August 23rd 2024
On the 23rd of August 1996, our great party, the United Democratic Party was founded. As we celebrate the founding of the party, I wish to thank and congratulate all members and supporters at home and abroad spanning the entire spectrum of Gambian society from the house wife in kombo Brikama , to the subsistence farmer in Sandu Fatako , the honest and hardworking civil servant committed to doing his best despite the challenges of low wages and less than ideal working conditions to the small entrepreneurs operating in our markets and neighborhoods sustaining our fragile economy . We are especially grateful to the long standing support of our strong , dynamic and focused diaspora members and supporters who wake up every day all over the world in Africa , Europe, America , Asia and the Middle East driven by ambition and a strong work ethic to better their lives , that of their loved ones and their country, The Gambia. Without their continued support and commitment, UDP and the righteous duties it has assigned itself in the fight for democracy would have faced great difficulties.
The history, present and future of our party has always been shaped by the shared values of its membership. We must all remember that UDP, unlike most political parties, was not founded by an individual who then proceeded to seek and recruit a support base. On the contrary, the party was founded by a diverse group of men and women of impeccable integrity who at a dark moment in our history when democracy was overthrown and tyranny sought to supplant our freedoms and rights with dictatorship and violence. It was in this dark period that our founders got together and birthed the UDP with the objective of uniting patriots in the pursuit and reestablishment of the democracy that was illegally seized and the restoration of justice based on the rule of law. It was only after the pioneers formed the UDP that they sought and ultimately recruited a leader making our party the true definition of a movement that is for the people and by the people. Because of this foundational history, all party supporters and members should remember that UDP will always belong to its members as a permanent trust. No individual can ever claim ownership and certainly no one single member can make or break UDP. We are anchored on the values of our founding principles, guided by our constitution and bound together by our unity of purpose.
As we celebrate our birthday, I implore all our members and supporters to know and honor the objectives of our founders who firmly believed the beloved Gambia we all share as a diverse society is worth fighting for in the pursuit of freedom, democracy and Justice. We must also never forget the party’s honorable tradition of sacrifice for the greater good. Our members and supporters from our founding to date have paid with their lives, their blood, their freedoms, their possessions and some have been disappeared from the face of the earth denying their loved ones even the God sanctioned ritual of a decent burial. The price has been very high and that is a legacy that imposes a big responsibility on each and every one of us to ensure all the sacrifices lead to a better Gambia that is free, democratic and just. And the best way we can honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price is to uphold our founding principles and remain UNITED in their pursuit. We must never forget our collective strength as a party is predicated on our individual commitment to prioritizing UNITY above everything else. Unity among our ranks will help us grow outside of our ranks and help us get our message to those who we seek to persuade on the efficacy of our agenda.
I would also want all of us to cherish and celebrate the pool of good quality people we have among our ranks across the board from leadership to regular members and supporters. Let us all appreciate each other for the unique contribution and potential each member and supporter of UDP brings to the table. The mark of a vibrant and growing political party is the scope and extent of its talent pool and their commitment to the roles they play in furthering the welfare of the party. We are fortunate to have the best of all categories from our dynamic National Assembly Members, elected representatives running the municipalities , the elected executives running the affairs of the party at the national , regional and ward levels , the formal and informal advisers that constitute the brain thrust of the party , the student wing, the diaspora chapter and their very creative and hardworking coordinators, to the party operatives who help execute the very important retail politics at the grassroots. Every piece of the puzzle big or small, measurable or immeasurable, public or private within our ranks is valued and important. For example Momodou Krubally popularly known as MB, spent months as one member of a big team meticulously working and planning with his colleagues in the diaspora fundraising committee, flew from Los Angeles to Barcelona to achieve their shared objective of helping the party raise funds in preparation for the 2026 election. That is one example of how important every single person is in our party. Working together we can amplify the strength and impact of each individual’s contribution and help achieve our collective goals as a party. Let us see every member and supporter of our party as an important member of the family who should be valued and respected.
Our opponents understand both our history and our potential. They cannot contest our ideas, they don’t doubt the quality of our leaders and the loyalty of our members; they also know we have the most dedicated and committed support base than any other party. To compete, they are hoping to cultivate and sow division among ranks. In that effort they will attempt to latch onto our impressive first-rate leaders and try to pit us against each other with the hope of generating rancor and division in the family. They are not succeeding and I am confident they will fail to see us disunited, Inshallah. We will forge ahead as a family , share our agenda with voters , persuade as many people as possible, follow our normal procedures as we have always done and at our appointed time , assemble and select our presidential candidate and all of us will campaign vigorously for our nominee.
And because we are a vibrant and growing party, our pool of potential nominees is admirable and that is a credit and not a liability that we must all be proud of. What we must not do is turn our asset of impressive talent into rancor and factionalism or to turn a desire into weapon to be used in endless bickering. That will only give aid and comfort to those who ultimately do not wish the UDP. That outcome must be avoided at all costs and at all times. Everyone can have a favorite among the family but everyone must also resolve to being a good team player. Tearing apart your comrade in arms publicly or privately doesn’t help the team or even your preferred member of the team. The better option is for all of us to embrace each other even in genuine disagreement and try to work through our relatively minor differences in ways that do not tear us asunder but deepens the close bonds that bind us together.
We must also all refrain from attacking any Gambian on grounds of political disagreement. Everyone should be treated with honor and respect at all times and even if we are attacked our response should be a combination of restraint and treating our attackers with respect. This is the way we maintain our own self-respect and earn the respect of others including the ones throwing invectives at us. I implore all of you to never seek equilibrium in disrespect no matter what the level of provocation. The party of Shyngle Nyassi, Femi Peters , Lamin N. Dibba, Sarjo Kunjang Sanneh , Solo Sandeng, Okuta Thomas, Alagie Tapha Joof, Alagie Dembo Tunkara, Papa Touray, Noggoi Njie, Sukai Dahaba, Binta Marong, Nyima Ndong, and all our martyrs, Fatou Camara, Yamundow Yarboe, Aji Yam Secka, Sukaina Kah, Hagi Suwaneh, Lamin Darboe, Jonfolo Jabbie honors and respects every Gambian.
Let us all resolve to dedicate this anniversary to upholding the values and principles upon which our party was founded. Let us remember that UDP was founded by people and belongs only to the people. It doesn’t belong to any individual. We must be cognizant of the sacrifices of our members and supporters and see ourselves as custodians of a sacred trust that must be protected and nurtured by us and succeeding generations. Each member has a duty to himself and more importantly to the party and it is incumbent on all to embrace each other. We belong together, we stand together and we fight together. Let us remain focused on the agenda we have for voters, communicate that agenda to the best of our abilities and seek to persuade as many of our fellow citizens as possible. Do not pay attention to those who seek to distract you whatever method they use at any given time. Let us all avoid the temptation to draw attention to ourselves instead of the common agenda we all believe in. Use the communication tools at your disposal as a vehicle to foster unity, explain party policies and be a good ambassador. Let your voice be a force of good and the thread that binds and appeals to the better angels of people.
I thank you all wherever you are and whatever role you play in the growth and sustenance of the party. May Allah bless the memory of those who started this journey with us but are no longer alive. We pledge to uphold the values for which they sacrificed so much and do our level best at all times. May Allah bless the UDP and our beloved nation – The Gambia.