Numukunda Darboe, Lawyer DARBOE’S Son
By Buba Gagigo
The family of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has formally addressed a letter to the Inspector General of Police, raising concerns about what they describe as President Adama Barrow’s ‘threats’ against their father.
“As the immediate and extended family members of His Excellency Ousainu Darboe, we would like to express our deep concern regarding the recent remarks uttered by the President of the Republic, Adama Barrow, at a political rally in Brikama. At the said rally, the President made statements directly concerning our father. Footage of the statement went viral, and it triggered strong condemnation from a diverse spectrum of our society, both here and in the diaspora and across the political divide,” the family stated in their letter to the IGP.
The Darboe family expressed their alarm and distress over what they described as “dangerous” statements made by the President towards their father and questioned the motivation behind such remarks.
“Our father is the leader of the country’s largest political party and a former Foreign Minister and Vice President of The Gambia. Our father, in his role as leader of the main opposition party, is relentless in his pursuit of strengthening our democracy, promoting good governance and inherently holding the president and government accountable on important national issues. This, in our family’s opinion, is conventional in a democratic dispensation. Our deep fear and concern is that the President is prone to taking these criticisms personally, and as a result, he comes out and personally attacks our father,” they continued.
The family further noted that these attacks often lack political substance and are sometimes vulgar. However, they emphasized that this time, they cannot overlook the President’s latest comments. “Because, in as much as we try to be circumspect about the President’s ulterior motives behind making such dangerous statements, we are also fearful for our father’s personal security and safety. In his speech, The President mentioned “signing a contract”. We are deeply concerned as to what this contract entails and when and if it will be executed.” the letter reads.
The family warned that the President’s threatening statements could lead to both intended and unintended consequences.
“These statements are such that we cannot simply act like they are not as menacing as they are hurtful to all that care about the wellbeing of Hon. Darboe. We had wanted to write to you immediately as the IGP and the primary custodian of law and order, the protection of property, the prevention of crime and enforcement of all laws and regulations with which the police are charged.
“However, we did not want our concerns and message to be diminished within the uproar and unprecedented condemnation that followed. We wanted to wait until the dust settled to write to you for two reasons. First, we did not want our letter to be confused or seen as political. Second, we wanted to express our heartfelt hurt, anguish and anxiety within the immediate and extended family,” they said.
In expressing their love and respect for their father, the family highlighted Darboe’s lifelong dedication to the country, noting that he has “sacrificed his blood, sweat, and tears” to help free The Gambia from dictatorship through peaceful means and adherence to the law.
“He achieved all of these through peaceful means and the due process of the law. By this letter, we, as the family of Hon. Darboe, are formally notifying you that we view the President’s statements as veiled threats to our father’s wellbeing and life. For these reasons, we would like you to be acutely aware that if anything happens to our father, President Barrow could be held responsible. If you would like to speak to us to further discuss this matter, please let us know,” they concluded.