Development cannot be separated from politics – Dr Saja Taal

Renowned political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia, Dr Saja Taal, has opined that development cannot in any way be separated from politics.

Dr Taal, who once served as the head of the APRC Bureau in Banjul, was speaking yesterday at a sensitization meeting organized by the newly-created APRC taskforce committee in various communities in the Kombo North district of the West Coast Region.

While calling on Gambians to come out in their large numbers and vote during the forthcoming elections, Dr Taal predicted what he described as an unbeatable victory for President Yahya Jammeh.

“President Jammeh has already won the forthcoming presidential election, but what the task force wants is to increase Jammeh’s winning percentage. So vote for someone who will put your interest and concerns on top of his agenda,” he added.

The APRC taskforce committee, formed some few months ago, has since embarked on a series of consultations and sensitization of voters ahead of the 24th November polls.

Speaking at the meeting, Jerreh Jatta, chairman of the APRC taskforce committee, said the aim of the task force committee is to increase the winning percentage of the APRC party, come 24th November.

Jatta told the meeting witnessed by village elders, green youths, women’s group as well as the village head that the idea of creating the taskforce committee was conceived by party militants and the National Mobilzer, as part of the strategies in re-electing President Jammeh in the forthcoming elections.

“We organize activities through civic education, and sensitize people about the forthcoming elections and the importance of voter registration, because this is all about politics, this is all about what the taskforce can do for President Jammeh,” Jatta added.

The Alkalo of Brufut, Malamin Kajoro Manneh, renewed his village’s support for President Jammeh and the APRC party in the coming elections.

“We cannot pay President Jammeh. The only way we can do that is to vote massively for the APRC. Victory is a foregone conclusion as far as Brufut is concerned. Our village from 1994 to date has witnessed tremendous development under the leadership of President Jammeh,” he stated.

Ebrima Sambou, task force committee member, and Bolong Jatta, councilor of Busumbala ward, all predicted victory for APRC, and urged the party militants as well as youth and women to massively vote for the APRC.

Sam Dubois, former UDP strongman and now adviser to the taskforce committee, sensitized the villagers on how to vote during elections.

He assures the APRC through the taskforce that Brufut will massively vote for Jammeh come 24th November 2011, noting that the ballot box will speak for itself.

Bakary Bojang, Green Youths leader, Yankuba Sano, APRC Youth Mobilizer for Brufut, and Malamin Jobo, all spoke at the meeting, pronouncing their unflinching loyality to the APRC party.

Meanwhile, the committee also held a separate meeting in Sukuta in the Kombo North district of West Coast Region.