Halifa Sallah has slammed President Adama Barrow over his call for Sidia Jatta to retire from politics.

Barrow told a rally in Wuli that veteran politician Sidia Jatta should retire from politics just as his contemporaries have done.

The president said: “For 20 years since he became MP here, he (Jatta) did not bring this kind of charity. I am proud to bring this kind of charity that will make the living condition of people better.”

But Jatta’s political ally and PDOIS leader Halifa Sallah has reacted to President Barrow’s statement. 

Sallah said: “What doubts me is what I have done [in this country] President Barrow has not done, and we have seen him touring the country. 

“And I am currently about to travel to Strasbourg to attend one of ACP parliamentary assemblies, but if I return, I will examine if he has changed his style of leadership, because I can respond to him and I have the words.

“When I was supporting him, I told the public that leadership has three issues which are that he should be an intellectual in knowledge, he should have mercy for people and he should be upright so that you can lead a country.”

“For me, he is trying to mislead the country by telling Sidia to retire [in politics].”

Sallah continued: “Just look at how Foni Kansala people are fleeing their homes because of the conflict in Casamance and President Barrow should not have time now for a tour. 

“I don’t know how he can have time because your country people are fleeing their homes and you don’t have a cabinet to sit and discuss about addressing that problem. 

“But you are going around innuendo people. Is that how the country is governed. Therefore, Gambians be careful.”

“If you become a president, you should calm yourself down and know that your country is not stable. You tell people good and important messages so that Gambians will come together and avoid division, but you will not be a president uttering words of belittling your fellow Gambians.

“No one will belittle PDOIS and no one will belittle Sidia Jatta because we chose him to stand for the party. Who is he to say Sidia should not stand for this National Assembly election when we chose him to stand for the party? That is not his responsibility,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba