By Omar Bah
An adviser to the president has described the UDP leader’s claims that he will regard President Barrow as being in cahoots with drug dealers if he fails to set the records straight on how he managed to purchase ten brand new Toyota Hilux pick-up vehicles for the NPP, as “grossly disrespectful”.
Youth adviser Saihow Mballow, told The Standard last night that President Barrow will never be involved in drug dealings as he does not even smoke cigarettes.
“Barrow is a very credible leader. Unlike many of his opponents, he was a very successful businessman before becoming head of state. No sensible Gambian will see him and associate him with drug dealing,” he said.
“We will not take lightly to such comments from any politician, especially if they have to do with the president’s image. I think Ousainu Darboe has once again demonstrated how out of touch he can be whenever it comes to issues concerning the president. A good leader would not make such irresponsible comments even against his worst enemy. It further demonstrates how selfish Darboe can be sometime,” Mballow said.
Mballow said instead of bandying wild hypothesis about President Barrow’s links with drug dealers, Mr Darboe should tell Gambians when he is going to settle the D2 million tax he is owing the state.
He added: “He has no credibility whatsoever to question the president’s credibility. Darboe should be very careful or else he will soon lose his own credibility. This is the same person who recently told Gambians he was not going to disclose UDP’s source of funding. Who is he to condition the president to disclose his source of funding?” he added.
On charges that the Barrow administration is cavalier in its attitude towards narco-trafficking, Mr Mballow said the government gives the matter the diligent consideration it deserves.
Attack on Sierra Leonean
Mr Mballow also condemned the physical assault of a Sierra Leonean man who often flaunts a T-shirt bearing President barrow’s image while shouting “Vive Barrow!”
In a video that emerged online, a mob is seen kicking the man as he rolled on the ground in pain. The man later spoke in the video alleging that UDP militants assaulted him.
“We are disappointed and we want to discourage such barbarity. We will make sure those responsible are brought to book. We don’t want to be seen as a country that is hostile to foreigners,” Mballow said.
Denial
Meanwhile, the UDP has issued a statement dismissing claims that the unruly mob that attacked the man include supporters of their party.
“The UDP vehemently objects to any insinuation or allegation that the act was politically motivated by supporters of the party. Neither the party nor its supporters have anything to do with the illegal act. The accusation is far from the truth. The United Democratic Party is a disciplined organisation that has since its inception attached paramount importance to the rule of law, civility, and tolerance in all its activities. No amount of smearing or falsehood can tarnish the good image and record of our party,” the party said in a statement.
The party strongly condemned the unlawful behaviour exhibited on the viral video and urged the relevant authorities to mount a thorough and complete investigation into the matters surrounding the incident.
