Mrs
Ramzia Diab, a known personality in the political realm of The Gambia, who once
served as nominated Member of Parliament in the Second Republic, has resurfaced
to express her support for Dr Isatou Touray, an independent presidential
candidate in the forthcoming presidential election, on 1st December 2016.
Mrs
Diab made her views known during the recent convention marking the declaration
of Dr Isatou Touray to vie for the presidency in the December polls.
The
following is her statement of endorsement for Dr Touray’s presidential
candidacy.
My
name is Ramzia Diab a bona fide citizen of The Gambia. I am here today to
endorse the candidature of Dr Isatou Touray, Independent Presidential Candidate for the 2016 presidential elections
in The Gambia.
I
am equally aware that minds will ask Why Ramzia? Or what motivated Ramzia to
take this decision? My answer to any inquisitive mind asking questions like the
above is this. I am doing so for national interest. We as Gambians must never forget that
national interest supersedes any other agenda or interest. On the other hand in politics there is no
permanent friend or permanent opponent the only permanent friend should be The
Gambia.
Politics
like weather changes and is unpredictable.
Based on the unpredictability of politics we as human beings cannot
escape shortcomings. Sometimes we make
mistakes, sometimes we make wrong choices, sometimes we even miss our
steps. After cutting through the above
challenges one can still ask the following question again. Where does the strength lie? My answer to the last question is going to be
clear. We should never sideline learning
from our mistakes and the mistakes of others.
We should also never fail to learn from experience be it good or bad
experience. In respect of this position,
I Ramzia Diab am proud to say I am a product of that university called
experience! I will therefore stand on
the platform of political science with these words today. “I solemnly declare
here and today that for the rest of my life I have made the choice of not to
owe allegiance to anyone or any institution as a blind loyalist. I only owe allegiance to the nation and its
people.”
My decision to come out in the open after so
many years, stems from consultations, discussions and reflections on both the
present and the past.
In
my mind Gambia is growing out of the past thus has no right to fail. We must
always bear in mind that democratic change is the best guarantee, we cannot
afford to destroy our country based on emotions, ethnocentric feelings or
politics entrenched in hard feelings.
We
must embrace each other as one people and one nation where law precedes any
word or action and that very law ends up captioning any word or action. Which
is why freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression
must remain the guarantors at all times.
Anything contrary to a position like the latter will only lead division
and then ultimately derail our nation into regrets. That is not what our future
generation should inherit from us. Changing parties or changing strategies in
politics is one of the best democratic lessons we should continue cultivating
in this country.
Wherever
there are options, progress is guaranteed. It is against this background that I feel so proud as a Gambian to
associate myself with the first woman vying for the presidency. Although I am a woman my support for Dr
Touray is far from being gender bias. Remember I supported male contenders in the past and my legacy speaks
for itself. My conviction is that democracy
is the best way to effect change.
At
this point in time my heart is heavy because I remember the importance my late
brother Alhajie Bubacarr Michael Baldeh attached to democracy. Today I would say Oh how I wish peace
prevailed between us as a people! I say this because misconceptions and
subjective feelings must never be used to guide any leader. I am advising both the incumbent and other
contenders to see Gambia. I also call on
the opposition to start discussions now therefore unite for the best interest
of Gambia.
To
be more precise I am endorsing Dr Touray, for the following reasons.
1. She is a mother therefore has proven
to me that her parenthood can be transformed into services for an entire
nation.
2. She is a highly educated person
therefore the value of knowledge will never be secondary in any government she
leads.
3. She is a human rights activist and has
been there for us the women, our children and all those who feel the sharp edge
of society’s compelling forces.
4. She is a scorer and a team player that
virtue will make a good leader whose gravitas and aura will galvanize powerful
international players in favour of The Gambia.
5. Dr Touray is the right person at the
right time.
Thank
you for lending me your ears!