By Buba Gagigo
Ousainu Darboe, Party leader and Secretary General of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has called the questioning and detention of the UDP’s Campaign Manager, Momodou Sabally, and Nominated Councilor for Transportation at Brikama Area Council, Sheriffo Baiyo Sonko, politically motivated.
“There is nothing anybody can conclude other than being a politically motivated arrest. An arrest intended to silence Momodou Sabally but of course, we know Momodou Sabally is like several leaders in the UDP. You can incarcerate us but you cannot stop us from talking. Even if you incarcerate us the ideas continue to flow in the streets and the people will talk. We know that this 72 hours that the constitution tells us is abused,” the UDP leader said during a press conference on Saturday.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader also condemned the use of what he described as former president Yahya Jammeh’s ‘playbook’ in the Gambia;
“We condemned the use of Yahya Jammeh’s playbook in the run of this country and that is done every day. When there’s no regard for the rule of law. Because regard for the rule of law means enforcing the law in good faith. Not when you use it in order to score points that are either immoral or points that are really intended to stifle or weaken your opponent. So our lawyers have gone to see Mr. Sabally. He’s in the best of spirits because I don’t think any of us can break him down. His family is also in the best of spirits. They realize and know that the cause that Mr. Sabally is pursuing in this country is a just cause and being a just cause and they are in high spirit and are proud that Mr. Sabally, his sufferings is all for the good of this country,” he said.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader confirmed their lawyers have visited both Momodou Sabally and Sheriffo Baiyo Sonko who are been detained at the Kairaba Police Station and Kanifing police station respectively.