The
flagbearer of the coalition of seven opposition political parties has affirmed
his commitment and loyalty to the agreement that brought in the alliance.
“I
am committed and loyal to the coalition and any other agreement that we all
appended our signatures on,” Adama Barrow said in his acceptance speech,
shortly after been elected flagbearer of the coalition.
He
was elected by 308 of 490 delegates at the convention held to elect a
flagbearer of the opposition coalition on Sunday at a hotel in Kololi. Barrow was the candidate of the United
Democratic Party (UDP).
Other
party leaders that showed interest in being the flagbearer of the coalition
were Halifa Sallah of the People’s Democratic Party for Independence and
Socialism (PDOIS), Hamat Bah of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), and
Lamin Bolong Bojang of the National Convention Party (NCP).
Mr
Barrow said come 1 December 2016, if he is elected president of The Gambia, he
“shall” implement programmes and policies in line with the spirit and letter of
the agreement signed by all the seven political parties in the coalition.
Apart
from PDOIS, UDP, NRP and NCP, other parties in the coalition are Gambia Moral
Congress, People’s Progressive Party, and Gambia Party for Democracy and
Development.
Details
of the agreement of the coalition have not been made public, but The Point
newspaper understood that one of the terms is that the coalition president
shall serve for a transition period of three years, and take the country to an
election in which the coalition leader would not contest as a presidential
candidate.
The
appointment of ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, directors of
security apparatus like NIA, the police and army are also part of the
agreement. Each party in the coalition
would be fairly represented in the coalition government, as agreed.
Mr
Barrow reiterated that he is committed to the coalition agreement, and shall
work with all the other party leaders in salvaging The Gambia from “the
destruction it has found itself”.
Omar
J. Jallow alias OJ Jallow, leader of the PPP – the ruling party in the first
republic, said he has known Mr Barrow enough not to question his integrity to
live up to the coalition agreement.
“I know him and I will never, ever question
his integrity that he will live up to the letter and spirit of the alliance; he
will make sure what is written in the alliance will be executed to the letter,”
he said.
No
more difference
The
coalition flagbearer has further stated that all the party leaders in the
coalition have put their differences, and the differences of their political
parties aside, to work for the common cause of taking The Gambia from President
Yahya Jammeh, come the December 1st presidential election.
Mr
Barrow said the diverseness of the coalition is an indication that it can
easily solidify the gains the individual parties have made over the years, and
transform the strength to the desired victory.
“We
can do it because the experience and determination is there,” he said. “Let’s go out and unite and grab the
opportunity presented by our people; Gambians are already tired of Yahya
Jammeh, and this year by the grace of Allah we shall end his rule.”
“Our
work begins today, the task ahead cannot be overemphasized, but I have no doubt
that with the strength of will and determination, we would overcome all
obstacles and prevail,” he further stated.
