‘I want a peaceful election’
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Monday, November 14, 2011
As the official 2011 presidential race campaign kicked-off, the leader of
the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) has
strongly emphasized that he wants a peaceful election across the country.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was speaking Sunday
evening in Essau, Lower Niumi, North Bank Region (NBR) where he held his
first political meeting as part of the 2011 campaign for the November 24th
Presidential Election due in less than two weeks time. The Gambian leader,
who will be seeking a fourth five-year mandate is facing the United
Democratic Party (UDP) candidate, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe; and Hamat Bah, an
independent candidate representing four political parties that had come
together to form what they called the “United Front” in the presidential
race.

Addressing thousands of party militants, sympathisers and supporters,
President Jammeh stressed that he doesn’t want politics of insults,
violence and harassment, or any of its manifestations, from anyone. He
said: “I don’t want violence and politics of insults or harassments. If you
want your country, its progress and way forward, don’t incite unrest. What
I want to tell you is that election campaign and violence are far from each
other and are not the same and so I will not tolerate violent
manifestations. I don’t want any chaos or quarreling because each and
everyone if you go to the poll, it is only you and God there and the ballot
box. So it does not worth [any] violence.”

While underscoring that The Gambia is a land of peace, one that is endowed
with blessings, the APRC supremo stressed that violence has no room in this
country. The Gambian leader hailed the people of NBR for their show of
solidarity and support, saying “a human being that is not grateful to his
or her fellow will not be grateful to God; I am standing here on the two
grounds – one of which is to thank you”. President Jammeh, who received a
rousing welcome in Essau also stressed the fact that the promises he made
to the people of NBR during the time of the transition have been fulfilled,
testimonies of which include a road network currently stretching across the
region, amongst others. According to the president, he has succeeded in
stamping out what used to be the identity of the people of the region,
apparently referring to the red dusts on the people created by dilapidated
and poor road network.

“I will thank the people of North Bank Region for their sense of support. I
told you since the time I used to put on the military uniform that it is
only God that is the president as I am just your servant in development,”
he asserted. The APRC supremo then urged his supporters to desist from any
kind of violence and ensure a hitch-free process. Speaking earlier, the
minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Lamin
Kaba Bajo told the convergence that whatever the developments there are in
the country since 1994 started in the NBR.

Minister Bajo, who is also the ruling party’s campaign manager told the
people of the region about the priority attached to the region since the
dawn of the Revolution in view of its marginalised status compared to other
regions in terms of developments, saying “when President Jammeh thought
about the developments of the region, he never thought of standing for
election”. He explains: “When the Council [AFPRC] was formed and spent 100
days in office, and looked at how to develop the country, it gave priority
to the North Bank Region due to the unanimous fact that the region was the
most marginalised throughout the country in terms of development.”

Minister Bajo, a native of the region expressed with delight that the
pronouncement by the then Council to develop the region did not just stop
at mere words, pointing out that testimonies to such developments are the
good road infrastructure, electricity, health facilities, and schools,
amongst a host of others. He recalled how the people endured the hardships
due to underdevelopment, noting that such is now a thing of the past. The
APRC campaign manager underscored that the party as a product has already
sold itself to Gambians through its numerous achievements. He asserted that
what they are now doing is just a formality and that the Gambian leader is
acting on the command of an elder [president’s mother]. He explained that
they were unanimous for non-campaign but noted that if an elder urges you
to do something that is not against what God forbids, you should do it.

Minister Kaba Bajo reminded the people of the region of the pledge they
made to the president, urging them to fulfill it in votes by being
steadfast, especially in polling more percentage again than any other
region. He noted that there is no opposition threat in the region, and that
the differences that used to arise between APRC militants in the region
have been tackled.

Exercise franchise
Lamin Kaba Bajo also seized the opportunity to implore the electorate,
especially party supporters in the region to turnout en-mass and vote on
the election day. He cautioned the ruling party supporters not to be
complacent that President Jammeh has already won even without them voting,
urging them to vote massively as expected. According to him, it is a
patriotic move to exercise franchise and a constitutional right to do, thus
urging all and sundry to shelve any other business on the day of the
election and vote in the ballot.

“Your patriotism will be questioned if you fail to turnout to vote,” he
asserted, while further urging the supporters to stay put and don’t allow
themselves to be seduced by those people who would come to them from behind
to manipulate them.

100 percent pledge
A handful of selected APRC local militants who took turns to speak at the
political meeting were unanimous in their 100 percent pledge for the ruling
party in the region, thus promising to replicate their past success at the
polls to grab first among the regions. Governor Edwarr Seckan of NBR
welcomed the high-level presidential delegation, assuring President Jammeh
that he will be re-elected in the upcoming election.

Declaring the opposition as dead in the NBR, Chief Jim Fatima Jobe of
Jokadu  District said they are willing to poll a 100 percent vote for the
Gambian leader in the region. Alhaji Saikou Jallow, APRC regional chairman
in NBR; Hon. Mam Cherno Jallow of Upper Niumi; Lady Councilor Fatou Sonko;
and Mbaye Sarr, youth leader all pledged a 100 percent victory for the
incumbent in the region.  They stressed that if the president who provides
all these developments to their doorstep come for them to renew their
mandate, it is honourable for them to do so.
Author: *by Hatab Fadera & Musa Ndow 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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