The
National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) Sunday commenced a 10-day civic and
voter education session for 30 communities in the West Coast Region (WCR).
The
sensitization activity, which will be held in the districts of Foni Jarrol,
Foni Kansala, Foni Bondali, Foni Bintang, Foni Brefet, Kombo East, Kombo
Central, Kombo South and Kombo North, is meant to ensure people come out and
vote in the National Assembly election.
Communities
to benefit from the sensitization are Burumeng, Jarrol, Chabai, Fass Chamen,
Kafenkeng, Bondali Jola, Kambong, Bujega, Arrangalleng, Tamba Kunda, Sewol,
Kanuma, Besse, Jagill, Brefet, Kafuta, Tumani Tenda, Tunjina, Bassorr,
Serrekundanding, Baffuloto, Manduar Wollof, Penyem, Dimbaya, Marakissa,
Kartong, Madina Salam, Jambur, Mandinaring and Makumbaya.
Speaking
at Burumeng on Sunday 12 March 2017 where the sensitisation sessions began,
Ansumana Yabo, NCCE civic officer told villagers that the National Assembly is
where important decisions are made and, as such, they should vote for competent
people due to their qualifications and not based on personal relations or
political affiliation.
“As
a country, we will never develop if we do not put the country’s interest
first,” he said, adding that politics does not mean tribalism, but putting the
right people in the right positions.
He
called on people to go out in their large numbers to vote during the National Assembly
election, as they did during the presidential election.
Power
belongs to the people, he told the gathering, adding: “If they elect someone
who is not serving the interest of the constituency, they have the power to
remove him or her and replace him or her with someone who will be there to
serve the interest of the constituency.”
“Electing
wrong people to be part of our National Assembly will take the country’s
development backwards,” he went on.
Mr
Yabo also took time to point out things that could make one qualify to contest
for a National Assembly seat and things that disqualify one to become a
National Assembly member.
“Our
lives depend on the people we will elect because they will be there to make
decisions on our behalf,” he said, adding that for one to also be a good
citizen he or she has to take part in voting.
He
also urged people to campaign in peace, saying that people could put across
their agendas without attacking others.
He
urged people to have political tolerance and respect for each other, as they
are all one people.
“Let
no one allow the peace and stability of the country to be compromised,” he
continued, further stating that people in power come and go, but as citizens
they live together forever.
He
also urged people not to sell their vote, as it is their right, voice and
power.
Emmanuel
Gomez, NCCE administrative secretary called on youths to change their attitude
toward politics, saying their lives depend on politics as it is what brings
peace, stability and development to a nation.
