United Democratic Party, UDP’s spokesperson Almamy Fanding Taal has chided Gambia’s president’s insensitivity to the passing of Alhajie Biri Njie of Banjul as well as the country’s current problems in a bearing where not only Covid-19, but floods from heavy rains, abject poverty, and poor infrastructure are taking heavy tolls on the tiny nation’s poor.

Taal was speaking to forGambia News and Radio in an exclusive interview, Tuesday morning (American time). He also addressed the fact that the president needs to come out to speak to the nation about the Covid situation among other things. Gambia’s civil society organizations had earlier given Barrow about 72 hours to do so. The country is yet to witness neither the president’s speech, nor his genuine interest or care.

Mr. Taal continued that while these things are happening to the country, Barrow was hiding. But he decided to make some political gains from the highly respected Biri Njie’s funeral in Banjul by popping out of his hibernation to make a show of a high-profile funeral.

Mr. Taal stated he made up his mind that he was not going to that funeral when the president of the republic, who has been refusing to address Gambians about very serious issues, attempts to turn somebody’s sad event into “a show.”

“All he’s been doing is just a show” and no meaningful action about the country’s problems according to Taal, maintaining that “this is not the time for propaganda.” He cited the recent sad events in Lebanon where people were protesting among other things, and then there was an explosion.

“All this time president Barrow is hiding. But when Alhajie Biri passed away, he wanted to make a show. All he’s ever interested in is a show…I mean…and I told people I’m not going to that funeral because I think it’s inappropriate,” Taal posited.

“Many people went to that funeral…went ahead and answered to the ultimate call themselves…people like Alieu Mboge…You have to build a country based on values. But someone who’s only interested in dressing up and going for shows,” Taal carried on, expressing that many worry about the problems this year, so far, has presented to The Gambia.

When put to him that in reality, Barrow doesn’t care about Banjul and Gambia’s legendary Biri Njie’s passing, Mr. Taal replied, “He doesn’t care about anything. All he does day and night is how do I stay here. And you don’t stay there doing nothing. People don’t want that,” he calculated.

As far as the country’s dire situation is concerned, Mr. Taal stated, “you’ll be surprised how many people call on whatsapp and give their honest assessment of situations. People now realize that they have to be strategic, otherwise there would be a lot of waste of time,” he mentioned with some reference to the type of people running the show in The Gambia today.

He stated he gets a lot of “calls from people that are not partisan in any shape or form, but they are very concerned that real charlatans are in charge of activities or programs. They are the ones who are always talking. And I say, look, you have to make a decision for yourself, I don’t have to make any decision for you as to whether these are the people you need to engage with or not,” Taal concluded.