By Lamin Njie
President Adama Barrow said on Tuesday politics is not about the language ‘we speak’ as he led celebrations marking the country’s 55th independence anniversary.
On 18 February 1965, The Gambia shrugged off colonial rule and joined other newly independent West African nations. The country had lived under British rule for over half a century.
On Tuesday, thousands of Gambians gathered at McCarthy Square in Banjul for the country’s 55th independence anniversary.
In his speech at the event, President Barrow called for unity among Gambians, going as far as addressing the issue of ethnicity.
The president said: “Politics is not about the language we speak or the ethnic group we identify with, it is about the nation and development and future.
“While ethnicity contributes significantly to our richly splendid culture and stands out as a diverse source of strength, if weaponised for selfish reasons, ethnicity has devastating consequences. It has plunged many nations into protracted conflict, destruction and great instability.”
