46 brand new vehicles for APRC <http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/46-brand-new-vehicles-for-aprc#map> Africa <http://observer.gm/africa/news> » Gambia<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news> « prev<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/46-brand-new-vehicles-for-aprc> 1 of 3next »<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/46-brand-new-vehicles-for-aprc> Thursday, November 10, 2011 The president of the Republic and leader of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party (APRC) Wednesday evening donated of 46 brand new Mitsubishi pick-ups for use by the party during the November 24th 2011 and subsequent elections. The vehicles presented by the vice president at State House on behalf of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh were handed over to the regional governors and mayors on behalf of their respective areas. Six regions each received seven vehicles while Banjul got four vehicles. The presidential donation was a response to the mobility constraints highlighted by all the regional APRC militants during the meeting they had in August with the party leader, President Jammeh at State House. Speaking at the landmark presentation ceremony, VP Njie-Saidy on behalf of the party militants and sympathizers expressed her profound gratitude and appreciation to the Gambian leader for this latest show of benevolence to the ruling party. The vice president stated that the president responds to whatever people request and even provides beyond what is not requested, while acknowledging that the Gambian leader has and continues to dip into his pocket to provide the wherewithal for the party. She noted that this latest donation is not the first of its kind as it came last to other donations in the past. While asserting that the party leader has done what is obligatory on him, the Gambia’s No.2 challenged party members that the onus now lies on them to fulfill their own side of the bargain. “We all said that the president has campaigned for himself. This is due to his immense developments registered across the country, and that is also the reason why the job is made easier for us. So what is obligatory on us is to complete the remaining work left for us,” the vice president admonished. “Proper use” VP Njie-Saidy, while expressing hope that the vehicles will be properly taken care off, implored on the would-be users to ensure what she called preventive maintenance to ensure that they live long to serve their purpose. While admonishing that routine che“Proper use” ck-ups are critical for the durability of the vehicles, the vice president stressed the need for the would-be drivers to drive them safely, thus reminding them of the fact that the lives they save could be theirs. The vice president seized the opportunity to enjoin all eligible Gambians to turnout in their large numbers on Election Day and vote, but more importantly, to vote for the ruling party. Commending the party members on behalf of President Jammeh for their sense of loyalty and support to the party, VP Njie-Saidy expressed optimism of a high voter percentage in each region for the Gambian leader. Speaking earlier, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Lamin Kaba Bajo joined the vice president in commending President Jammeh for this giant leap for the party. Minister Bajo, newly appointed as the ruling party’s campaign manager acknowledged that the Gambian leader always takes the lead to provide not only what they need, but also gives out what is not expected. “So we will thank him very much. With or without the availability of these vehicles, we will do what is required of us whether we will walk on our foot or use horse carts to do the politics to ensure that the president and the party wins. That is something we are doing for ourselves, and the way forward for our country. So if he comes in such a way meant to ease our work, it is obligatory on us to appreciate and thank him,” Minister Bajo underscored. The new APRC campaign manager also harped on the need for effective and judicious use of the vehicles, saying “the advice given to us by the president is that these campaign vehicles will not be the same with the past campaign vehicles”. Bajo said the APRC had previously provided three vehicles, but noted that they have seen how they ended up, thus stressing that the management of these latest ones will not be the same with the others. He explains: “In fact this is why the president has stressed that the management of these vehicles will be under the purview of the regional governors to ensure that when election and the victory celebrations are over, these vehicles will be returned to where they came from. Not even a single vehicle will be left behind because the resources put into them are too much. We know that after the presidential election, there are two more elections ahead and so if we take care of these vehicles they will serve them and subsequent elections.” Minister Lamin Kaba Bajo concluded by predicting a landslide victory for the APRC in the election. “Ensure tolerance” The minister of Forestry and the Environment, Jatto Sillah who spoke on behalf of the APRC liaison officers, hailed President Jammeh on behalf of his colleagues for the donation. He hastened to preach tolerance, self-control, and a violence-free campaign, saying what the Gambian leader wants for this election is absolute peace throughout the process. He stressed that no one must incite violence be, it the APRC militants or the opposition; while appealing for a hitch-free campaign and election. Minister Jatto Sillah concluded by urging all to turnout en-mass and vote on the election day, underscoring that the ruling party does not want a single vote to be missing. The mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council and APRC national mobiliser, Yankuba Colley pointed out that the party leader has responded to all the concerns raised, and went on to stress that the responsibility now lies on the shoulders of the militants to do what is required of them. Speaking on behalf of the regional governors, Lamin Waa Juwara, governor of the Lower River Region (LRR) said the presidential move is meant to promote democracy, saying “anyone doing this for the sake of campaign is a democrat”. While enunciating the words of the party leader that every Gambian must turnout en-mass to vote in the elections, Juwara, a veteran politician assured that the citizens are going to the polls to vote in a free, fair and transparent election, the outcome of which he said will be universally accepted. “Anyone outside should know that The Gambia has changed and the APRC is a party of peace and its leadership stands to promote that,” he remarked, while warning those bent on inciting violence, especially those he called “detractors” just to present a dark image of the country to desist from it as it will not be tolerated. Alhaji Saikou Jallow, who spoke on behalf of the regional party chairpersons, equally thanked the president for the gesture, which he described as a way of responding to the concerns raised by the militants. He assured the proper use of the vehicles during the election period. Momodou Saidy, the director of Press and Communication at the Office of the President chaired the occasion that was graced by a handful of ministers and APRC militants including the party’s National Assembly members. Author: *Hatab Fadera* -- * ***************************************************************************** GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA. LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. * ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