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Momodou
Denmark
11751 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2007 : 15:16:35
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ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
As the January 25 parliamentary election is just round the corner, candidates throughout the country are campaigning to win the hearts and minds of the electorate. Foroyaa reporters are also going around meeting candidates and where possible have interviews with them. Here are some of the interviews:
NETTY BALDEH, TUMANA
Mr. Netty Baldeh the candidate for Tumana constituency was met by this reporter at his home in Basse Mansajang and asked about the trend of his campaign and whether he is hopeful of being re-elected at the polls.
Netty: I am not campaigning. I am just meeting with my people and it is very well promising that my people will re-elect me. According to them, they are satisfied with what I did for them and they are still hopeful that I can bring more projects to their door steps.
Foroyaa: Can you tell the readers some of the projects that you were able to bring for the people of Tumana?
Netty: All the villages in Tumana have access to clean drinking water and electricity is almost reaching everywhere. They also enjoy the micro credit unions. My next major Project is going to be road net works.
SELLU BAH, BASSE
Interview with Momodou Sellu Bah the APRC candidate for Basse constituency:
Mr. Momodou Sellu Bad said campaign is never so easy. He however said he is 100% confident that the people of Basse will re-elect him. Mr. Bah said his constituency chairpersons are rallying behind him and that the people still need him.
AMADOU SANNEH, UPPER FULLADU
Interview with Mr. Amadou Sanneh the UDP candidate for Upper Fulladu:
Mr. Sanneh who spoke with confidence said his people really need him and that they are ready and willing to elect him. He said his support in Fulladu is not based on tribe or other sectionalist views but on the confidence his people have in him. He said once elected his priority will be to unite his people. He vowed that he will also stand for their interest at the national level.
He called on his supporters to continue with the peaceful nature of the campaign.
MAMA KANDEH, JIMARA
Interview with Mama Kandeh APRC candidate for Jimara: Mr. Kandeh said he's hopeful that he will win and that once re-elected the people of Jimara will continue to benefit from a lot of development. He said APRC is the party the people want and their candidates will win their seats. He described the campaign as peaceful and called on all and sundry to continue with this peaceful way.
ALHAGIE SILLAH, NIANI
Interview with Alhagie Sillah, the independent candidate for Niani. Mr. Sillah said it was as a result of the call from his people to contest as an independent candidate and that he has no doubts that he will win. He said the whole of Niani is behind him and that nothing can make them reject him.
He said once elected his priority will be civic education for his people so that no one fools them again. He said a lot of other development projects will reach the electorate and that he will represent them with honesty and dedication.
He called on every Gambian to go out on the 25th and vote for their choice.
EBRIMA MARENAH, NIAMINA EAST
Interview: with Ebrima L.S. Marenah, the independent candidate for Niamina East. Mr. Marenah said his people are ready to free themselves from the clutches of few dictators within Niamina East who think and behave like they own the people.
He said that the people have confidence in him.
He also confirmed reports that the chief of the area and Lamin Waa Ceesay are almost every day approaching him to withdraw. He described these attempts as desperate moves against the choice of the people.
Ebrima L.S. Marenah promised that when elected he will engage in reconciliation of communities and also civic education as his immediate priorities.
He said if you see the local officials doing certain things to the people it is because the people don't know their rights. He promised to engage in activities and works that will help the communities and improve the conditions in the constituency.
APRC MEETING AT BUNDUNG BOREHOLE
By Amie Sanneh
The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) on Sunday evening held a meeting at Bundung Borehole attended by a large crowd of supporters. The Acting Mayor of KMC, Francis Gomez, speaking to supporters said they should not joke with National Assembly Elections. This, he noted, is what will help President Jammeh to develop the country.
He revealed that Serrekunda is a famous constituency known by all but is still having some lapses which need to be corrected. Mayor Gomez told the crowd that the reason why they converged for the meeting was to show their support and to also remind the people what to do. He however described the APRC as the party with the largest support.
Mayor Gomez told the gathering that this is not a time for hatred and called on the youths to safe guard their own future interest by voting for the APRC. Commenting on the short-lived Jeshwang ward independent aspirant, Modou I Cham, he revealed that he (Cham) was their major problem, but now that he has turned to the APRC they have full confidence of winning and that UDP is not their problem.
Addressing the crowd in a brief speech, Modou I Cham, told them what was responsible for his withdrawal from the race and joining the APRC; that it was Mayor Gomez who through dialogue was able to convince him to join the APRC; that he has now decided and given up the Jeshwang seat to Haddy Jagne.
Mr. Cham finally urged the people of Serrekunda Central to vote for Sainey Jaiteh and see in the next five years what Serrekunda Central will look like. The ward councilor of the area, Lamin S. Manneh, speaking earlier said the name of Serrekunda Central is spoiled. He added that Gambia is a small country but is known for her peacefulness world wide which is brought about by President Jammeh. Lamin S. Manneh claimed that anyone who supports the Opposition is not praying for peace.
He said that President Jammeh has been giving scholarship to students and promised that in 2007 there is going to be free education. Mr. Manneh urged the people to help APRC to put up Parliamentarians; that they do not need an MP who is fighting the government but one who fights for the rights of the people in the constituency.
This time around he said, if they did not give their votes to APRC, they will die of shame and urged the people to shy away from individualism. Other speakers at the meeting included Sainey Jaiteh; the candidate, Aja Asom Badjie, Head Yai Compin Bundung Ward, Daga Jallow, sub ward mobiliser, and many others who all pledged their allegiance to APRC and also urged the people to vote for the APRC for their own betterment.
SUKU EYES THIRD TERM
By Yaya Bajo
As the race to the forthcoming National Assembly Elections gains momentum, parliamentary hopefuls are touring their respective constituencies with a view to canvassing for votes. In Lower Baddibou Constituency in the Kerewan Administrative area, two aspirants, in the persons of Abdoulie Suku Singhateh of the APRC and Kebba Famara Singhateh of UDP, are vying for the seat.
Addressing supporters in a recent political rally in Njawara, the incumbent National Assembly Member, Abdoulie Suku Singhateh, told the party sympathisers that it is only the APRC led government that can provide solutions to address their needs and aspirations and not the opposition. Mr. Suku Singhateh, who is seeking for a third term re-election, urged the electorate in the constituency to re-elect him, citing numerous things as development programmes initiated in the area by the regime.
Singhateh further told the gathering that if he is given another mandate, he will no doubt address their problems and alleviate poverty within the area. Other speakers made similar remarks and urged the masses to come out in their large numbers on Election Day and vote for the right candidate whom they said is Abdoulie Suku Singhateh.
LIE SAINE: "THE OPPOSTION IS NOT MY TARGET"
By Amie Sanneh
The APRC candidate for Banjul Central, Abdoulie Saine, in an interview with this reporter said that his target for the upcoming National Assembly Elections is not the opposition. Instead, he said, he is targeting to get results beyond what President Jammeh had during the Presidential elections in Banjul Central which is 70 per cent. "I will hit 80 percent, cause 100 percent belongs to the Almighty," he expressed with confidence Mr. Saine added "I have all the youths, women and even the opposition behind me, so by the grace of God I will hit my target." He, however, spoke about his developmental plans for the constituency, noting, it will be on two issues. The APRC candidate said that he will address the issue of youths and women unemployment as his first target. Environment, he said, which will constitute the health conditions, street lights etc, will also be part of his agenda which he said he has started working on already. "I want the whole of Banjul Central to have street lights before elections," he said.
"I have started working and am not yet being elected. If am elected what will happen," he enquired.
Mr. Saine said that the opposition cannot do anything for the people and APRC is here for the development of the people.
"Now everybody is aware that we are no more in the days of politics of lies," he remarked. Mr. Saine said people are now voting for progressiveness and not backwardness.
The APRC Banjul Central candidate commended the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for conducting everything accordingly and giving equal priority to all candidates and urged the people to come out and vote, noting that it is their constitutional rights.
EBRIMA PESSEH NJIE: "I HAVE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT"
By Amie Sanneh
Ebrima Pesseh Njie the UDP candidate for Banjul Central has revealed that he has overwhelming support in Banjul Central and that he will win the parliamentary elections.
In an interview with Foroyaa, Pesseh said he has been involved in political issues over the years. He revealed that the future perspective of Banjul, the national capital is at stake.
Talking about his developmental plans, he said a lot needs to be done to return Banjul to its former glory and that there are certain streets in Banjul Central which need to be rehabilitated. Pesseh also talked about the sewage system which according to him has been a source of pride and joy for Banjulians; that this has now fallen into a state of disrepair and overflowing onto the streets which needs attention.
He also told Foroyaa that human rights, rule of law and democracy needs to be addressed.
"We cannot do magic but can come together as our forefathers always did when Banjul confronts trouble to speak up to government to live up to its responsibilities," he remarked.
The UDP candidate urged all Banjulians to go into these elections very seriously and should make sure that apart from expressing views on national issues, they should also highlight the peculiar interest of Banjul.
Pesseh called on voters to conduct the affairs of the coming elections in a peaceful manner.
Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.007/2007, 17-18 January, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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