Tahawal
Banjul Team and the people of Banjul North have expressed their optimism to
give victory to the National Assembly candidate for the People’s Democratic
Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), Ousman Sillah.
They
expressed their optimism on Saturday at a rally at Mosque Road Banjul. The meeting was attended by supporters,
including other candidates selected by Tahawal Banjul, and Halifa Sallah, PDOIS
secretary general.
Speaking
at the rally, Sillah, who is contesting for the seat of Banjul North, said he
is not a stranger in Banjul, and that is why he was able to come to them
seeking their votes to represent them in the parliament.
The
journalist turned politician said as an editor at Foroyaa newspaper, he, and
others at the paper, have been sensitising the people on their rights as
citizens of the country.
“I
am not looking for a salaried job, position or fame because I started politics
since 1986. PDOIS is working for the people. This is not a job where we develop
our constituencies; the job is to help the coalition fulfill its promises to
the Gambian people. I am ready to work for you,” he said.
In
his manifesto, Mr Sillah said as a media practitioner, if elected to the
parliament, he would push for the enactment of laws that would promote and
guarantee freedom of speech and the media.
He
said he would dedicate part of his monthly salary to a constituency development
support fund for Banjul North, which would be managed by a committee selected
by the people living in the three wards.
Muhammed
Ndow, one of the candidates selected during the Tahawal Banjul primaries for
Banjul Central, said Ousman Sillah was the best candidate during the TV
broadcast.
Ndow
urged the people of Banjul North to shun politics of who you know or like. He
said other National Assembly candidates are talking of getting rid of
mosquitoes and developing the constituencies, but such works are not the role
of parliamentarians.
He
emphasised that parliamentarians are not elected to build roads, and that
people should shun politics of ‘give me ‘attaya’ [green tea] and sugar’.
Mr
Ndow called on Banjulians to come out in their large numbers and vote for
candidates of Tahawal Banjul: himself, Muhammed Ndow for Central, Fatou Naji
for Banjul South, and Ousman Sillah for Banjul North.
Pa
Sulay Sowe urged the youths of Banjul to come out and vote massively for the
three candidates that won the primaries, so that the laws enacted at the
National Assembly can be in their favour.
Passeh
Jagne, Ousman Sillah’s campaign manager, said the people of Banjul North know
Ousman Sillah a lot and wherever he represents them, they would not regret it.
He
said it is time for people to know that it is only PDOIS that can take the
country forward. He urged Banjulians to
vote for the three candidates that won the primaries of Tahawal Banjul so that,
come April 6th, victory can be theirs.
Salieu
Taal said Ousman Sillah is hardworking and competent enough to represent Banjul
North in the parliament, adding that Ousman is not a politician that would pull
out money and give to everyone, but a politician that would effectively
represent the people in the parliament.
Dr
Alieu Gaye, chairman of Tahawal Banjul, said they were all born in Banjul, and
that was why Tahawal Banjul decided to select those from Banjul to represent
Banjul, and that they selected the three candidates because “they are competent
enough to lead”.
Ya
Fatou Mbye said Banjulians should shun politics based on tribe, and vote for
the right candidates.
Alex
Dacosta, Mustapha Ngum, Lena Njai and Aziz Jagne all expressed similar
sentiments, saying they are optimistic of victory for the candidates of Tahawal
Banjul.
