MC Cham Jr. Business Councillor at KMC
By Buba Gagigo
MC Cham Jr., Business Councillor at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and a prominent figure in the United Democratic Party (UDP), has welcomed the apology issued by Henry Gomez, the Secretary-General and Party Leader of the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP), to UDP leader Ousainou Darboe. He also urged Gomez, who serves as an adviser to President Adama Barrow, to counsel the president to refrain from making derogatory remarks about Darboe.
In a reflective and conciliatory tone, Henry Gomez reflected on past political conflicts, expressing gratitude for Darboe’s influence on his public career and apologizing to both Darboe and his supporters.
“Everyone should welcome his apology to Darboe because we know he had made a lot of negative statements about him, despite the fact that our party leader has never responded. If he realizes his mistake and apologizes, all our party supporters should embrace that. Darboe is a leader who deserves respect from everyone in this country because we have all witnessed his sacrifices to ensure The Gambia achieves the democracy we now enjoy. He is someone who should be celebrated, and no one should make negative remarks about him,” MC Cham Jr. stated.
Cham emphasized the need for respectful political engagement in the country, calling on politicians to avoid vilifying respected leaders.
“We can always engage in politics, but let’s do it respectfully. Darboe was the only one who took the risk to stand up against [former President Yahya] Jammeh when it was extremely dangerous. Despite the challenges, he ensured we gained the democracy we wanted. Henry Gomez should respect the UDP because, during the 2016 primaries, it was the UDP that provided him with all his delegates when he had none. He should thank the UDP for his current role as an adviser. I would also encourage Henry Gomez to advise the president to stop making negative comments about Darboe,” he added.
MC Cham Jr. also took the opportunity to critique President Barrow’s administration, asserting that Gambians are disillusioned and looking forward to change in the 2026 elections.
“Let him [President Barrow] know that Gambians are done with his government; they are just waiting for 2026. The recent survey revealing that 77% of Gambians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction is proof. I saw NPP supporters disputing the survey, but in 2021, when the survey predicted an NPP victory, they welcomed it. The predictions for the presidential, parliamentary, and mayoral elections all turned out to be accurate. NPP only supports what favors them, but we all know the 77% figure reflects the reality. We have seen the economic hardships,” he remarked.
On electoral matters, MC Cham Jr. called on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to enforce regulations requiring political parties to organize congresses within stipulated deadlines.
“The IEC gave a deadline for all parties to organize their congresses, as the law mandates every two years. This year, the deadline was December 31st, but fewer than five parties managed to hold their congresses on time. A party like the ruling NPP, despite its access to resources, failed to meet the deadline and had to request an extension from the IEC. The IEC should ensure that all parties, including the ruling NPP, comply with electoral laws to uphold fairness among political parties in this country,” he urged.
Cham also criticized the NPP for what he described as the misuse of public funds during its recent “Meet the People” tour, claiming it was a political campaign disguised as an official event.
“A party like the NPP recently wasted D30 million on a political tour under the guise of the ‘Meet the People Tour.’ Yet they couldn’t organize a congress within the legal timeframe. If the ruling party does not respect electoral laws, how can we expect other parties to comply? The IEC must ensure accountability and equality across all political parties,” Cham concluded.