Gambia: No Compromise On Election Violence - President Jammeh

President Yahya Jammeh has said his government will not compromise with any individual or group that wants to bring violence in the September 22nd Presidential elections.

The President made this remark at a meeting held at Essau, Toubakolong and Kerr Jarga in the North Bank Region, on day one of his dialogue with the people tour.

According to him, all potential voters should cast their votes and go home in peace as their will be no discrimination on any one found wanting to instigate violence on election day. "Be it APRC or otherwise we will not compromise with any one", he said.

President Jammeh made it abundantly clear that he is not campaigning for the election but is on his usual country tour which he has been postponing on a number of occasions due to unforeseen circumstances. He, however, said that this presidential election is crucial for The Gambia as it would determine whether Gambians want progress or retrogress. He told the people of the area that the promise he made to electrify some parts of Nuimi is now a reality. Even though the message was received with sceptism in some areas when he initially made this promise, citing the construction of the new Essau Power Plant which is near completion., "I will never betray Gambian", the President said.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary of State for Agriculture and APRC National Mobiliser, Yankuba Touray, reiterated that President Jammeh is not campaigning for re-election but his constitutional requirement to meet the people of this country annually.

AbdoSulie Jallow, National Assembly Member for Nuimi, thanked the President for the provision of a borehole and ambulance for the area, which he said have been highly appreciated by his people.

At Toubakolong in Upper Nuimi, the resident thanked President Jammeh for solving the acute water shortage in the area by building a modern borehole for them.

The Alkalo of the village, Lamin Camara, said "our village has been without hygiene water for a long time. But, when we appeal to the President Jammeh he made a promise and today it has been fulfiled. The whole village is happy as one of our major problem is solved. We will reciprocate the President goodwill by voting for him".

Lamin Queen Jammeh, Chief of Upper Nuimi, said areas dominated by the oppositions in his district have now shifted to the APRC party, predicting a minimum of 80% votes for President Jammeh in the elections. Alhagie K Saho, a youth leader, said Upper Nuimi will vote massively for President Jammeh based on his track record of touring the country annually. He thanked the people of Nuimi for their steadfast support to the APRC party in the past two elections and expressed hope that the party support in the area will increased as the turn out for the meeting speaks volume of support the APRC enjoys in the area.

For his part, Sos Yankuba Touray urged voters to jealously guard their voters card and report anyone to the police who request for their voters card on the pretext of being sent by the APRC party. "We know this is happening and everyone should be vigilant on this unscrupulous people who are out to fool voters to prevent them from casting their votes to the APRC."

According to SoS Touray, the government has secured 44 m euros to fund the construction of the Barra-Amdalai road and other major roads across the country, describing it as a clear testimony of the Presidents desire to further develop, The Gambia. Commenting on the trade season, SOS Touray said this does not affect The Gambia alone but the whole of the sub-region.

"The Gambian is the only country as at now whose farmers have been fully paid for the trade season", he said.

Jane Coli Faye, National Assembly Member for Lower Nuimi, rubbished the opposition for describing The Gambia government as undemocratic, citing the arrest of Alkalos in the first Republic for allowing portraits of the opposition in their villages. "This has happened in Nuimi. But today this is not the case as everywhere you go to, the oppositions are there to campaign

Chief Tabora Manneh of Lower Nuimi, said the area is always leading in the victory of the APRC as all the 66 villages of the district are predominantly supporting the party.

Alhagie Kebba Jaw, a youth activist, said Nuimi is no go area for the opposition, citing that the recent tour of the area by the UDP was poorly attended.