Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Party Leader of APRC
By Buba Gagigo
Fabakary Tombong Jatta, leader of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), has firmly denied rumors suggesting that the party’s alliance with President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) ended after the last election cycle.
Speaking during the APRC’s 9th National Congress on Saturday, Jatta clarified the continuity of the alliance, emphasizing its ongoing nature.
“What I want to leave with you is that the APRC is in alliance with the NPP and other parties. I want to make that very clear because there is too much talk. I even had some of our APRC members say the alliance is finished after the election. Those are false statements. They are not true. Our alliance with the NPP continues from the day we signed it until the next election. We are a party that doesn’t spit and eat it again.
Jatta stressed that the alliance, signed before the last election, remains in effect until the next election cycle. He reaffirmed the APRC’s commitment to honoring its agreements.
“President Barrow has given us maximum respect throughout. So anyone who tells you the alliance was just for the last election, they don’t know what an alliance means. That’s why I don’t respond to them because their intentions are to destroy. We leave them with God; that’s why we don’t reply, but it is good to say it here because all of us are here today,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jatta acknowledged that the continuation of the alliance after the current term would depend on consultations with party supporters.
“That depends on you, the supporters. It was you that we came to before going into this alliance (with the NPP). You gave us the go-ahead; that’s why we went for it. If you tell us not to go, we will not, but If you tell us to go for an alliance, we will. All of us who observe what will bring peace for all of us. We put Gambia first before APRC.”
Reflecting on the party’s challenges over the past three years, Jatta noted the difficulties faced due to misinformation and external pressures.
“There are people who are ready to see APRC die. Your (APRC Supporters) believing in God and hard work is the reason why we reached this stage today. Whoever believes in God and works hard, the rest is for God. Let’s continue to work hard and leave the rest to God,” he said.