By Fatou Sillah
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and leader of the opposition Unite Movement for Change, on Friday offered measured praise for President Adama Barrow’s infrastructure achievements while urging him to leave office to safeguard his political legacy.
In an interview with Skypower Radio and TV Services, Mr. Bensouda acknowledged progress in road construction and other development projects, particularly in urban areas.
“I think on infrastructure, they have done fairly well,” he said. “Most Gambians agree that infrastructure has improved, especially in the urban areas.”
But Mr. Bensouda said those gains were overshadowed by what he described as serious shortcomings in governance, health care, and security. He warned that any attempt by Mr. Barrow to seek a third presidential term would further weaken public confidence in the government.
“So my advice to President Barrow as an opposition leader is leave and seek your legacy. If he goes for a third term, there are going to be a lot of challenges for governance credibility, not just for him but also for the government and the country,” he said.
Mr. Bensouda accused the administration of failing to deliver on promised reforms, particularly in governance and security, and said rising crime had left many Gambians feeling unsafe.
“When it comes to governance, I think they have done very poorly; they have not brought in the reforms that were promised,” he said. “Security has gone very terribly wrong. The crime rate is very high, and people feel a strong sense of insecurity.”
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