Africa-Press – Gambia. Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council and a prominent member of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), has called for a fresh approach to politics in The Gambia, emphasizing that it should not revolve around personal attacks or caricatures.
Addressing the KMC Regional Youth Founders meeting at Semega Janneh Hall, Mayor Bensouda emphasized the significance of genuine public engagement. “Politics is about having conversations with the public, and for the Unite Movement for Change, we have come to engage directly with the people,” he stated.
He outlined the movement’s commitment to a political approach grounded in truth, accountability, and realistic promises, urging members not to make commitments they cannot fulfill.
Highlighting persistent national challenges, Mayor Bensouda noted that many of the country’s problems have persisted since independence. “Gambia has faced the same challenges from independence to today,” he said, citing issues such as youth unemployment, limited support for women, and inadequate opportunities as key areas of concern.
Addressing the future of the movement, Mayor Bensouda revealed that when UMC transitions into a political party, the party’s flag-bearer will not automatically be the secretary-general. “We cannot take the power of a country or a party and put it in the hands of one person; if that person becomes a dictator, you made the person a dictator,” he warned.
He also urged members to learn from the country’s political history, pointing to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as an example: “If you look at Gambia’s politics since the time of PPP, when the party leader left, the party cannot survive.”
The Mayor explained that when former President Sir Dawda Jawara stepped down, the PPP struggled to maintain its relevance—just as the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) did after President Yahya Jammeh’s departure. He added that President Adama Barrow has expressed his intention to seek a third term to ensure the National People’s Party (NPP) remains stable and does not face a similar fate after his eventual exit.
Mayor Bensouda encouraged supporters to promote the movement’s vision rather than individual personalities. “Do not tell people to join Talib Bensouda; tell them to join UMC,” he said, emphasizing the importance of collective leadership and a shared political mission.
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