Following its historic victory in the just-concluded November 24th Presidential Election in which President-elect Jammeh polled 72 percent of all the votes cast, the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) Saturday organised its national victory celebrations in Farafenni in the North Bank Region (NBR).

The man whose mandate was renewed by Gambians and party leader of the APRC, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, personally presided over the celebrations that also brought together the cream of the country’s top officials, a corps of foreign resident diplomats accredited to The Gambia, notably, ambassadors of Taiwan, France, United Kingdom, Guinea Bissau, representatives of the United Nations in the country, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Attended by thousands of Gambians, notably APRC militants and sympathisers, as well as non-Gambians, the Farafenni national celebration was the fulfillment of a promise earlier made by the APRC leadership to reward the region that records the highest percentage of votes for the ruling party in the just-concluded November polls. The NBR, which is taking the first position for the second consecutive time – the first one being in the 2006 Presidential Election, polled 78 percent vote for the ruling party in the latest polls, thus winning the right to host the maiden national celebration staged to not only reward them, but to engender stiff competition among the regions that came behind NBR in future elections.

Addressing the people at the occasion, President-elect Jammeh thanked the Almighty Allah, Gambians and NBR in particular for what he called “this patriotic action”, stressing that the Gambian people have spoken loud and clear in the November 24th Presidential Election. He stated that Gambians have honoured the contract by fulfilling their part, and went on to assure that he will also fulfill his own side of the bargain, more than what is expected. He however, appealed for the support and prayers of all Gambians, stressing that the form of support he needs from the citizenry is for everyone to be resolute and take his or her responsibilities seriously for the development and progress of this country. “Whatever your occupation is, be very serious with it. Yahya Jammeh alone cannot eradicate poverty in this country and all of us must be committed towards transforming this country into one of the best not just in Africa but in the world,” the president underscored.

Politics is over
The Gambian leader also seized the opportunity to declare that politics is over, stressing that whether one voted him or not, there is the urgency for all and sundry to come together and work hard under the banner of national development with a view to lift this country into advancement. “How many of you want to die in poverty?” the Gambian leader paused to ask the cheering listeners. “Do you think you can get rid of poverty by sitting at home? In the same vein that you cannot go to Heaven without worshiping Allah, so you cannot get yourself out of poverty by sitting down and doing nothing,” he admonished, while urging the citizenry to take charge of the country’s development.

For the Gambian leader, this five-year term will require hard work from every  citizen so as to ensure that The Gambia becomes a modern and prosperous city-state and an economic superpower. But he stressed that this can only be attainable if all the citizens tighten belts, sweat in the fields, offices and in other areas of socio-economic development. “In the development of this country, I will work with people that are ready to work and are honest,” he stated. He continued: “For the students, your role is to be serious with your education so that tomorrow we will not go to another country for scientists, doctors, magistrates, and so on. For your education, whether your parents are rich or poor, that will not determine your level of education. Your ability to hard work and be disciplined will determine the level of your education, and the sky is the limit.”

President Jammeh also stressed the role of farmers, fishermen and other occupations in the socio-economic development drive of the country, while pledging that the sky is the limit for agricultural mechanization and development. He then enjoined the farmers to be awakened to the naked fact that nobody is going to produce what they are going to eat at home, thus emphasising that they have to grow what they eat. He added: “For the fishermen, the government will not go out and catch and give you fish. We are going to modernise all the fisheries sectors, and for the fishermen that are serious and honest, the Pacific Ocean will be the limit. For those in other professions, your progress or stagnation will be determined by your seriousness. For those in the education sector, the teachers, there would come a time when people who are not in the teaching field will be jealous of you by the grace of the Almighty Allah.”   

President-elect Jammeh again emphsised that only the citizens can take the lead in the nation’s socio-economic development drive that will benefit the citizenry, while stressing the need for the little God-given resources to be exploited. “We should thank the Almighty Allah for the fact that 98 percent of the land in The Gambia is suitable for agriculture. We should thank the Almighty Allah for making part of the River Gambia fresh water throughout the year. We should also thank the Almighty Allah for giving us the territorial waters that are full of fish. We will reach the city-state and economic superpower status but it will not be by dancing and sitting at home but it will be by hard work,” he stressed.

The Gambian leader concluded by asserting that the role of the government is to create the conducive environment by creating facilities and enhancing things, saying “but actual poverty eradication will depend on only you”. Also addressing the convergence, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Lamin Kaba Bajo reminded the gathering that the event was the fulfillment of a promise by the APRC leadership that the national victory celebration will be hosted by the region that recorded the highest percentage of votes for the ruling party, thus justifying the celebrations in NBR.

Bajo, the APRC campaign manager then seized the opportunity to congratulate the people of NBR for taking first position for a second time in a row. While commending all and sundry for contributing to this success in one way or the other, Bajo said even though the APRC polled 72 percent at the national level in the immediate-past election, they want this to increase in future elections. Minister Kaba Bajo used the opportunity to praise Jammeh’s generous leadership, describing the party leader as a true head who was unrelenting with his material, moral and financial support as well as his guidance in the administration of the party during the crucial period of election.

The governor of NBR, Alhaji Edwarr Seckan welcomed the presidential entourage and celebrants to the region. Despite NBR beating all other regions in terms of percentage, the governor declared that they are all winners. He applauded all party stakeholders for working very hard to achieve victory for the ruling party. The APRC regional chairman, Alhaji Saikou Jallow, dedicated the achievement to the party leader, saying it was not surprising that the people of the region gave this percentage to the Gambian leader in view of his bringing more projects to their doorsteps.

Other speakers at the occasion were the National Assembly member for Baddibu Central and desk officer of the region, Honourable Suku Signateh; and Chief Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh of Illiasa. The occasion was spiced up by grand musical and cultural performances from the country’s music custodians including the Kora maestro, Jaliba Kuyateh, Afromanding star Jalex, Batiyai, Sambou Susso, and Kabakel, amongst others.