By Kemo Kanyi
Gambian President Adama Barrow has urged the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) to focus on policy-based campaigning rather than actions he described as attempts to provoke violence.
The Gambian President made the urge during a recent meeting as part of his ongoing Meet- -the-People-Tour.
Addressing a meeting in Jabang, Mr. Barrow accused UDP supporters of mobilizing along his route to disrupt his engagements and chanting slogans demanding his removal from office.
The president, who described the UDP as his father’s party, said the opposition should concentrate on presenting its policies and persuading voters to support its bid for power.
“I have recently observed something from the opposition, especially the UDP. That’s my father’s party. Now, when I am going for the meeting, they mobilize people to stand in my way to sabotage [the tour] by chanting that they will not vote for me, ‘President Barrow, you must come down. We will do this and that to you,’” he said.
Mr. Barrow advised the party to take its message directly to voters, arguing that a convincing policy platform could help it win the presidency.
He said his own approach was to engage citizens and discuss issues with them during political campaigning, adding that confrontation between rival supporters served no useful purpose.
The president also referred to a reported physical altercation between supporters of the two political camps in Manduar. He alleged that some UDP supporters had spread a large party flag near his meeting ground, prompting his supporters to take it down and assault the opposition supporters.
Mr. Barrow said such incidents were unnecessary, stressing that the decision on who should lead the country rested with voters rather than individual political leaders.
“All that drama is not necessary. The decision for change belongs to Gambians. They are the people who will vote. President Barrow cannot decide it. Ousainu Darboe cannot decide it. No single individual can decide it. It must be decided by citizens with the power of their votes,” he remarked.
He added that political differences were a normal part of democratic competition and should not lead to violence.
Mr. Barrow also expressed confidence in the Gambian electorate’s trust in his leadership, saying he would not betray that trust.
Describing himself as a peaceful person, he said his conduct had demonstrated that he was not inclined towards trouble, adding that holding the presidency did not change a person’s character but revealed it.
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