By Omar Bah, Standard Newspaper
The leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Omar Amadou Jallow alias OJ has launched a ferocious attack on Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) accusing him of being more concerned about the survival of his party than the peace and stability of the Gambia.
He accused his ministerial colleague of being the cause of the division and bickering in the heart of the coalition government at his party’s political rally over the weekend in Abuko.
Party leaders of the Gambia’s coalition government are embroiled in a bitter political infighting following their failure to agree on a common platform to contest the parliamentary election.
“As the Coalition parties had signed an agreement to govern the country for only three years before holding fresh general election, I suggested to my fellow party leaders that we should put up independent candidates for the parliamentary election just like we did in the last presidential election,” he said.
He continued: “I made it clear to them that in my position as leader of the PPP, I will never hesitate to sacrifice my party for the interest and security of the Gambia. As a leader, I am more interested in the political stability of the Gambia and the safety of Gambians and my children”.
Mr Jallow added: “Sadly, my suggestion was flatly rejected by Lawyer Darboe on the grounds that his party, the UDP, would die if it does not contest the election. He [Darboe] insisted that he will put up UDP candidates for the election and this is the cause of our problem.”
Mr Jallow said he is struggling to understand how the UDP leader could love his party more than the Gambia.
“How can you have more love for your party than your country?” he asked. ” I want Gambians to know that the PPP is under the leadership of the coalition government of President Adama Barrow and we would never have been in this turmoil today if other party leaders have accepted my proposal.”
Lawyer Darboe and at least two other Coalition leaders had earlier said they believed the method of contesting election as independent will be chaotic at the detriment of the parties and partisan politics as the candidates would be loosed cannons with no sense of belonging. Mr Darboe also proposed a tactical alliance under which Coalition members would put candidates where they have the most strength to be supported by all. However that option has since failed with all parties going their own way and contesting against one other in most constituencies.
