Who says it is not politics as usual in the Gambia? Courtesy of the Daily
Observer.

Malanding


Almamy Touray, Niani delegation meets Jammeh

A delegation of fifty people led by the former United Democratic Party
National Assembly member for Niani, Almamy Abubacarr Touray, who recently
defected to the ruling APRC, paid a courtesy call on President Yahya Jammeh
at State House yesterday afternoon. Alhaji Morr Secka, the first speaker of
the delegation constituted by men, women, and youth representatives,
described President Jammeh as an emblem of the country's peace and
stability, reiterating that the people of Niani loved him and wanted Touray
as their NAM. Sidi Saderr Manneh whose candidature was dropped on the eve of
the 1997 National Assembly election in Niani said the UDP was extinct in
Niani.

He said he refused to rally behind the UDP party when he was rejected as
candidate on the allegation that he was "an old man". Manneh, who said it
was very unlikely for him to support the UDP, stated that Touray went for
UDP nomination against his will. Alagie Yorro Jallow from Njobel pointed out
that Almamy Touray had been working for solidarity in Niani and that his
father was a hard-working man. He said they had been planning to lead a
delegation to meet President Jammeh, stressing that the people of Niani were
united. Speaking on behalf of all women in Niani, Mrs Fatou Drammeh
condemned those, she said, had been disguising as APRC members but were "the
bed-bugs from former PPP (and) are responsible for APRC's failure to win the
National Assembly elections in Niani in 1997." She therefore urged Jammeh to
reinstate those he had removed from alkaloship in Niani, noting that the
same PPP "bed-bugs" disguised themselves under an APRC banner in Niani,
thereby causing a problem for the constituency.

In his own remarks, Almamy Touray said he and the people of Niani had
closely observed Jammeh's way of ruling, which made them to vote for him in
the election. When the presidential election came, according to Touray, the
UDP party gave him a responsibility but he often quarrelled with them, as a
result of which the UDP called a meeting, asking why Jammeh won the
presidential polls in Niani. "They accused the president of cheating and I
told them that Jammeh had got people behind him." Mr Touray said he had
visited the State House on many occasions but that none of such visits was
as pleasant and heart-touching as this one due to the purpose of his visit.

He lamented that a Niani delegation was once sent away by Jawara but that
Jammeh welcome them, describing him as a true Gambian. In welcoming Touray
and the rest of the Niani delegation, President Jammeh described him as a
good leader, advising him to disregard the UDP allegations against him. He
revealed that three members of the National Assembly had informed him of
their decision to defect to the APRC on the condition that their defection
be made after an audience with him, which, he said he declined, wondering
why they should not declare their defection before seeking audience with
him. President Jammeh noted that Touray did as he had expected, declaring
his defection before seeking audience with him. Other speakers from the
delegation included the chief of Niani, Alhaji Malick Ndow, SoS Yankuba
Touray, Makumba Ceesay, Alhaji Malick Thorp, Mawdo Jobarteh, Alhaji Banta
Camara and Demba Njie who represented the youths of Niani.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------