n sharp contrast to his previous interview which was generally perceived to be self-centred, the second part of President Adama Barrow’s exclusive encounter with Paradise’s Harona Drammeh (not a relative) has been characterized by humility, acknowledgment, and, of course, political maneuvering.
An intriguing interview!
In sharp contrast to his previous interview which was generally perceived to be self-centred, the second part of President Adama Barrow’s exclusive encounter with Paradise’s Harona Drammeh (not a relative) has been characterized by humility, acknowledgment, and, of course, political maneuvering. Equally, the President was more concrete in terms of policies.
President Barrow, this time around, gave credit to his former aide, Halifa Sallah, who played a pivotal role during the Coalition’s campaign and at the height of the infamous political impasse to rally the nation behind the then President-elect and cool down the masses. He equally acknowledged that Mr. Sallah and his current Special Advisor, Mai Ahmad Fatty, drafted his speeches. Mr. Barrow, however, expressed disquiet over PDOIS’s decision to stay out of Cabinet despite his efforts to prevail upon its top leadership, namely Sidia Jatta and Halifa Sallah, to accept Cabinet positions.
Regarding the much-anticipated security reform program, Mr. Barrow revealed that the plan will be launched on June 10. He elaborated the input of all stakeholders, including the UNDP, had been incorporated.
On his decision to relieve the senior UDP Cabinet ministers, the President argued that the move was not personal; rather it is hinged on national interest. In playing it down, the President might be attempting to strike a conciliatory tone toward his former political party to ease the simmering political tension. It’s an open secret that the bad blood between the two sides culminated in the sacking of three UDP ministers. The decision was interpreted by UDP Party leader Ousainou Darboe as expulsion from the Coalition.
In an apparent reaction to public criticism of his BYM and fan club, the President contended that he needs political support to energize him. Notwithstanding it’s believed that those entities are political and are being used to galvanize support for Mr. Barrow, once he decides to set up his own party.
When pressed on whether or not he will form his own political party, President Barrow dodged the question, despite the overwhelming general perception that he would eventually do.
On whether he would serve out his constitutional mandate of five years, President Barrow expressed his unequivocal keenness to see through his institutional reforms as part of his legacy.
Though Mr. Drammeh, the interviewer, was panned by critics for being too soft on Barrow, the interview gave Gambians a rare insight into the President’s life story and line of thinking.
