tribalism, corruption & drugs will not be tolerated Says President Jammeh,
as he addresses Bundung meeting
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Friday, July 29, 2011
The Gambian leader has yet again condemned tribalism, corruption and illicit
drug-related business in the country.

At a marathon meeting held in Bundung, Serekunda Central on Wednesday night,
His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh recalled that other
ethnic groups supported the former regime for 30 years and that in those
days Foni was ‘a no go area’ for the opposition. He queried why they are not
ready to accept it now that the trend has changed.

The president maintained that the opposition are not being realistic, as
they are playing tribal politics. He said: “There is no opposition in this
country. What we have is tribalism. Those called the opposition parties, who
are their leaders? Let me warn you that tribalism will not be tolerated in
this country. We are all human beings. It is only one Gambia we see and it
is the only one destination we have to make it the best country on earth. If
you think that this country belongs to only one tribe, then you are mad and
this will keep you in darkness. Gambians, even if I didn’t tell you, you
know what tribalism causes in Rwanda. There is no tribalism in this country.
Those people who hate themselves and are jealous of the developments in the
country are the people calling themselves the opposition, but there will be
no compromise with tribalism. The Gambia has only one flag called The Gambia
National flag, which is not called the Mandinka flag, or Jola flag, neither
Fula flag. If you think you can get the leadership of this country on tribal
basis, then you have come to the wrong place. Thank God that the young
people that they were misguiding have seen the light and realised the
truth.  “Wherever you have the opposition stronghold in this country, if you
look at it very well, it is widely dominated by the Mandinkas. What is their
reason and when Jawara was the president the whole of Foni was a ‘no go area
for opposition’ and they supported him for 30.”

The Gambian leader explained that the opposition in a proper democratic
state are those who acknowledge development and criticise the government in
their weaknesses. He added that a credible opposition would also praise
government for its good works. He continued: “It is only the so-called
opposition here who oppose whatever development the incumbent government
provides and my word to you the young Mandinka boys and girls is that, don’t
follow and listen to those misguided, negative, detrimental and treacherous
elements. They don’t want anybody to have something. If they had wanted you
to have something, they would have supported you and given you something. If
you follow a donkey whatever noise it makes, it is not the donkey that is
mad, but you the one following it. “There cannot be progress if we are not
united and we cannot have peace if we don’t have good intentions for each
other. We are here to transform the country and I will not compromise with
that mission. You should be very careful, why, because supporting somebody
who remembered you only once in every five years should not be compared to
someone whose intention is always to see you in a better living condition.”

President Jammeh used the opportunity to reaffirm his call for party
militants to be more united and work towards achieving the party’s political
aspirations. He revealed that the erstwhile UDP chairman drove his wife out
of his compound just because she was a diehard supporter of APRC and has
joined the majority.  “We had to get that woman a compound for her to live
peacefully,” he said. He however, cautioned women against using that as a
pretext to create problems in their matrimonial homes and approach him for
intervention.

Advice to youths
President Jammeh once again used the platform to challenge young people to
take ownership of the available resources and opportunities in the country,
noting that the country belongs to them and it is only they who can
sacrifice to develop it. “My fear with you the young people is your
attitude. Initially when I am coming to the Kanifing Municipality, I thought
of what multiple problems the locals will highlight, but today that is a
different scenario,” he said. He added: “None of the speakers made request
for anything because I am sure you knew I have fulfilled all the promises I
made to you. Even if you request something from me and I don’t do it, know
that God hasn’t given it to me.”

Fatim Badjie, the minister of Health and Social Welfare who doubles as the
APRC liaison officer for the Kanifing Municipality, hailed President Jammeh
for the numerous developments registered over the past 17 years.  She said:
“We at KM are advantageous to have all the major hotels in the country and
most of the standard infrastructure that the revolution gave birth to. We
have hospitals, schools and more skills training centres in KM and even
empowerment started in the Kanifing Municipality. We at KM have nothing to
say but to thank President Jammeh.”  Minister Badji described this year’s
election as significant “Let us vote massively for the APRC in the November
polls as a way of saying thank you for what you has been done for the
people,” she urged.

Also addressing the meeting, Lamin Kabba Bajo, the minister for Fisheries,
Water Resources and National Assembly Matters called on girls to dress
decently, stressing that improper dressing will only earn them disrespect
and make them lose their dignity in society. He also told the parents to
advise their daughters and inculcate traditional and cultural norms and
values in them. Minister Bajo urged the youths to manifest their loyalty to
President Jammeh through the November presidential polls. He also welcomed
the new defectors to the APRC and told them to be loyal to the party
leader.

Other speakers at the meeting included Alhaji Kitim Gibba constituency
chairman, Saffie Touray and Alhaji Saikuna Faye. At the meeting, 645
defectors from the suburb of Serekunda dressed in green all vowed to support
President Jammeh on his development vision. Ousainou Mboob, Mariama Juwara
and Fatou Sarr, who spoke on behalf of defectors from Tallinding,
Dippa-kunda and the Mbyen family respectively, all assured President Jammeh
of their unshakable support to the APRC. The three speakers all expressed
regret for being with the opposition.

Also at the meeting, a poem dedicated to President Jammeh was sung in
different languages.
Author: *by Musa Ndow & Hatab Fadera on tour*

-- 
*
*****************************************************************************
GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU
DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. *


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