Posted by By Bekai Njie
A one-time vice president and minister of Finance during President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s government has announced his political ambition of running for the Office of Secretary General and Party Leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Bakary Bunja Darboe, 68, was a former lawmaker for Kiang West District in the First Republic; and an economist who at one-time was vice president under President Jawara between 1982 and 1992.
Speaking at a press conference held at Fajara, Mr. Darboe said his decision to vie for the position came after careful consideration and widespread appeals for him to put his name forward for the position. He maintained that he remains fully alive to the duties in the position of leadership of the party.
Mr. Darboe’s comments came contrary to Omar Jallow’s, the current party leader who at one-time said it was time for younger people to assume their rightful positions in the party.
Many political analysts believe that if O.J. could not run for the same position, Mr. Darboe could have an easy ride to the party’s highest position.
Mr. Darboe, who climbed from the lowest ranks of the party to one of the highest positions, noted that he is coming to table with all modesty and not empty hands.
He indicated that running for a position, whether as leader or as any other role in the party in a congress is different from running for presidency of the country.
To this end, Darboe explained that running for presidency will arise once elections are near.
He noted that the PPP results during the last National Assembly and Council elections were dismal; resulting in the decline and loss of space it suffered over the years.
He said ‘if trusted’, the position there is a pressing need to remain the space the party has lost progressively.
The Kiang- born politician, who has been away from The Gambia for a good number of years, said he was never disconnected with Gambian politics.