral election campaigns, and that speaks volumes,” it added.
The UDP described Sabally as “a political turncoat, who engages in character assassination, to please his New Paymasters”.
“Sabally, who until recently, was a vocal critic of President Barrow and the NPP KERENG KAFFOO (collective of squirrels), has shockingly transformed into their chief propagandist, using NPP-affiliated media platforms to spread malicious falsehoods against the UDP and one of The Gambia’s most effective local government leaders,” the UDP’s statement further read.
The UDP media team stated that Sabally’s “sudden political somersault from UDP campaign manager to NPP attack dog raises serious questions about his credibility and moral compass”.
“From Barrow critic to Bootlicker, Sabally shamefully metamorphosed to a praise-singer of Barrow and his NPP KERENG KAFFO. What makes Sabally’s attacks particularly galling is his history of fiercely opposing President Barrow before his sudden political U-turn; condemning NPP policies he now vigorously defends and claiming moral high ground while engaging in character assassination,” the team highlighted.
“This is the classic behaviour of a political opportunist who has traded principles for patronage. The same man who once called Barrow’s KERENG KAFFOO government incompetent now shamelessly sings his praises daily.”
The UDP said mayor Bensouda’s “unmatched development record is appreciated by the citizens of KMC”.
“While Sabally engages in mudslinging, Mayor Bensouda has been delivering transformative projects for KMC residents, including but not limited to: Mbalit Waste Management Project.” The UDP also reported that the KM mayor is revolutionizing sanitation and that his administration has secured a €3 million EU grant for environmental sustainability as he accomplished and continues to implement “multiple infrastructure projects to improve lives across the municipality. It also highlighted the construction of a multimillion dalasi modern library in the Kanifing Municipality as one of Bensouda’s achievements.
The UDP media team challenged Momodou Sabally to provide evidence for his “wild allegations” or publicly apologize and explain his sudden political conversion from Barrow critic to “chief propagandist”. It advised the presidential affairs adviser to focus on “substantive issues rather than manufactured controversies”.
“Sabally’s dishonesty with public funds has been laid bare by the Janneh Commission, which led to his ban from holding public office for life. Even his mentor, former President Jammeh, paraded him through the streets of Banjul in shackles for his dishonesty and lack of moral credentials,” said the UDP media team.
“Gambians deserve better than political hirelings attacking proven performers. While Sabally chases relevance through lies, Mayor Bensouda continues delivering real development for the people,” concluded the team’s statement.
