By Fatou Sillah
In a recent interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Dr. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture and Deputy National President of the National People’s Party (NPP), refuted claims that President Adama Barrow is power-hungry. He asserted that Barrow is more at peace outside the pressures of the presidency.
Dr. Sabally made these remarks in response to questions about President Barrow’s plans to build a retirement home. He emphasized that this decision has no bearing on the president’s intentions to seek re-election in 2026.
“His Excellency, President Adama Barrow, is going to be our candidate in 2026. Barrow is going to contest as the presidential candidate of our party. Building a retirement home has very little, if anything, as to whether you contest in 2026 or not. Barrow is a democrat, and definitely he is not power-hungry. In fact, he is more at peace not being a president than the stress of being president, because that is the kind of personality he has,” Dr. Sabally said.
He further argued that President Barrow has compelling reasons to continue leading the country, particularly to oversee major development projects that he has initiated but may not be completed by 2026.
“For him to see them through, he must continue the presidency at least into 2031. What happens after that, God knows,” he added.
Dr. Sabally affirmed that all genuine NPP supporters believe Barrow should remain at the party’s helm, at least until 2026, to ensure its continued growth and stability.
“But at the moment, all genuine NPP supporters agree with him that the party is young. And at this moment, it is best that he continues to lead the party, at least until 2026,” he said.
He added, “Look, this is the only party in this country, in fact, the only party that has ever built solid regional structures that are so solid with very well recognized headquarters. This is the party that is spread out from village to region to constituency across the country,” he stated.
Addressing concerns that the NPP would collapse without Barrow’s leadership, Dr. Sabally dismissed such claims, insisting that the party is built on a strong foundation.
“I mean, it has a very solid foundation. But to say President Barrow is our candidate in 2026, I mean to say if he is not the one, the party is going to crumble. That is not our belief. That is not the belief of the president. The belief of the president is that the party is young. Let’s help to grow it at least beyond 2026 as a team. After 2026, I think we are on solid footing to move on,” He Said.
Dr. Sabally concluded by distinguishing President Barrow’s leadership style from that of other African leaders, emphasizing that even his political opponents acknowledge that he does not seek to cling to power.
“President Barrow is not power hungry. President Barrow wouldn’t want to be president, just like all African leaders. I mean, even those who don’t agree with him, even the opposition knows that about him. Every member knows that about him, really. So the bottom line is, yes, I’m not saying President Barrow is going to retire in 2031, But President Barrow will lead us through 2026. So in 2026, he must lead from the center, lead the NPP, we pass the election, and he wins, and we move on,” Sabally asserted.