By Buba Gagigo
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), has voiced his dismay at what he called President Adama Barrow’s unleashing of hate speech and personal insults against the person of lawyer Ousainu Darboe , party leader and Secretary General of the United Democratic Party.
President Adama Barrow’s statements, which were captured in viral videos and audio recordings, include criticisms of the leader of the United Democratic Party. These remarks were made both during an event in Barrow’s hometown of Mankamang Kunda and at the inauguration of his party’s regional office in Bansang.
The mayor of Kanifing took to Facebook to criticize the president’s speech. He said that the president did not address the many problems the country is facing. He mentioned specific problems, such as chronic poverty, skyrocketing inflation, a lack of basic infrastructure, poor healthcare, and poor water and electricity supplies. He wondered why the president was not doing more to solve these problems instead.
“The Gambia is one of the poorest places on earth, with chronic poverty, skyrocketing inflation, lacking basic infrastructure, healthcare and poor water and electricity supply, with thousands of our unemployed youth seeking refuge in Europe through a dangerous journey. To make matters worse, we face escalating internal insecurity; most recently, two of our galant police officers were murdered in cold blood.
“Amidst these challenges, our president, who has called for national unity many times in the same year, instead chooses one of his rare public appearances to unleash hate speech and personal insults against the person of lawyer Ousainu Darboe. As leaders, we must do better ! Let’s work for the people and stop it. Very disappointed,” Talib Ahmed Bensouda wrote on his Facebook page.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda serves as the Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and holds the position of Organizing Secretary within the United Democratic Party.