Jammeh Should Go Back To The Barracks - Alhaji Mass Jobe

A veteran politician and a UDP stalwart, Alhagie Mass Jobe, has called on
President Yahya Jammeh to go back to barracks, arguing that Jammeh cannot
rule this country. Mr. Jobe made this call at a mass opposition rally in
Banjul, where thousands of UDP supporters converged last weekend. Addressing
excited UDP supporters, Mr. Jobe said the APRC, which is headed by President
Jammeh, has lost the support of Gambians and are now worried. Mr. Jobe, who
was applauded by his audience, warned against vote buying adding that
Gambians should not compromise their franchise for just D25. He argued that
it is grossly wrong for one to engage in such activities. He told his
supporters that any leadership that embarked on vote buying has lost the
support of the masses.

He claimed that the APRC would regret its existence as most of its youths
are now defecting to the opposition UDP. Jobe also strongly criticised the
recent increment of transport fares, which he said is causing hardship to
the country. Also speaking at the rally was Dembo Bojang, National Assembly
member for Bakau, who warned Bamba Manneh of the NIA against what he called
'terrorrising the people of Bakau.' "He came late at night to Bakau,
terrorising the people, asking them to join him at the NIA. We the people of
Bakau are not the least scared," said Mr. Bojang. He alleged that the State
is using the NIA to intimidate people. He added that the Jammeh
administration is election shy, but argued that elections must be conducted
in the country and that there must be counting on the spot. Addressing the
rally, Kassa Jatta implored the people of Bakau to resist any NIA arrest.

He called on his constituency to beat any NIA officer who comes to arrest
them or to go for their families if they should be arrested. Kassa Jatta has
alleged that he was seriously tortured while in NIA custody, saying, "We are
ready to die for this country rather than submit to Yayha Jammeh's rule
again." He claimed that the APRC administration lacked respect for
democracy, rule of law and human rights. Earlier on, Pesseh Njie dismissed
local press reports claiming that the UDP had got new fleets of vehicles. In
response, he also alleged that Tombong Saidy of the GRTS recently travelled
to Spain to get 10 buses for the APRC. Mr. Njie, a former Parliamentarian in
the ousted PPP administration, told his audience, "We will explain to you
later how those buses were acquired."

For her part, Aji Sukai Naka, a prominent UDP stalward, said the APRC
recently organised a meeting on her street in Banjul, but due to poor
attendance, the meeting was turned to a 'furral'. She also picked on the
NIA, saying that they have started arresting and detaining government
opponents, as elections are getting near. She reminded the NIA that they
would be held accountable for their actions. In his remarks, Lamin Dibba,
National Assembly member for Central Baddibu, called on the people of Banjul
to vote for the opposition in the coming elections. He assured the UDP
leadership that they would capture 90 percent of the votes in his
constituency.









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