Marie Sock, Former Presidential Candidate
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Independent politician Marie Sock has called on President Adama Barrow to step down in the interest of moral integrity and national direction.
Speaking at a press conference organized by the Alliance of Social Democrats in Bijilo, Sock urged the president to make a dignified exit, emphasizing that such a move would not only bring clarity to the country’s political future but also earn him and his family the respect they deserve.
“I am appealing to His Excellency, President Barrow, on behalf of the Gambian people, to consider stepping down peacefully for the sake of moral integrity. This will allow Gambians to understand the direction of the country while also ensuring that you and your family maintain the respect you deserve,” she stated.
Sock highlighted the forgiving nature of Gambians, referencing calls for the return of former President Yahya Jammeh as an example of the nation’s ability to move past grievances. However, she cautioned Barrow against misinterpreting this goodwill as an opportunity to cling to power.
“But not take advantage of Gambian’s kindness and forgiving nature by deciding to remain in power simply because your party members encourage you to. I am deeply disappointed, Mr. President. Today, it appears that your party members only support you because you are in power; if you were not president, they would not stand by you,” she asserted.
Sock urged President Barrow to carefully analyze the messages from his party members, suggesting that their support is conditional on his position in power. She argued that once he was no longer president, they would not stand by him.
She further claimed that those surrounding the president were primarily focused on strengthening the party rather than serving the nation’s interests.
According to her, many within Barrow’s inner circle were misleading him for their own benefit, likening their actions to vultures feeding off their host.
“And they are not there for you or the people of the Gambia and at the end of the day, they will turn around and say that Mr president was the one who wanted to stay long in power because we have seen that during Jawara’s time, that people were blaming Sir Dawda Jawara of stealing only for Gambians to realize that Jawara did not take anything. And the same happened to former president Jammeh even though all the atrocities that he caused. But today if he would come to justice let us hear what he will confess to,” she said.
Sock emphasized that Gambians often avoid taking responsibility for their actions. She warned that if President Barrow chooses to remain in power and ultimately fails, he may come to regret listening to his party members instead of making an independent decision.
She further pointed out that many of those surrounding the president were not effectively carrying out their duties, which is why they were pushing for him to stay in office. According to her, their primary interest was self-preservation rather than national progress. She cautioned that, in the end, the consequences of their inaction would fall on Barrow and his family.
Citing historical precedent, Sock reminded the president that two of his predecessors, Sir Dawda Jawara and Yahya Jammeh, were forced into exile. She then posed a critical question: “Does President Barrow want to face the same fate after his term?”