Reacting to comments attributed to Darboe describing him [Colley] as “empty” for saying July 22nd (marking Jammeh’s seizure of power] is a more important date than 18th February [independence], he said: “When I said the July 22nd is more important than the independence. It is based on facts and history. It is July 22nd that has made The Gambia truly independent with many development projects. We used to have only ‘Radio Kombo’ but with July 22nd we have a radio and TV with nationwide coverage. Until the advent of the revolution in 1994, North Bank Region did not have a hospital. It was in fact after 1994 that people had chance to genuinely participate in politics without which he (Ousainou Darboe) would not have had the chance to contest for office in elections. We now have hospitals and electricity in all regions of the country which is a big achievement under the transformative and charismatic leadership of President Jammeh.
“When I say these things I am not being a praise-singer but acknowledging the achievements registered under this government. Ousainou Darboe knows I know history better than him. Ousainou Darboe and his party are not an alternative to the APRC regime in many aspects and they should give up because Gambian don’t love them. They should forget about the 2016 elections because it is a foregone conclusion.”
Mayor Colley added that the politics of personal attacks being perfected by the veteran opposition leader is too reptilian for him, declaring: “Ousainou Darboe is older than me and I do not want to tell him certain things. I will not bring myself down to the politics of personal attacks that he engages in. My politics is too mature for that and he should take note of that. I talk about issues not people.”
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