A delegation of APRC bigwigs from the Central River Region last Thursday gathered at State House, where speaker upon speaker assured the ruling APRC party and President Yahya Jammeh, in particular, of a massive victory in the forthcoming Presidential and Local Government elections.
The meeting, which brought together APRC bigwigs within the region, came on the heels of similar meetings by party bigwigs from the Kanifing Municipality, Upper River and West Coast regions who, according to our reporter, were at State House to reassure the Gambian leader of their “total loyalty”.
Speakers, including Governor Ganyie Touray and Hon. Sainey Mbye of Upper Saloum constituency, assured President Jammeh of a comfortable victory in the forthcoming presidential election.
They all expressed their conviction that come 24th November, President Jammeh will pass the ballot test quite handsomely.
Speaking at the occasion, Ganyie Touray, the Governor of the Central River Region, commended the Gambian leader for his vision and foresight in the development of his region and the country as a whole.
According to him, before the advent of the APRC regime, there existed only one high school in the Central River Region, but now the region can boast of seven high schools.
“Throughout the whole country, Central River Region is the only region where President Jammeh built seven high schools from 1994 to date. Now, our children can complete their twelve year basic cycle education without going out of the region,” he said.
He also commended the Gambian leader for building major health centres in all the ten districts in his region, except in Upper Saloum, and for providing three ambulances to Bansang hospital.
Malick Mbye, Chief of Upper Saloum, lashed out at the opposition in the country, noting that UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, NRP leader Hamat Bah will never be their representatives or elected President.
Mrs. Fatou Trawally, lady councillor Upper Fulladu East, Baboucarr Jobe APRC Regional chairman, Aji Yateh Faye APRC regional women’s mobiliser, all assured President Jammeh of a 100% victory in the forthcoming polls.
After listening to the speakers, President Yahya Jammeh expressed gratitude to the delegation from the Central River Region for their words of wisdom and assurances of a landslide victory.
However, he maintained his earlier assertion that his citizenship will depend on the percentage of votes cast for him by each region in the forthcoming presidential election.
“If the Central River Region promised to give me a 100% vote, what are other regions waiting for because it is the region in the country where the main opposition leaders hailed from,” Jammeh noted.
He stated that the main opposition leaders in the country were born in the Central River Region, but the people of that region have now abandoned them.
“So what about those regions where they were not even born,” he asked.
According to the Gambian leader, all that he is doing for this country is neither for any cheap popularity nor is it for people to praise him.
“I am doing it for the next world and nothing else,” he said, adding that the good intentions he wished for himself and his family is what he wished for this country.
He also reiterated his earlier calls on Gambian youths to be development-oriented, noting that nobody will come and develop this country for them.
Vice President Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, who also spoke at the meeting, highlighted some of the developments brought to the doorsteps of Gambians, citing roads, electricity supply, portable drinking water, education, agriculture, among others.
Other speakers at the meeting were Alhagie Cham, minister of Communication and Information Technology, who is also the APRC liaison officer for CRR, Omar Mamburay, youth leader CRR and Hon. Sainey Mbye.
A similar meeting was also held at State House on Wednesday when a delegation from the Kainfing Municipality called on President Jammeh.
