I will contest for president in 2026 – Salieu Jallow
By Sulayman Waan
Salieu Jallow, hotelier and prominent youth activist has declared his intention to run for the 2026 presidential election and vows to unseat incumbent President Adama Barrow come rain, come shine.
Speaking to this medium over the weekend, Mr Jallow who is gathering support from prominent youth leaders said the idea of contesting the 2026 presidential election was conceived 17 years ago with few of his colleagues, some of whom contested the April 2022 parliamentary election.
“We want to change the narratives and governance system so as to uplift the living standard of the struggling class,” he said.
He added: “Almost 60 years of independence Gambians have not realized any meaningful changes in their lives when it comes to basic needs. Majority of the population continue to swallow in poverty and the margin between the haves and the have not is becoming widening day by day.”
“The rich are getting richer whilst the poor are getting poorer every day due to government misplaced priorities,” he added.
Mr Jallow further reminded the people that in 2016 Gambians need to came together and voted for change which aimed to liberate the citizens and ensure they regain their freedom.
However, he added, “our expectations was overturned and we have all witnessed disappointment upon disappointment ranging from the health care sector, education, agriculture, cost of living and in fact all sectors of government are virtually failing. Corruption is at its highest echelon in all government departments and parastatals.”
He said nobody fears nobody because the leadership is weak.
“There is no discipline in the civil service, civil servants go to work and close any time they wish. Top government officials including the president and his cabinet are hustling for conferences abroad in order to receive huge per diems,” he stated.
“Go to the hotels and see by yourself, almost all government departments are organizing workshops just to share money among themselves. Workshops which would not yield any benefits to the citizens.”
In this regard, he called on all Gambians to put aside their differences and come together as one and vote massively for change in 2026.
“Let us learn from neighboring Senegal by voting young people to take the reins of government.”
“We can do it and let us do it in order to save our children and those yet unborn from the crunches of mis-governance,” he urged.
SW/COB/14/02/25
