The National People’s Party has defended President Adama Barrow for not showing up to the last presidential debate which was only attended by Halifa Sallah and Essa Faal. 

President Adama Barrow, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, Mamma Kandeh, and Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh failed to show up.

NPP’s administrative secretary Mamick Njie said the party has an alternative form of speaking to Gambians other than partaking in such debate.   

“I am saying that we have our own way of reaching The Gambian voters which we will concentrate on. It’s an alternative form so we have another alternative to the debate and we are focusing on that. 

“You know the problem I have with people is that they think that running this country is about English and using big grammar. 

“Running a country is about wisdom, it’s not about English and big grammar. English is a foreign language, the people we govern most of them don’t even speak English,” he said.

“For the past five years the president has been in power, regardless of the type of English they think he speaks, he is being able to deliver his promises to the Gambian people and we know that’s matters to the Gambian people not the type of English he speaks,” he added.

“They chose to go, I don’t know perhaps they are trying to impress people that they speak good English and is not about speaking good English is about having the wisdom, is about having the commitment, is about having the character and is about having the right sense of mind to be able to deliver the goods to the Gambian people,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba