Supporters
of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) yesterday reacted to the
release from prison of the founder and secretary general, and other top brass
of the party.
Ousainou
Darboe and 18 senior members of UDP, the biggest opposition party in The
Gambia, were Monday released on bail from the state central prison, Mile II.
Mr
Darboe and his colleagues were convicted to serve three years in jail by
Justice Eunice Dada Oshim of the High Court of The Gambia in July, this year.
The
accused persons said they have been looking forward to their release and thank
God it has finally come.
UDP
Deputy Party Leader Aji Mariama Secka said Mr Darboe and most of his colleagues
has lost weight while at the prison but “they will be nourished” when they
reach home.
Those
of them who are ill will be taken to “the best doctors” and will be given
proper food to eat.
Mrs
Secka said the moment a new Gambia is born with the election of a new
president, she knew Darboe and other colleagues will be released from prison.
Saanu
Huma, a Gambian youth, said: “I am extremely happy that Darboe and colleagues
are going home today because they, particularly Darboe, are extremely important
figures in the history of our country.”
“We
need Darboe to play a vital role in the future of The Gambia,” he said. “With his experience in politics and law, we
need him to advise Adama Barrow so that he [president-elect] can better do his
job to help the youth, women and everyone in the country.”
Isatou
Darboe, a relative of Ousainou Darboe, said one of the reasons the coalition
won the 1st December election is to release Darboe and colleagues, and all the
UDP supporters that were jailed before the election.
She
said the day Mr Darboe and colleagues were sentenced to three years in jail was
the worst day of her life and that of her children.
Isatou
said the time Fanta Darboe, one of those detained, was arrested she had already
plaited her hair in preparation to return to the US after spending a holiday in
The Gambia.
“But
today, they are all smiling and are free; it’s a new Gambia now,” she said.
