Africa-Press – Gambia. Sheriffo Bayo Sonko, the transport councilor at the Brikama Area Council and a senior figure in the United Democratic Party, said President Adama Barrow’s recent remarks at a rally in Brikama had inadvertently reinforced Chairman Yankuba Darboe’s long-standing criticisms of the central government’s handling of local governance issues in the West Coast Region.
In a statement released following the rally, Sonko praised Mr. Darboe for what he described as a steadfast commitment to accountability, transparency, and community-driven development—values he said had become increasingly rare in public office.
“A man whose only offense, it seems, is his commitment to accountability, transparency, and the swift development he brings to his community with unwavering boldness,” Mr. Sonko said of the council chairman. His remarks reflect a growing sentiment among supporters who view Mr. Darboe as a bulwark against political interference in local institutions.
Sonko criticized the Barrow administration for preventing the Brikama Area Council from managing the newly constructed Brikama Market, a responsibility he said is clearly assigned to local councils under the Local Government Act. The decision, he argued, had diverted millions of dalasis in revenue away from the council and created uncertainty about how much income the market had generated under central control.
“The people of Brikama know the truth, and they will not be misled again,” he said, adding that residents have directly experienced both the council’s efforts and the government’s resistance to local oversight.
Sonko also took aim at Abdou Sowe, National Assembly Member for Kombo East, saying Sowe “does not deserve to be called ‘Honorable’” and accusing him of failing to represent his constituents. He challenged Sowe to publicly account for his work and questioned his commitment to local development.
“Mr. Abdou Sowe does not deserve to be called ‘Honorable,’ because he has not been serving the people of Kombo East; instead, it is the people of Kombo East who have been serving him.”
To counter the criticism the council has faced from ruling-party officials, Sonko listed a series of projects undertaken under Chairman Darboe’s tenure. These include electricity expansion, new water points, and the construction of markets and roads—initiatives he said demonstrate the council’s capacity when not obstructed by the central government.
Sonko urged President Barrow to reconsider the claims he made at the Brikama rally, calling the remarks dismissive of the democratic rights of West Coast Region residents. He reiterated the council’s guiding principle—“Do not steal, do not lie, Jobrek”—as a reminder, he said, of the standards Gambians expect from their leaders.
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