By Buba Gagigo
Kebba Jallow, the leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has officially acknowledged his meeting with Bakary Bunja Darboe, leader of the Gambia For All (GFA) party and former vice president, as part of ongoing discussions aimed at reconciliation and a potential return to the PPP.
Following Darboe’s formation of his own political party after failing to secure the position of party leader at a PPP Congress marred by controversy, Jallow highlighted the mandate given during the Congress to reach out to individuals and parties affiliated with the PPP, fostering unity within the political landscape.
Jallow emphasized that the PPP’s mandate, as decided during the previous Congress, included reaching out to anyone associated with the PPP, be it individuals or other parties like GFA, to reunite as one cohesive party. Committees have been established, discussions initiated, and one-on-one conversations, such as with Bakary Darboe, have taken place.
“During the last Congress, it was discussed that the Congress gave us the mandate to go after anyone who was PPP, whether party or individual, for us to come back together as one party. That gave us the mandate to go after parties like GFA (of BB Darboe) to come and join because it is their party. There’s nothing like am angry and I am going. No! Let them come back. We have actually started talking to them. We have formed committees, and they are discussing. I spoke to Bakary one-on-one. So this is going on. The format it will take is not out yet, but I believe we will be one party, In Sha Allah,” he said.
When asked about the potential retention of the PPP name post-reconciliation, Jallow affirmed, “That is the idea (to maintain the PPP name), and that is what we are talking about. There’s nothing like the PPP-GFA coalition. No! Is going to be one party. We are all going to come together and be one PPP, and not even that. There are many people who left for other parties, and we will bring them back to the PPP. Even parties like the NCP. Don’t forget that it was Sheriff Dibba and Jawara who formed the PPP. So these are the strong pillars. I remember Sheriff Dibba being almost like the president under Jawara. So if there was division at that time, now things have changed, and I see no reason why we cannot come together as one party and take the country from the government.”