Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe has called on his party supporters to remain united and focus their political efforts on challenging President Adama Barrow, while urging respect for leaders of other opposition parties.
Darboe made the remarks in Lamin, at the conclusion of a series of field visits that included a surprise visit to UDP Chairman Landing B. Sanneh of the Mansakonko Area Council, engagements with the Lamin Lodge Riverside Association, and an inspection of a borehole project site.
Addressing his supporters, the veteran opposition leader urged party militants to embrace patriotism and exercise restraint in their use of social media and WhatsApp platforms. Darboe cautioned that even well-intentioned messages can lose their value when accompanied by insults or offensive language.
Calling for civility and mutual respect in political discourse, Darboe expressed concern over what he described as the increasing prevalence of tribalism, personal attacks and ridicule in political speeches.
The UDP leader recalled an incident during a political rally in Bansang under former president Yahya Jammeh’s administration.
“One of the speakers used disrespectful words against me, and Jammeh ordered that the microphone be taken away from him and instructed him to leave the stage,” Darboe recounted.
He contrasted that experience with what he described as the current political climate.
“But today, people insult me at political rallies, and instead of stopping them, their leaders cheer them on and encourage even more insults,” Darboe said.
Ousainou Darboe also dismissed suggestions of internal divisions within the UDP, insisting that the party remains united despite political speculation.
“I want to tell UDP members that there is no fight among us and there are no arguments among us,” Darboe said. “Our adversary is Adama Barrow and his people, who are managing the country’s resources.”
He said the UDP’s criticism of the government is based on its assessment of the administration’s performance and management of public resources.
“We carefully pay attention to the way they are ruling us. What is not done well, we will say it. Any way that our resources are being spent improperly, we will point it out,” he said.
Darboe stressed that other opposition figures should not be viewed as political enemies, naming several prominent politicians and calling for respectful political engagement.
“Mama Kandeh is not our problem; Essa Faal is not someone we should fight with; Manneh is not our quarrel adversary; and Talib is not our fighting partner,” he said. “The one we are contesting with is Adama Barrow.”
The UDP leader argued that opposition parties share a common objective of replacing the incumbent government through democratic means and should avoid unnecessary confrontations among themselves.
“To the UDP members, what we want is to remove Adama Barrow from this position. Mama Kandeh also wants to remove Adama Barrow from the position, and we are therefore in the same boat,” he said.
Darboe urged supporters to conduct political campaigns responsibly and respectfully, saying opposition leaders deserve recognition for their contributions to the country’s democratic discourse.
“In all our campaign activities, let us respect all these party leaders and give them their due,” he said. “We should focus on taking our position from Adama Barrow.”
He added that the UDP would support government actions that benefit the country but would continue to oppose policies and practices it considers detrimental to national development.
The opposition leader also renewed the party’s longstanding calls for stronger governance, the fight against corruption, and the promotion of the rule of law.
“Let us fight corruption in this country. What we are yearning for is a government that empowers the rule of law,” he said.
Darboe further urged party members to maintain political maturity and discipline as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
“We will do our politics with maturity and a sense of purpose,” he told supporters.
Reflecting on the UDP’s political history, Darboe said the party has remained consistent in the principles that guided its formation in 1996 and argued that many of the issues currently being championed by opposition parties were first raised by the UDP.
“Since 1996, the principles that made us stand up are the same principles we still stand on today,” he said.
The remarks come as political parties intensify grassroots engagements ahead of the country’s next electoral contests, with opposition groups increasingly positioning themselves around issues of governance, accountability, and economic management.
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