Gambiaj.com – (BRIKAMA, The Gambia) – Ousainou Darboe, the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), delivered a fiery speech on Saturday in Brikama, targeting the current Gambian government under President Adama Barrow. Darboe’s address focused on issues of corruption, governance, and the misallocation of national priorities.

Darboe began by expressing his gratitude to the youth of the UDP militants who dedicated their life to salvage The Gambia, acknowledging their role in the fight for freedom in 2016. He highlighted the sacrifices made by the people to resist dictatorship and establish a democratic government, only to see these achievements undermined by the current administration.

“The young girls and young women are really the ones we are fighting for, so that Gambia can move forward. Young people, I have seen you. So, to the youth of this party and the youth of this country, I say thank you,” Darboe stated.

Dead end after the Anti-corruption commission Act

Criticizing President Barrow’s stance on corruption, Darboe noted that during a recent address at the National Assembly, Barrow mentioned corruption only once, and in passing. This, according to Darboe, reflects a lack of commitment to combating corruption within the current regime.

“Since January 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission Act has been adopted and gazetted. But the commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission, who must investigate corruption in this country, are not yet established,” Darboe revealed. He accused the government of deliberately stalling the commission’s formation to protect corrupt practices within its ranks.

Darboe also alleged a recent scandal involving the Fatou Bah Barrow Foundation, claiming that drugs donated to Gambian hospitals were instead sold to the foundation, which then redistributed them to the public under the guise of charity.

“Mr. President, I challenge you to establish the anti-corruption commission and conduct an investigation on this drug scandal in which your wife was cited,” Darboe demanded.

Misplaced priorities

Further, Darboe criticized the government’s handling of national priorities, arguing that the focus on infrastructure projects such as roads and airports does not address the fundamental needs of the Gambian people. He emphasized that the true priorities should be food security, healthcare, and quality education.

“Infrastructures do not benefit any ordinary citizen. We must not make a mistake in our priorities. Gambian priorities are food, quality food, a good health care system, and quality education,” Darboe asserted.

About the Fajara residence of the Chief Justice

Addressing the government accusations against him regarding land allocations, Darboe clarified that the land he received was acquired legitimately, long before he entered politics. “Yes, Mr. President, when I had that land, you were going to school. When I had that land, I was not a politician. I was not in political opposition. I had no position of authority to persuade the Minister of Lands to give me land. Additionally, other civil servants had allocations, and the arrangement was authorized. Wallace Grant, Fafa Mbai, and Antouman Gaye are the two or three of them that I can name,” Darboe clarified.

He accused President Barrow and his minister, Hamath Bah, of misleading the public and illegally appropriating the Fajara Chief Justice’s government property.

Ousainou Darboe then doubled down on his allegations against Hamath Bah and President Barrow: “Yaya Jammeh, with all his faults, would not take government property for personal use. How can you come into power with the promise of rectifying wrongdoings, only to perpetuate them instead? Your actions are contrary to the Lands Act and the Constitution of The Gambia, yet you expect Gambians to ignore this. We urge you to stop any development on that land because it belongs to the government of The Gambia and is not an approved layout”.

Finally, Darboe called for a collective effort to correct the country’s trajectory and ensure that future generations inherit a better Gambia.

“Our country is really on the wrong trajectory. All of us as citizens of this country, we have a duty to ourselves, to the generations here and unborn, to correct this wrong trajectory so that the Gambia can be put in a better state,” Darboe urged.

The UDP leader’s speech reflects growing discontent with the current administration and highlights key issues that may shape the political landscape in the coming weeks and months.