Darboe advises against election violence

By Sainabou Gassama

The leader of United Democratic Party, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, has advised electorates to stay away from violence to give chance for a peaceful presidential election in December.

Speaking to his supporters, the nation’s former vice president urged his fellow politicians to preach peace and stability to their supporters.

“I will advise you all that no matter how tough the race is, let’s not involve in violence,” he said, adding “we are battling over something and during this battle people tend to get angry and cause violence, but let us not allow anything to cast out our anger to cause violence. I am offering this piece of advice to everyone in the country.”

“The president [Barrow] is the one who is supposed to say this to his people but he doesn’t use to advise his people on that and never would he want to tell his people to stay away from things that will cause violence in the country. People live in the same compound and support different parties and people are from the same womb and they support different parties,” he disclosed.

“We bury each other, marry each other and even attend each other’s ceremonies. Therefore, I will advise everyone to carry on with activities as the law directs and don’t let anyone push you to fight,” he added.

However, he accused his political opponents of trying to tarnish his reputation during the political campaign but said “will never let that happen.”

“If they insult our parents we accept it, even if they slap us, we accept it and move on. A good party leader should respond to negativities from his people but I have never heard the president or any NPP member talking about this that would tell Gambians the type of president they are having. Barrow wants people to vote for him but he never wants peace for this country,” he made it clear to people at his rally.