The Mayor of Banjul City Council, Rohey Malick Lowe, has made striking revelations about the struggles she has endured within the UDP, stating that her decision to speak against certain internal issues, and referring to President Adama Barrow as “my brother” have exposed her to parental insults and persistent criticisms from close friends and some party members.
The interview, done by West Coast Radio on Friday for the Commemoration of International Women’s Day deliberated on Lowe’s bitter experience as the first elected female Mayor of Banjul.
Lowe discussed that her troubles began in UDP after she kept voicing out certain practices within the party that she firmly believed were not in the best interest of the party, recalling how some individuals, instead of addressing the concerns, resorted to attacking her personally.
“We are the ones who come out and defend Ousainou Darboe whenever people insult him.
For me, those who insult me are within the UDP, and if I say so, some people get angry, but that is the hard fact. If I got insulted by the NPP supporters, I would not care much, but it is painful to be insulted in your own home,” the Mayor said, remembering the party’s lack of strong stance against parental insults she had experienced among supporters for the past three years.
Her narration appeared to address the UDP’s long-standing leadership crisis that led to a serious division among key members of the party including the Mayor of KMC, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, and his supporters.
Rohey Lowe said her views came at a heavy cost, noting that she was not only subjected to verbal insults but also faced attempts that seek to undermine her reputation.
About referring to President Adama Barrow as her brother, she said the remark has been taken out of context and used against her. She stressed that she cannot change something that began in 2016.
”I started calling Barrow “my brother” in 2016. I cannot stop that now and start it again later.”