UDP Basse Secretary defects to APRC

Buba Njie a devoted and staunch member of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) has on Thursday 15th July 2010 pronounced his defection to the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party, at a meeting held at the Basse Mini-stadium during the President's "dialogue with the people tour."

Mr. Njie was the UDP Basse Secretary and Coordinator, and crossed-carpet along with another UDP supporter, one Sulayman Manneh.

They told the gathering to welcome the President that they were motivated and encouraged by the Governor of the area, Omar Khan, and the National Assembly Member for Basse, Sellu Bah, to join the APRC party.

Speaking at the meeting, President Yahya Jammeh expressed great happiness for the warm welcome accorded to him by the people in Basse, which he described as "second to none in the whole provinces."

President Jammeh told the gathering that the tour is not a political campaign since, according to him, he is "not a politician."

He then promised the people of Basse that he would construct the main roads and streets in the area within a period of three years, and there would be 24-hours electricity supply, when the 2nd phase of the Rural Electrification Project begins.

President Jammeh used the occasion to advise the youths to desist from risking their lives in the high seas, and then urged them to adhere to the clarion call for them to go back-to-the-land, and assist their parents at home rather than leaving them helpless.

"Work in Europe is not easy to get, even to those with school certificates, much more to illiterates," he said.

Other speakers at the meeting included Minister Lamin Kaba Bajo, Minister Jatto Sillah, Alh. Banta Junkaray of Baniko Abdou village, Chief Hame Krubally and Mariama Jaw.

During his stay in Basse, the President also held meetings in Koina in Kantora district and laid a foundation stone for an ice industry, owned by one Hamidu Jah in Basse.