By Buba Gagigo
The National Youth President of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has asked former Vice President Fatoumata Tambajang to address President Adama Barrow’s campaign messages before reconciliation.
MC Cham Jr’s remarks followed a call by Madam Jallow-Tambajang to reconcile President Adama Barrow and political father, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe, former political allies turned bitter rivals.
“Reconciliation is very good in a country but opposition is also good in a country. What has happened for us to reconcile? My Mum Fatoumata Tambajang should first address Barrow about the tribalism messages that they were using during the (Presidential) campaign. We have seen Hamat Bah telling the Fulas to support Barrow, Dembo By-Force told the Mandinkas not to vote for UDP because they will suppress the Wolofs, and the Fulas, if they win. She should have come out at that time to address these statements because tribalism is not good in any country. She should have called a press conference or met the President to address the issue. However, she didn’t do that. Even Jammeh has never taken the PIU to Darboe’s house and sprayed teargas,” Mc Cham Jr said on Kerr Fatou’s ‘Politic Kaacha’ on Tuesday.
Sheriffo Baiyo Sonko of the United Democratic Party (UDP) also added that the UDP would only accept reconciliation when the president and his people accept that they stole the election and give power to the ‘rightful winner’, which he said is ‘UDP’.
He also said Fatoumata Tambajang cannot be a mediator of peace between Darboe and President Barrow saying, “someone who said Darboe contributed to her sacking as vice president- how can that person reconcile Barrow and Darboe? We are saying justice before reconciliation”.
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang is a Gambian politician and activist who served as Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women’s Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018, under President Adama Barrow. She recently called for reconciliation between President Adama Barrow and political father, Lawyer Ousainu Darboe.
Despite the former Vice President not publicly condemning the remarks referenced by Cham, it is not a crime for her to call for reconciliation between fellow citizens, as an activist.