By Buba Gagigo
Haji Suwaneh, the fiery National Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has issued a scathing criticism of President Adama Barrow, accusing him of deliberately provoking the UDP amidst tensions between the central government and the UDP-led Brikama Area Council.
According to Suwaneh, Barrow’s actions are not directed at Yankuba but are politically motivated. Suwaneh believes that Barrow’s primary goal is to divert Yankuba’s attention from the developmental initiatives in the West Coast Region. Suwaneh argued that Barrow understands that the revenue from the Brikama Area Council alone is insufficient for comprehensive development, and the council needs to collaborate with partners. By creating obstacles, Barrow aims to hinder the development projects associated with those partners, possibly due to a lack of personal benefits. Suwaneh criticized Barrow for jeopardizing the aspirations of the thousands who voted for Yankuba in the West Coast Region, questioning Barrow’s credibility as a serious leader.
“He’s not fighting Yankuba. He is doing politics. His interest is to distract Yankuba from the development he is doing in the West Coast Region. He knows the revenue from Brikama Area Council alone cannot bring all the development, and the council needs to work with partners. You want to stop those partners from bringing about that development because he is simply not benefiting. He wants to deny all the thousands of people on the West Coast who voted because of Yankuba. Is that a serious leader? Absolutely, this is not serious leadership,” he said.
The UDP National Youth President cautioned Gambians against trusting President Barrow’s rhetoric on development. Suwaneh suggested that Barrow’s promises of development are hollow and that his focus is solely on political maneuvering. Suwaneh emphasized that the situation is not exclusively a UDP matter but pertains to the Brikama Area Council, an entity elected by the people of the West Coast Region. Suwaneh underscored the importance of revenue for fulfilling the promises made by councilors from various political parties to their respective Wards. He accused Barrow of attempting to stifle the incoming revenue of the Brikama Area Council, thereby impeding the West Coast Region’s desires for progress.
“If he comes out talking about development, tell him it’s all empty promises. He’s not ready to bring us development; he’s only ready to do politics day in and day out. Just like I said, he’s trying to provoke UDP, but this is not a UDP matter. This is about the Brikama Area Council, which is elected by the people of the West Coast Region. Councilors from different political parties made promises to their Wards. Those promises cannot be achieved if you don’t have revenue. So Barrow is trying to suppress the incoming revenue of BAC to give a backwardness to the wishes of the West Coast Region,” Haji Suwaneh said.
Haji Suwaneh is the National Youth President of the United Democratic Party (UDP).