Ousman Rambo Jatta

Gainako’s Staff writer.

News reaching Gainako indicated that Ousman Rambo Jatta the recently elected UDP Youth Leader and President has unceremoniously defected to the APRC party, ending his long time partnership with the UDP party. The breaking news of the defection was initially reported this evening by the Freedom Newspaper which tried to reach Mr. Jatta for comments.

Rambo's defection is seen as a serious political bombshell to the UDP and the entire opposition parties in the Gambia. He was seen in many opposition quarters as a very pragmatic and outspoken youth with lot of potentials and charisma. In a political rally held in Brikama after the UDP congress where he was elected President of the youth wing, Jatta captured the attention of the crowd and opposition supporters when he said " If anybody is unwilling to stand up to the bullies, then go home" Courtesy of Bantaba.

Rambo also narrated his ordeals that he went through when he was arrested and detained in several police stations in the Gambia for supporting the opposition. His life was literally put on the line for the UDP during the last elections and for him to declare an open war against the Jammeh regime only to come out few months later to join them is enough to ponder about his principles and political ideology.  

Shocked of the news of Rambo's defection, two active members of the UDP party confirmed the story and spoke to Gainako on condition of anonymity, hinted that Rambo was a trusted leader in the UDP party and was viewed as a potential future party leader. The same source added that Rambo may have been promised by Yaya Jammeh for a senior position in the Tourism industry an area he is well known.

The dramatic 360 degrees turn of Rambo’s political flip-flop leaves many sympathizers to the opposition wondering over the fate of Gambia’s current opposition. It is to be remembered that former UDP propaganda Secretary, Lamin Waa Juwara did a similar move years ago. He is believed to be campaigning vigorously for many potential political opponents of the APRC to abandon the opposition and join the APRC. 

If anything to go by, Rambo’s deflection is coming to the UDP at the wrong time. Last week, Hamat Bah of the NRP, a former alliance partner with the UDP did indicate in an interview with the press that he was contesting in the forthcoming presidential elections.

Until the time of going to press, there wasn’t any official statement coming from the UDP leadership over Rambo’s defection.