UDP
Deputy Secretary General on Saturday urged women to contest in the upcoming
National Assembly elections in April.
Aji
Yam Secka, a veteran and one of the strongest female politicians in the country
since the First Republic, was speaking to this reporter in an exclusive
interview during the presidential inauguration and Gambia’s 52nd independence
anniversary celebration, held at the Stadium in Bakau.
She
said that since 1994 to date, all they had had been lost. In the new Gambia,
she is praying for the women to be more involved in the political terrain. She
urged them to be one, and be supportive of each other.
“I
have been in politics for more than 40 years. I have been in Sir Dawda Jawara’s
regime since 1974 to 1994 during the coup, and then I took a break from 1994 to
1996.
“I
joined the UDP party for many years now. So I just want the women to get up and
be active, and take part in politics since the National Assembly election is
coming up soon.
“Let
them stop clapping for men and putting on ‘Ashobee’ and refuse to take up
positions. Let them come out and contest in the National Assembly elections,
and we will support them.”
She
said there are decisions that can only be tackled by women if it concerns them.
Aji
Yam Secka was the one heading the United Democratic Party (UDP), and running
its affairs together with other executive committee members, when the party
leader, Ousainou Darboe, was arrested by the former regime, tried, convicted
and imprisoned along with other party supporters and loyalists.
While
the party leader was going to court, she was busy coordinating and bringing all
the supporters and loyalists together, in preparation for the December 1
presidential polls.
She
is one of the prominent female politicians in the country that are very active
in politics and taking part in political decision-making.
