The firebrand leader of the opposition National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM) Lamin Waa Juwara has told the Daily Observer his prophecy that “politics of confrontation” will become history has completed its final orbit.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at his residence in Brikama, on Thursday, Juwara said for Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, the leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), to agree with President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh’s declaration of zero tolerance for crimes such as rape, illicit drugs and armed robbery “is a step in the right direction”.
He said this confluence in reasoning on such nefarious activities in the country confirmed what he had told the opposition some time ago that the “politics of confrontation” had served its time in The Gambia.
The former Namina Dankunku parliamentarian said that the political climate in The Gambia demands the cooperation of both the opposition and the ruling APRC party to engage in positive development for the betterment of the country.
Juwara, alias Mbaroodi (a conquering lion), said the current political atmosphere is a representation of the spirit of the memorandum of understanding jointly signed by all the political parties in the country.
Mbaroodi said the fact that President Jammeh won the 2006 presidential election in a free, fair and credible manner means that the opposition should join the ruling party to work positively for the interest of the nation.
The NDAM leader admitted that he used to be the most controversial opposition leader in Tthe Gambia.
“But now that the situation has changed, I am prepared to work with President Jammeh’s administration in national development,” he said.
In Juwara’s eyes, Lawyer Darboe has began to understand the political realities of the day and other major players are also realising that The Gambia needs peaceful political co-existence.
It could be recalled that President Jammeh made a pronouncement during the passing out of soldiers that his government will ensure zero tolerance on crimes such as rape, illicit drugs and armed robbery; a declaration that Darboe strongly supported in an article published by The Point newspaper recently.