By Buba Gagigo
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Organizing Secretary of the United Democratic Party (UDP), addressed ongoing discussions about his potential candidacy as the party’s flag bearer. Speaking during a recent interview with Kerr Fatou, he clarified that he has never expressed an interest in becoming the UDP flag bearer and cannot control public perceptions about him.
“First of all, I want to say it is politics. People have different opinions. People have different people they like and follow. Even in any company, everybody has an office they answer to. My office is the organizing secretary’s office. So naturally, the campaign manager reports to me, as do the deputy organizing secretary and the deputy campaign manager. So if you want to back that group as a ‘Kafo’ within a ‘Kafo’, that’s unreasonable. Because when you look at the people I work with on a daily basis in the party, those are the people,” Talib said.
He acknowledged that those accused of being part of his “team” are actually members of the campaign and organizing structures, but emphasized that this stems from his position as Organizing Secretary.
“Those are the people who are in the campaign and organizing structures, but I am the campaign and organizing chairperson. Now, of course, when we come to party politics and the future of the party, many people have different opinions, and certainly I’m not going to sit here and deny that I have not heard opinions about me and my prospects. But I have had opinions about me and my prospects since I entered politics, which is natural. Every politician in the UDP, at least every prominent politician, has people who have a view that they could be the next leader. But that is not within my control. I cannot control what people perceive of me or what people’s opinions are of me. Some like me. Some don’t like me, which is natural, but we must be mature. The UDP is a Democratic Party,” Talib said.
Talib highlighted the democratic nature of the UDP, emphasizing that both the party’s constitution and its policies align with democratic principles. He pointed out that many of the party’s actions reflect this commitment.
“When you look at our selection of candidates, when you look at our Congress, yes, it’s not pretty, but it is democratic. Sometimes the person you expect will win, or the person you want to win and the person you campaign for does not win. We’ve had it at every level, from the councilor level to the MP level to the mayoral level. Now, the reason why this one is much talked about is because it’s the highest position in the party. That’s why everybody is just talking, but I was not aware that there were applications open for that position,” he said.
He pointed out that public scrutiny of politicians is normal, and building a strong base of supporters is part of the political process. However, he cautioned against accusations within the party, noting that unity is key. “I guess that is normal, right? But every politician must always continue to build their base. Must always continue to do politics,” he said.
When asked whether this applied even beyond a politician’s constituency, he responded, “Absolutely. Every politician I’ve encountered has KAFOs that have embraced them as father figures across the country. Whether they hold office or not, they have children in Basse, children in Jarra, children everywhere. It’s a common thing when a KAFO approaches you and says, ‘I really admire you, I want to make you the father of our group.’
“You’re not going to say no, right? And every politician enjoys that. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, to build their platform for whatever the future may hold. Maybe your platform will make you a minister, an MP, or something else entirely. What we need to avoid as a party, in order to maintain unity and peace, is pointing fingers at one another.”
When asked if he intends to push Darboe aside and take over the leadership of the UDP, he responded:
“I neither have the power nor the desire to do so. Darboe is a father figure to all of us, an iconic leader of the party, and almost like a spiritual guide. He’s someone we all admire, and I personally hold him in great love and respect. So, when people say I want to push him out, where is the evidence? You haven’t heard it from me, and I haven’t told anyone that.
“It’s just people’s opinions. Maybe some say, ‘I prefer Talib as a leader,’ but how can I be blamed for someone else’s opinion? This happens with many prominent figures in the UDP. There are people who openly express their preference for other leaders, but it’s never turned into a big deal. So why is it that when someone mentions Talib, it becomes a controversy?”
When asked about the frequent criticism he faces whenever he is mentioned as the party’s flag bearer, he acknowledged that this has been a challenge since he entered politics.
