Dr
Isatou Touray has urged Gambians not to allow anyone to divide them.
She
made this statement when she was given a rousing welcome by a very large crowd
at Brikama on 8 October 2016, at a political rally.
She
told her supporters that tribalism has no place in The Gambia, as “we are all
members of the same family”.
She
also told the people to respect other religions because “they are also good”,
adding that The Gambia is a secular state.
Dr
Touray said the economy of the country is “diminishing”, further stating that
some Gambians abroad want to come to the country to invest and create job
opportunities, but “the environment is not conducive”.
“This
is why the youths who are unemployed are risking their lives on the back-way
journey,” she added.
She
further stated that “there is no quality education”, which is why “students fail
their exams”.
Dr
Touray also stated that very few women have their own rice fields at Pacharr,
but much of the work on those rice fields are done by them, who hardly benefit
from their labour. “This is not women’s empowerment,” she said.
She
further stated that “the hospitals have no medicines, except paracetamol, which
are sometimes not available”.
Talking
about the opposition, Dr Touray said for the past twenty years, the opposition
in The Gambia had been struggling to unite to form a coalition, but they had
failed.
The
second round ballot in Gambia’s presidential election has been scrapped and the
simple majority ballot introduced, she said, adding this was why the opposition
wants to unite to put up a single candidate to unseat the incumbent.
She
adduced further that she had not come to push the opposition aside, but since
they tried on several occasions to form a coalition and failed, she felt it was
time to come together to select a single candidate to contest in the
presidential election on 1st December 2016 against the incumbent.
Dr
Touray also said the opposition is doing a good job, adding that they are
discussing on to how to select a single candidate and the discussions are
progressing. She, therefore, commended the opposition for their cooperation.
She
said she had travelled the length and breadth of the country, and had met
hardworking men and women on the way.
She
told her supporters she had seen a “deteriorating” country with “deteriorating
institutions”, where people are living with fear of speaking their mind or the
truth.
She
further adduced that “Gambians today are not free to say what they think”,
adding that “fear and terror have so gripped the people that most will look
behind before they speak”.
She
said: “The task before us is to awaken our consciousness of the sovereign power
to use our votes, as the instrument of change to free ourselves from the rule
of fear and terror, unleashed by a regime that created a series of laws or made
amendments to existing laws that erode the rights and freedoms enshrined in the
constitution.”
Dr
Touray stated that if elected president, she would create job opportunities for
the youths, and would only stay for five years.
She
said further that she would release lawyer Ousainou Darboe and all other political
prisoners, if she is elected president.
Amie
Bojang-Sissoho, in her remarks, told the gathering that Dr Isatou Touray
decided to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate,
because she felt “women of The Gambia have been marginalised”.
She
added: “There is no respect for the rule of law; there is hardship in the
country and the rate of unemployment is high, warranting the youths losing
their lives on the back-way journey; there is a state of fear.”
Kebba
Njie, who spoke on behalf of Lamin Waa Juwara at the rally, urged the
opposition to unite and come up with a single candidate.
He
also urged the youths to come out in their large numbers to vote out the
incumbent on 1st December 2016.
He
said they are throwing their weight behind Dr Isatou Touray, and would campaign
for her.
Majanko
Samusa of the National Conventional Party (NCP), who also spoke at the rally,
told the gathering that the opposition are discussing to select a single
candidate to contest against the incumbent.
Ramzia
Diab, while addressing the crowd, said Dr Isatou Touray is a mother and highly
educated, adding that she is as well highly respected by the international
community.
Dr
Touray is, therefore, competent enough to rule The Gambia for the progress,
growth and development of The Gambia and all Gambians.
Kebba
Ansu Manneh, in his remarks, called on the youths of The Gambia not to allow
anyone to fool them, and to come out in their large numbers and vote for change
on 1st December 2016.