Africa-Press – Gambia. A young activist, Abdoulie Darboe has called on political parties in The Gambia to put aside personal interests, unite and address corruption to enable the country achieve meaningful development.
Speaking to journalists in Banjul, Darboe says the frequent switching of party allegiance by politicians, commonly referred to as cross-carpeting, undermines the integrity of the country’s political system.
He alleged that several opposition politicians who had criticized President Adama Barrow later joined his ruling National People’s Party (NPP), claiming to act in the national interest.
“Many opposition politicians cross over to President Barrow’s party claiming it is for national interest. But after joining, no one sees them making meaningful contributions to the nation,” Darboe said.
“Criticizing the president has become a pathway to join the ruling NPP, not a platform for truth or accountability,” he remarked.
Darboe cited Momodou Sabally, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Dodou Jah and Seedy Njie as examples of politicians who, according to him, initially opposed the president before later aligning with him.
He questioned what tangible changes such individuals had brought about prior to joining the ruling party and what may have influenced their decision to switch allegiance.
“Criticizing the president to gain his attention is dishonest and damages the credibility of our political system,” he said.
Darboe emphasized that Gambians deserve principled leadership and a political culture free from opportunism.
“If we publicly call someone corrupt and then fully join them, it sends the message that dishonesty is acceptable and encourages malpractice in our institutions,” he said, urging citizens to be cautious about whom they support and trust.
He also stressed the responsibility of both voters and elected representatives in promoting accountability and integrity.
“Change in the country starts at home. We must teach honesty and integrity so that our people do not allow the state to be undermined during this critical period,” Darboe said.
He added that electing leaders should go beyond winning seats and focus on consistent advocacy for the interests of the people.
