By Omar Bah
The United Democratic Party, (UDP), Bakau coordinator Lamin Sey has come to the defence of his party leader Ousainou Darboe over criticism that he caused the seemingly split in the coalition among other things.
Speaking to The Standard Sey said: “In actual fact, the very proposal of forming a Coalition was initiated by Ousainou Darboe well before he was arrested. And he continued to propagate that idea even when he was in prison and I know this because all the letters he wrote in Mile 2 used to pass through me to Dembo Bojang,” Mr Sey said.
He said contrary to what many believed, Darboe came into politics to liberate the Gambian people.
“No one had dared to challenge Yahya Jammeh from 1994 to 96 when he began to show his madness and brutality but Ousainou Darboe stood up against him and no politician from independence to date endured more hardship and persecution than Darboe,” Sey said.
Mr Sey said it is therefore very unfair that now that Gambia is free people will forget the heroes who fought to get that very freedom.
“What I cannot even take too is the nonsense comments that the UDP is one-tribe party. I’m Fula and no one in the UDP is close to Ousainou Darboe more than me,” Mr Sey said.
The UDP Bakau Coordinator also said contrary to widespread belief, Ousainou was reluctant to take up a position in the government but the situation of the country warrants him to participate. “So whosoever dislikes that must be an enemy of progress,” he concluded.
