MC Cham Jr, Supporter of The United Democratic Party (UDP)
By Buba Gagigo
MC Cham Jr, a Business Councilor at KMC and staunch supporter of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has expressed the view that political figures joining the National People’s Party (NPP) are primarily motivated by personal gain rather than contributing to the political success of the NPP.
According to Cham, those departing from the UDP to align with President Barrow and the NPP do so for financial and material benefits, such as money and cars, but their allegiance does not necessarily translate into political advantages for the NPP. Examining historical records, Cham argued that many who switched from UDP to Barrow failed to secure victories in their respective constituencies.
“People leaving UDP for Barrow are pursuing their own interests, seeking financial gains and acquiring cars, rather than supporting the NPP. Examining the records reveals that those who switched allegiance from UDP to Barrow struggled to secure victories in their respective constituencies. Hence, their departure to Barrow primarily serves personal interests, and they are not contributing effectively to Barrow’s goals. For instance, in KMC, the entire Unda Nyang committee, which played a crucial role in securing twelve wards for Mayor Bensouda in 2018, left when Unda joined Barrow. Upon their return as the NPP committee in KMC, they only managed to win three wards. In contrast, Falang Sonko and his new committee, aligned with UDP, successfully secured fifteen wards in KMC. This shift in support raises the question of who truly controls KMC now,” Cham questioned.
Highlighting the trend among National Assembly Members, Cham pointed out that a significant number who switched from UDP to NPP ended up losing their seats. He cited examples, noting that out of eight UDP National Assembly Members who joined Barrow, only one or two managed to reclaim their seats. Even prominent figures like the former UDP National Treasurer, Lamin Cham, who became the Campaign Manager for NPP, were unable to secure wins in their respective areas.
“So, those joining the NPP are not aligning with Barrow’s political agenda. Despite eight UDP National Assembly Members initially defecting to join Barrow, only one or two eventually returned, while the rest lost their seats. Even the sitting chairman, Sheriffo Sonko, switched allegiance to Barrow, yet the current chairman of Brikama Area Council remains UDP. Notably, the Campaign Manager of NPP, Lamin Cham, previously served as the National Treasurer of UDP, but his influence couldn’t secure victories for Barrow in his region, failing to secure a ward or constituency. In Bakau, NPP faced a complete defeat in every electoral box during the last Mayoral election, with Dembo Byforce, the former National President of UDP (before joining NPP), spearheading the campaign. It is crucial for people to recognize that those defecting to Barrow are primarily driven by personal interests and those of their families, rather than contributing substantially to Barrow’s political endeavors.” Cham said.
MC Cham Jr conveyed these opinions during his appearance on Kerr Fatou’s weekly show, The Grand Bantaba, last Friday.