Chairman Darboe made the remarks recently during a press conference held at the UDP Political Bureau in Mandina Ba following Hon Abou Sowe’s resignation from the UDP and subsequent joining of the National People’s Party (NPP).
The press conference, organised by UDP Kombo East District, was attended by regional and district executive members, councillors and supporters of the party.
“UDP is very strong in Kombo East District and West Coast Region in general,” he said, adding that the recent elections in the country serve as a benchmark for everyone.
According to him, this was why Hon Abdou Sowe joined NPP knowing fully well that he would not be elected a National Assembly Member of the district without the backing of the UDP.
That Sowe had joined the NPP, he said, was the end of his parliamentary career.
“People have left the UDP and joined other political parties in the past and we taught them lessons when we faced them in the pools,” he said, adding that an enemy within is more dangerous than an enemy outside.
Darboe describes UDP as a party not about personal interest but about the interest of the nation, saying that “anyone with personal interest will never fit” in the UDP.
“We will make sure we liberate this country from the bondage we are in at the moment,” he also said, adding: “If we continue to depend on NPP, citizens will continue to experience hardships.”
He assured the people of Kombo East that UDP remains much stronger than it has ever been. Darboe said: “We believe in accountability, transparency and the greater good of everybody else.”
He also described Hon Abdou Sowe’s departure as a blessing in disguise for the UDP, saying whilst he was in the party, there were squabbles among them.
He said they now have a real big opportunity under the leadership of new chairman of UDP Kombo East District, Ebrima Ceesay, to forge a new path for the party in the region as well as to have more people join the party.
They would continue to give top positions to people who joined the party because you do not use one cane to whip everyone, he said.
“UDP is an open, transparent and an accountable party and anyone who has the country’s interest at heart is welcome to join the party for us to develop the country together,” he said, adding that they give opportunities to anyone with the qualification who declares an interest in a position they believe the person could handle.
Lamin Dibba, UDP Councillor for Pirang Ward, describes the UDP as a decent party that does not consider tribe when offering people positions.
Meanwhile, Ebrima Ceesay was recently appointed chairman for UDP Kombo East District with Ba Foday Sano as his deputy.
