By Mustapha Ceesay
Political Science Lecturer, University of The Gambia, Essa Njie expressed that he expected the Citizens’ Alliance (CA) – The National People’s Party (NPP) alliance as there were ‘signs’ signalling a sort of a ‘marriage of convenience’ between the 2 parties.
“I wouldn’t say I am surprised to be honest. I think every ardent follower or observer of Gambian politics, especially when it comes to the recent saga that Citizens’ Alliance as a political party has undergone, you should be able to easily conclude that we expected a sort of a marriage of convenience between the Citizens’ Alliance and the National People’s Party,” he told this reporter in an interview Sunday night.
Njie added that the signs of the alliance have been ‘manifested openly’ especially in the behaviour and the utterances of the CA leader, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, prior to the announcement.
“So, we have seen this manifested openly; especially in the behaviour and the utterances of the party leader, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay. Especially, when he appeared on Kerr Fatou…After the show, I said this to the people that Ismaila granted the interview, specifically to prepare the minds of Gambians that he either would one day cross carpet or form a political alliance with the NPP. That is to say, he will jump the ship to the NPP. I think that was very clear. He did a very good PR for the government in that programme, so to speak. It was out there. Everyone knew it. In fact, he said he was ‘young and naive’ when he uttered words against President Barrow, referring to him as someone who ‘lacks the intellectual pedigree and someone who is clueless’, which is really sad,” he said.
The popular political science lecturer disputed Dr. Ceesay’s claim of being ‘young and naive’ at the time he referred to President Barrow as ‘clueless’ and someone who lacks ‘the intellectual pedigree’ to govern The Gambia.
“For God and heaven’s sake, Dr. Ceesay was 43 when he was making those remarks against President Barrow. He was educated (had a PhD), he was exposed; he had a PhD in Political Science and of course, (he) has travelled this world. So he can’t claim to be young and naïve,” Essa disagreed.
The erudite UTG lecturer referred Dr Ceesay to leaders like Thomas Sankara who took over the leadership of Burkina Faso at 33 years, younger than Dr. Ceesay at the time with a vision for Burkina Faso, before his vision to transform Burkina Faso into a much-transformed society was thwarted by the betrayal of his closest collaborator, Blaise Campoare.
He also cited the likes of Steve Biko who led an anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa aged 17, also younger than Dr Ceesay at the time; and Emmanuel Macron of France who came to Presidency aged 40, still leading the most powerful countries in the world, a permanent member of the security council.
“So, Dr. Ceesay cannot claim to be young and naive at the time. I think it’s really unfortunate that he uttered such a statement,” he said.
The Tallinding-born Kiang-origin also said the ‘silence’ of the Citizens’ Alliance party over the ‘high’ cost of living, security situation of this country, among others, signalled the party’s readiness for the partnership.
“All those remarks from Dr. Ceesay and of course, the silence of the party, the Citizens’ Alliance not holding press conferences, not concerned about the blatant violations of the laws of this country by the present Gov’t, not also concerned by the rampant decentralised corruption in this country under the Barrow Gov’t, not also concerned by the high cost of living in this country, not also concerned about the security situation of this country, not also concerned about the realities of this country, showed that the Citizens’ Alliance as a political party under the leadership of Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was really ready to sell the party (CA), to sell their soul, and of course, to jump the ship to join the NPP. So, I wouldn’t say that I am surprised by this move. We all saw this coming. The signs were all there written vividly for everyone to see,” he stressed.
The Citizens’ Alliance leadership, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay on Saturday after forming an alliance with the NPP at a meeting with the NPP leader, President Adama Barrow made public the CA-NPP alliance for the 2023 local government elections.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has insisted that the partnership between his party and the National People’s Party (NPP) is for the “best interest” of The Gambia.
Others, including the National Youth President of the Gambia Democratic Congress, MC Cham Jr. have spoken against the alliance between the opposition CA and ruling party NPP.
MC Cham Jr. has expressed to this medium, his “fervent” disappointment over the recent partnership by the National People’s Party (NPP) and Citizens’ Alliance (CA).
“I write to register my fervent disappointment over the partnership between Citizen Alliance and National People’s Party because many have seen Citizens’ Alliance in the early days of their activities as a party founded on principles, democracy, honesty, transparency and accountability in the pursuit and defence of the nation’s interest,” he said.