Hon. Ousainu Darboe, the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), declared that he will not retire from politics until the Gambians are granted dignity.
Mr. Darboe characterised The Gambia under President Barrow as “troubled” during a night rally in Janjangbureh on Tuesday.
Mr. Darboe’s statement is likely a response to the calls made by Lands Minister Hamat Bah during a meeting in Ebo Town midweek. Mr. Bah stated that, despite the fact that Mr. Darboe has “done a lot for this country; gone to jail and lost his profession just to rescue this country, it is now time for him to retire.”
However, the UDP leader expressed his disagreement: “In 1996, the price of a bag of rice in this country was less than D500.” I foresaw that if the Gambians were unable to alter the government, we would purchase a bag of rice for more than D500. Today, the price of a bag of rice has exceeded D3,000. I then extended my call to the state to guarantee the fundamental right to education. Those rights have yet to be granted. I will not resign until the Gambians are granted these rights.
“I am advising President Adama Barrow and his government to prioritise the maintenance and enhancement of the existing university before establishing three in the country, such as a University of Science, Engineering, and Technology.” Establish a high-quality engineering faculty, a standard school of administration, and a quality education at the University of The Gambia in order to mitigate expenditures.
He stated that the state should not be obligated to incur the costs of new vice chancellors and administrations, which are costly.
In the 2026 presidential election, Darboe advised the youths to girdle their waists and vote for a new government that would wipe away their tears.
“You require a government that will provide you with a standard education.” Our objective is to ensure that our university graduates are comparable to those of Oxford University. However, that is impossible to accomplish in the absence of the right to education.
