Of the 1.8 million people counted and recognised as Gambians, Sheikh Sidia Bayo is not one of them. Nor does he even feature in the mainstream political discourse. Yet, the France-born political maverick of Gambian descent is unyielding in his quest to become the next president of The Gambia.
Mr. Bayo, who was expelled from Senegal last year for his alleged complicity in the bloody December 30th State House attack, has announced his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections.
In a recent Facebook post, Bayo disclosed he was in Dubai to meet potential Arab investors. It seems one of his areas of attention is the national economy.
To many who know him, the presidential aspirant is a total lunatic. In 2012, he created the National Transitional Council of The Gambia (CNTG) in his bedroom. Less than three months after its creation all the invited executive members resigned. Some of them claimed he is clueless.
Bayo was born in France to Gambian migrants. He barely speaks English, and has no idea where Brusubi Turntable is located. Yet, he insists that he is the right man to steer the country to greatness.
Unlike most of his colleagues in the opposition, the Paris boy is making a lot of money in politics. During his Dakar visits before his expulsion from Senegal, Bayo had more than 4 bodyguards on his payroll and was spending his nights at the famous Radisson Blu Hotel.
Very little is known about his private life, but according to a Gambian in France, Bayo is living in a childlike fantasy. It’s wishful thinking in his belief that he can solve all the country’s problems by being ‘loud’.