By: Fatou Krubally
Prominent Bakau politician and former APRC stalwart Alhaji Basiru Gassama has appealed to President Adama Barrow and opposition leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to reconcile and work together in the same spirit that once united them to defeat his former party, the APRC, in 2016.
Speaking to The Voice newspaper, Gassama warned that political division and tribal tensions could undermine the country’s peace and stability in the lead-up to the 2026 elections. “I am appealing to President Adama Barrow and Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to come together the same way they came together to defeat the APRC in the 2016 presidential election. I don’t want division,” he stressed.
He praised both leaders for attending Bojang’s funeral, describing their presence as a powerful symbol of unity beyond party lines. “That is the example Gambians need to see as we approach 2026,” Gassama added.
Reflecting on his political journey, Gassama noted that he was the first senior APRC member to leave the party, not out of personal grievance but in recognition of changing political realities. He acknowledged former President Jammeh’s support for him, including his sponsorship of his pilgrimage to Mecca, while urging Gambians to remember the good done by anyone and move past their grievances.
“There is no permanent chair. People come and go. Politics should not divide us. Tribal sentiments must be forgotten. We must all come together as a team,” he emphasized.
Gassama also pointed to the diverse attendance at Bojang’s burial as a lesson in unity, noting that party labels were set aside. “Even the burial of Dembo is a sample. You don’t see UDP, you don’t see NPP. You see Gambians. We are all from the same parents. We must forgive, forget, and put the country first.”
He concluded by urging leaders and citizens alike to uphold peace and tolerance as the nation approaches another critical election year.
