As the civil war in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) intensifies, the party founder and former leader, Sir Dawda Jawara, has been drawn into the fray.

Omar Jallow popularly known as OJ, also a former leader of the party and now adviser, claimed in a campaign rally on Saturday that Sir Dawda Jawara has endorsed the leadership of Papa Njie whose election as party leader last December triggered a civil war with the supporters of Bakary Bunja Dabo, a veteran politician and PPP grandee.

OJ told party supporters at Brikama-ba in the Central River Region that Sir Dawda Jawara gave his unflinching support to Papa Njie.

“God gave this important seat to Papa Njie here with you today. We took him to Sir Dawda Jawara when he was elected and he endorsed and prayed for him.”

He reminded the gathering that during their congress election, Bakary Dabo and Papa Njie competed for the position to replace Jawara as party leader. He said of 499 party delegates that voted, Papa Njie secured 272 votes while his challenger, BB Dabo, secured 227 votes.

OJ said the PPP will be back in government because it is the true party of the people adding that “the PPP is the only party that is formed by the farmers and the poor people during the colonial days.”

“There have been lots of misinformation about the PPP but the fact remains that without PPP, The Gambia would not have achieved what has been achieved today.

“It was Yahya Jammeh who overthrew the PPP over false allegation but today Jawara is staying in the country but where is Yahya Jammeh? The truth will always rise above falsehood. I know that PPP has the truth. I am just happy to say that Sir Dawda in 29 years has only two properties and three vehicles. Yahya Jammeh in 22 years has 193 properties and over 200 vehicles.”

OJ said in the 29 years of Jawara’s rule no single Gambian went through the back way to Europe because the government was peaceful and Gambians were respected throughout the world. He added that many countries such as UK, Norway, Canada, Sweden had no visa requirements for Gambians.