“This is coming both from the NPP and the UDP. I expect it from the NPP. They’re our rivals, and I don’t expect them to say anything good about me. I only expect bad things, but I certainly don’t expect it from UDP, right? Even if there was an opening, which I’m not aware, We compete on a healthy basis. Because if you defeat the other camp, or you defeat Talib, and you are the one who is selected, you certainly need Talib’s support and willingness to support you. So this is where maturity comes into place. Now, UDP is a party of process. It is what is written in our Constitution. But of course, there’s an unset rule when it comes to Darboe, we all revere, we all respect, and we all adore him. He has not stated his position. So why are you forcing others to state their positions,” he said.
In response to those suggesting he should publicly state his lack of interest, Talib asserted that such an action contradicts the democratic principles of the UDP.
“Why would I ever do that in any world? Number one, I don’t owe anything to anybody to say that. Number two, it is highly undemocratic, and that is not UDP’s values. Number three, it is not the time. Number four, our party leader has clearly repeated time after time. Stop this flag-bearer topic. Let’s focus on holding the government accountable. When the time comes, I, the party leader, will chart the way and tell you what’s going to happen in the next few months. So basically,” he said.
Talib Ahead Bensouda also called on all United Democratic Party militants to calm down and focus. “I certainly have not declared what my interests are, and I will not at this point in time. When the time comes and I know what I want to do, then I will state it, and I have made it categorically clear. I said, I am a citizen of this country. You can insult me, you can say whatever you want, but I have my democratic rights, my choice to be,” Talib said.
The KMC mayor expressed his commitment to the UDP, emphasizing his alignment with its values. Stating, “I love the party. I love the party leader as our leader, and I highly respect and revere Him for everything he has done for this country. And I will till the day I die. I know the reason, sometimes I’m very comfortable and calm. I say, Well, you know, look at the people who are saying these things. As far as I’m concerned, the person who I most care about, who I listen to most, who is the party leader, is 100% confident in me, 100% adores me, and 100% supports me. So at the end of the day, it is opinions, but what I also don’t want is these push and pull, these rivalries, these perceived threats, to keep damaging the insides of the party,” Talib said.
When asked if he uses individuals like Mark Janneh and Yunus Hydara to advance his agenda, Talib dismissed the claims, stating he has never spoken to Mark Janneh and has no relationship with Yunus Hydara.
“I have never spoken on the phone with Mark Janneh. I don’t have a relationship with Yunus Hydara. The first time I had him talk about we having a relationship, I think, was around this controversy, and I found that it’s through a Jawara Kunda connection. These are the opinions of people who have their own opinions, but I have had opinions that diverge from those of these people who are marking other candidates, other than the party leader and myself.
“But why is it so devastating when somebody says, Oh, Talib is my preferred leader? Why? Why is that so devastating? That is that person’s opinion. And you certainly cannot tie that person’s opinion around my neck and say, Oh, the reason he’s saying this is because Talib is fueling him. And remember, at the end of the day, the UDP is a party that has a long history. It is a party that has been around. And what we’ve seen the founding members and the former party members used to do is they used to hold each other tightly,” he said.
Talib called on UDP supporters to prioritize unity, stating that division only leads to weakness.
“There’s only a weakness in division. So even if you are not in agreement sometimes, even if you don’t like what is being said, it is important to maintain decorum and to keep pushing messages of unity, because who does this help at the end of the day? The NPP. And who is potentially fueling these grievances? The NPP. Do you underrate the strength and power of government, from the NIA to the police to state resources, to the potential of paying insiders, to the potential of having insiders working for them? Because at the end of the day, if UDP is in disagreement, who will benefit? So we should always keep that in mind. That’s why I never react. That’s why when the talk is too much, the accusations are too much. I just take a step back and watch them to let them calm down,” he said.
Regarding the potential candidacy of Darboe for the UDP flag bearer position, Talib affirmed, “If Darboe decides to run, I will certainly not apply. However, I am not making any commitments about my own candidacy at this time,” he told Kerr Fatou on Thursday.
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