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.