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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------