By Makutu Manneh
Fabakary Tombong Jatta, leader of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, on Saturday, accused members of the United Democratic Party of being largely responsible for the difficulties his party faced following the 2017 departure of former President Yahya Jammeh.
Speaking at a party meeting in Tallinding, Mr. Jatta said that nearly all of the challenges encountered by the APRC in the years after Mr. Jammeh’s exit could be traced to actions by the UDP, which was a central force in the coalition that brought President Adama Barrow to power.
“We came to see that what happened to us was done by the coalition,” Mr. Jatta said. “Out of 100 percent, 99 percent was done by the UDP.”
Mr. Jatta defended his party’s decision to align with the ruling National People’s Party, describing it as a calculated move informed by the APRC’s experience in the immediate aftermath of the 2017 political transition.
He argued that during the first term of Mr. Barrow’s presidency, internal disputes within the governing coalition hampered development efforts. According to Mr. Jatta, it was only after the president’s political break with the UDP that the government was able to accelerate development projects, particularly in rural areas.
Addressing supporters, Mr. Jatta urged voters to approach the coming presidential election with a sense of national responsibility, emphasizing the need to move beyond political divisions and “fooling each other.”
He also called on Gambians to recognize the importance of stability, suggesting that even in the absence of significant development gains, maintaining peace and order was a critical achievement of Mr. Barrow’s administration.
“Without stability, development has no value,” he said, describing the president as a leader who had preserved calm during a period of political transition.
Mr. Jatta warned young people and women to be wary of political inducements in the election season, cautioning against short-term incentives offered by politicians. He encouraged voters to reflect on their long-term interests as they prepare to cast ballots in the December 5 presidential election.
The APRC leader concluded by reaffirming his party’s support for President Barrow, saying it was in the country’s interest to back his bid for another term and urging voters to set aside ethnic and partisan considerations at the polls.
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