By Abdoulie John
President Adama Barrow on Saturday put his popularity to the test in Brikama where thousands of people witnessed a marathon meeting held at SSP football arena. He signaled his resolve to hit the ground rolling come 2021.
“Those who want to challenge my presidency will have to wait till 2021,” Barrow told a large crowd of supporters who intermittently chanted his name as they were energised by the procession of speakers who spitted out harsh words against the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Organised by the Brikama-based Barrow Fan’s Club, the mega-event was graced by a plethora of political leaders, gov’t officials, traditional chieftains and leading figures from youth and women’s organisations.
The Gambian leader cleared air about his commitment to take the plunge by announcing that he will run for President in 2021, shutting down critics who are calling for him to resign after the end of the three-year transition period.
He called on his potential opponents to desist from using back channels if they want to take part in the 2021 electoral competition.
“Let them pass through the right process,” he reiterated while making it very clear that the political field is wide open for anyone interested in standing for Presidential elections.
Barrow then seized the opportunity to outline his government’s achievements since he was elected to preside over the destiny of Gambians.
He said when they took over the economic growth oscillated a 1.6% but climbed at 4.5% in 2017 and 6.5% in 2018 due gov’t fiscal discipline, which was recently lauded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of the leading Bretton Woods institutions.
Barrow further stated that the country’s foreign reserve has made an ‘astronomic’ jump, moving from $35 million dollars to over $500 million dollars.
Similarly, he revealed that other economic indicators are all in green, proving that the country in on the right track.
The Chairman of Barrow’s Fans Club, Lamin Jatta, expressed delight about the great mobilisation that marked Saturday’s political rally.
He went on to say that the Constitution clearly stipulates that the President should serve a five-year mandate.
Adding her voice to the chorus of commendations was Councillor Isatou Fatou Ceesay who said President Barrow is making waves from Kalagi to Kartong. She then indicated that West Coast Region (WCR) has become a Barrow-dominated area.
“Women have thrown their weight behind President Barrow,” she said.
Pa Njie Girigara, a former top official of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), announced his full support to the Gambian leader political agenda.
“We need Barrow. We don’t need old Pa, ” he chanted in what was described by many observers as an attempt to lock horns with UDP leader Ousainou Darboe…
Ends