By Omar Bah
The opposition Gambia Democratic Congress has called on political party leaders to ask their supporters to stop politics of insults and campaign peacefully and responsibly.
The party’s spokesperson, Omar Ceesay said: “It has come to the attention of the leadership of the Gambia Democratic Congress that audios are circulating online containing abusive language which is very uncommon in The Gambia and our society in general”.
Such act, the Niumina East NAM added, is also against everything that “our party (GDC) stands for and we deem it necessary to add our voice to condemn it before the commencement of political campaign for the upcoming elections.”
He said The Gambia belongs to “all of us and no particular tribe should insult others over politics. The Gambia Democratic Congress, therefore, condemns the recent politics of insults in the strongest possible terms.”
The leadership of the GDC, Ceesay stressed, denounced all forms of abusive audios and videos circulating on social media in which people use foul language regarding their opponents who are personally insulting a particular tribe or party leader all in the name of politics.
“This is not right and we seize this opportunity to ask all our supporters and supporters of other parties to desist from such act. It is in this regard, the GDC under the leadership of Mamma Kandeh disassociates itself from such acts and condemns all forms of insults and character assassination targeting certain tribes in The Gambia and individuals,” he said.
He added: “We are all interested in the welfare of all Gambians. Nobody, on any account, should insult and or tarnish the image of another person or tribe in the name of politics. Kandeh and the entire Executive of GDC are encouraging all Gambians to safeguard the strong cultural ties, use good language and relate well with their fellow Gambians and desist from politics of hate and insult especially the youth and women.”
“In the same vein, the GDC leader Honorable Kandeh is urging all political and traditional leaders, CSOs, civic education personalities to continue preaching peace and enabling stability for the betterment and common good of The Gambia. Finally, Honorable Kandeh is calling on all party leaders to advise their militants to put a stop to insults and campaign peacefully and respectfully,” he concluded.
Rebel NAMs
The National Assembly last week announced the expelling of two GDC NAMs. Salifu Jawo of Jokadou constituency and Kebba Jallow of Jarra Central constituency were dismissed for declaring their support to President Adama Barrow.
Mr Jawo had accused Mamma Kandeh of being a dictator in his party.
But the GDC national youth president, Modou MC Cham, said the two lawmakers were miserably dishonest and far from truthful.
Cham said the two NAMs have left the party at their own peril, adding that they will be disappointed after the December presidential election.
“We resorted to losing them the moment they started asking for fuel if we invite them for meetings. So Jawo’s claim that Kandeh is a dictator is ridiculous. If he knew Kandeh was a dictator, why didn’t he resign? They will be disappointed,” he said.
