Speaking on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Monday, Mbaye Faal, said the alliance between his party, APP-Sobeya, and the NPP was reached after discussions on issues he believes are critical to the country’s development.
“This agreement is not about jobs or positions or rewards it is about reforms,” he said.
Essa, who previously criticised the Barrow administration over several issues, said the two sides found common ground on a number of national priorities.
He said the agreement includes a commitment to pursue a new constitution, operationalise the Anti-Corruption Commission and implement the outstanding recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
“We want constitutional reform, we want strong and robust anti-corruption institutions we want to see the TRRC recommendations implemented,” he said.
He added that the agreement also covers electoral reform, civil service reform, security-sector reform, investment in agriculture and the expansion of the National Health Insurance Agency.
According to Essa, these were among the issues he had consistently raised while criticising the government, and the fact that the NPP was willing to work on them created room for cooperation.
“All the things that I have criticised the Barrow government for are the things we are trying to find a solution for,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that his decision was motivated by a desire for a government position, including the vice presidency or a ministerial appointment.
“I asked for no position I was offered no position I asked for no money I was offered no money,” he said.
He maintained that his focus was on what the political partnership could deliver for Gambians, rather than what it could offer him personally.
He said APP-Sobeya had considered different political options before settling on the agreement with the NPP.
“We were trying to find mutually agreed solutions to our concerns,” he said.
He acknowledged that some Gambians were disappointed by his decision and apologised to those who felt let down, saying difficult decisions were part of leadership.
