In a meeting with elders in the Lower River Region (LRR), President Adama Barrow expressed his worries about what he said was the Mandinka community’s ongoing hostility towards him and other Gambian presidents, particularly former leaders Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh.
Speaking to the assembled elders, Barrow emphasised that political support or opposition has no bearing on the development initiatives of his government.
We don’t use support or opposition to determine where to carry out development projects. In reality, we offered assistance to places where we didn’t receive it, which infuriated some of our fans. We have built a considerable amount of road—nearly 86 kilometres. Compared to the difficulties I once encountered there, the path I travelled yesterday felt like heaven. Some individuals still oppose me in spite of this.
I remained steadfast when others cautioned against moving phase two of the project there. I informed them that the work would not be moved because it had already started. Allow them to disagree; I will continue to work because that road serves all Gambians, not just one particular group. However, is this type of opposition sustainable? It can’t. I lost in every Mandinka village in LRR during the 2021 elections. In Mandinka villages in LRR, not a single polling station cast a ballot in my favour, and I think that was intentional,” Barrow said.
Barrow also questioned Ousainou Darboe, the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and his influence in the Mandinka community.
“I am a Mandinka. You should help your relatives, Ousainou Darboe. I’m from Mankamang Kunda, and he’s from Bansang. Who of the two of us is your relative, then? I lost at every polling station in every Mandinka village on the whole LRR. But can Jawara, Yahya Jammeh, and Adama Barrow still be opposed by us Mandinkas? Will we continue like this? We need to think about these topics. We won’t gain anything or get anywhere from it. But I’m glad that you’ve all gathered so that we can work together. “We are prepared to work,” said President Barrow.
The president pointed out the UDP leader’s lack of success in his hometown and advised the residents of LRR to think twice before endorsing Darboe.
“Mandinkas, I beg you to exercise patience. Even in his hometown of Bansang, the Ousainou Darboe you are supporting for loses. You should speak with a person’s neighbours or family to learn more about their personality. There’s a reason why he doesn’t win there. Are you more familiar with him than they are? It is impossible for you to know him more well than they do. Since they are familiar with him, they do not vote for him. In contrast, I prevailed even at his own voting booth in Pipeline, where he cast his ballot in front of his neighbours. What prevented them from voting for him, then? Because they are familiar with him. You support him because you don’t know him. But I’ll meet with my minister to talk about all of your issues, and I’ll provide the two-kilometer road as promised.
