Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a bold assertion, Presidential Adviser Dou Sano has proclaimed that the United Democratic Party (UDP) will never govern The Gambia, claiming that the party’s leader, Ousainou Darboe, has been repeatedly informed of his political fate through various soothsayers.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice Newspaper, Sano stated, “He [Darboe] and the messengers he dispatched to soothsayers have been informed on several occasions that he would never be a leader of this country. Let him come out, speak out, and tell the Gambians that he would not like to squander their precious time. He should tell Gambians that the prophets presaged that he wouldn’t be a leader.”
Sano further elaborated on President Adama Barrow’s efforts to secure Darboe’s release during his incarceration, revealing a prophetic encounter that he claims foretold the current political landscape. “When Darboe was incarcerated, President Barrow did everything to have him freed. The President even sent Yusupha Cham of Sukuta to a revered elder so that they could pray for his mentor’s release. Do you know what happened when Yusupha Cham went to the venerable elder? He categorically told Cham that he knew about his mission but that the one who financed his trip would ascend to power and the one he was trying to bail out would be jailed.”
According to Sano, this prediction came at a time when Barrow had not yet imagined becoming president. He emphasized that the elder’s words were “incontrovertible truths,” suggesting that Darboe may have alternative motives in politics, such as personal enrichment.
Sano expressed unwavering confidence in President Barrow’s reelection prospects, stating that his return to power in 2026 is inevitable. “Gambians reelected President Barrow with a comfortable margin in 2021 because of his development track record from 2017 to 2021. This is why I always say, without any fear of contradiction, that he would be reelected in 2026 with a bigger margin,” he told The Voice.
When asked to highlight specific achievements of President Barrow that might secure him victory in the next election, Sano questioned the fairness of media coverage, suggesting that journalists often overlook the President’s accomplishments in favor of his critics. “The President’s achievements in development are here for everyone to see,” Sano remarked. He listed several major infrastructure projects, including the Senegambia, Fatoto, Koina, and Suduwol bridges, as well as the redevelopment of the airport, the construction of Banjul roads, and the stabilization of electricity supply in many parts of the country.
Sano criticized the media for not giving these achievements the attention they deserve, suggesting that some journalists may be biased because they prefer Darboe as President. “People are not talking because they want somebody to be the president, and since he did not become president, they decided never to acknowledge President Barrow’s accomplishments,” he said.
He concluded with a warning about the power of the media to influence public opinion and potentially cause unrest, urging journalists to be cautious in their reporting. “How many journalists have fled this country under Barrow? I respect journalists’ role in society, but you can cause chaos if you are not careful,” Sano cautioned.
The Voice newspaper has provided a platform for these candid remarks, which are likely to stir significant discussion in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
