By Seedy Jobe
The National Campaign Manager of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), MC Cham Jr., has criticized remarks attributed to President Adama Barrow, suggesting that road development in Niani would depend on the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) retaining power, describing the comments as “politically irresponsible” and “an insult to the intelligence of Gambians.”
In a statement shared on Thursday, Cham Jr., who also serves as a business councilor at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), argued that public infrastructure should not be tied to partisan politics but understood as a continuous function of the state.
“President Barrow’s reported statement to the people of Niani, that road projects will continue only if the NPP retains power, is deeply unfortunate and politically irresponsible,” he said. “It appears that he has forgotten one of the most basic principles of governance, which is that government is a continuum. Public projects do not belong to a political party or to an individual president. They belong to the people, and they are funded by the resources of the state.”
Cham cited projects initiated under former President Yahya Jammeh and completed under Barrow as examples of continuity in public works, pointing in particular to the Jabang Highway and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) road projects.
“When President Barrow came to power in 2016, his government did not abandon every project that had been initiated under former President Yahya Jammeh,” he said. “On the contrary, many of those projects were completed under his administration. That is how responsible government works.”
He further said infrastructure should be viewed as a state obligation rather than a political reward.
“For President Barrow to now suggest that development will only continue if his party remains in power is not only misleading, but also an insult to the intelligence of the Gambian people. Roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure are not gifts from a political party. They are obligations of the state,” Cham Jr. said. “Every Gambian, regardless of political affiliation, has a right to development.”
He added that the comments reflected what he described as political urgency ahead of elections, saying they amounted to “fear and political blackmail” rather than leadership.
“This statement exposes the desperation of a leader who appears to know that his time in power is coming to an end in December,” he said. “Instead of presenting a convincing record and a hopeful vision for the future, he is now resorting to fear and political blackmail. That is not leadership. It is a sign of panic.”
Cham Jr. urged what he called respect for citizens and for the principle that national development should not be conditioned on political allegiance.
“The people of Niani, like all Gambians, deserve better than threats disguised as campaign promises,” he said. “The Gambia belongs to its citizens, not to the NPP.”
He added that the principle of continuity in governance would outlast any single administration. “Governments come and go, but the state remains,” he said. “Development must continue, because it is the right of the people and not the privilege of a ruling party.”
Comments are closed.