Gambian Political Leaders Clash Over Party Finance Claims.
President Adama Barrow and his former party leader are fighting over who paid for what. At a meeting last month, Barrow said he gave money to his old party. The United Democratic Party says this is not true.
Barrow told people in Ebo Town that he spent lots of his cash on the party. He claims he gave more than one million dalasis when he ran for president in 2016. The party only raised 210,000 dalasis at that time, he said.
But UDP leader Ousainou Darboe fired back hard. He told QTV that Barrow never gave money to UDP. "He talks like this when no one can question him," Darboe said. He asked why Barrow begged for cash from people living abroad if he had such wealth.
Darboe provided more evidence against Barrow's claims. He said the UDP paid for Barrow to run as a local rep in 2007. "If he was rich, then he would have paid his way," Darboe said. He wants the president to watch his words.
The UDP leader also discussed people leaving his party. He said some members mean more to him than others and named a few loyal friends who would shock him if they quit. But when asked about former campaign chief Momodou Sabally joining Barrow's team, Darboe shrugged it off. He said Sabally came from another party and just used the UDP for his gain.
The fight shows deep splits between these old allies. It makes clear how far apart they've grown since Barrow left the UDP to make his path.
President Adama Barrow and his former party leader are fighting over who paid for what. At a meeting last month, Barrow said he gave money to his old party. The United Democratic Party says this is not true.
Barrow told people in Ebo Town that he spent lots of his cash on the party. He claims he gave more than one million dalasis when he ran for president in 2016. The party only raised 210,000 dalasis at that time, he said.
But UDP leader Ousainou Darboe fired back hard. He told QTV that Barrow never gave money to UDP. "He talks like this when no one can question him," Darboe said. He asked why Barrow begged for cash from people living abroad if he had such wealth.
Darboe provided more evidence against Barrow's claims. He said the UDP paid for Barrow to run as a local rep in 2007. "If he was rich, then he would have paid his way," Darboe said. He wants the president to watch his words.
The UDP leader also discussed people leaving his party. He said some members mean more to him than others and named a few loyal friends who would shock him if they quit. But when asked about former campaign chief Momodou Sabally joining Barrow's team, Darboe shrugged it off. He said Sabally came from another party and just used the UDP for his gain.
The fight shows deep splits between these old allies. It makes clear how far apart they've grown since Barrow left the UDP to make his path.
