The national mobiliser of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC), Antouman Saho, has reacted to the recent boast made by the leader of the opposition United Democratic Party, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, who claimed that his party will sweep the 2011 presidential election.

Speaking to the Daily Observer at his office in Banjul yesterdqy, Saho who is also the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, said it is the same old story of bragging that the opposition leaders embark on as the country heads towards general elections.
The UDP leader's claim, according to him, is 'too simplistic and pretentious' and was only made to assure his party members, affiliates and sympathizers that the party has some life after its previous defeats by the APRC party.

"For us in the APRC, we hold the belief that our many achievements in many fields of human endeavours from 1994 to date have pronounced us winners of all elections from 2011 to posterity," stated Saho. In the view of Saho, it is not only the winning of elections that matters but what attainable plans and activities they put in place to satisfy the people's development needs and aspirations. "This is why, as far back as 1994, the great leader of the party, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya drew his agenda, which seeks to rid The Gambia of poverty, squalor and destitution," noted Minister Saho, while indicating that President Jammeh's ambition has always been for every Gambian to be free, independent and with an appreciable level of self esteem.

The APRC under President Jammeh, according to him, envisioned since 1994 that in order to achieve these cherished goals for Gambians and all world citizens, all social services must be made free or nearly free and directed at all levels of society and people, particularly the rural and urban poor. He noted that in this way, it is hoped that all Gambians and non-Gambians will enjoy a standard of living that can match the most affluent countries of world.

"Our APRC leader has very clearly and loudly said that the transformation of The Gambia into a City-State is becoming a reality day by day. A typical example is the coming into being of the water project which began in the Western Region and will consequently cover the whole country. This project will totally change the Sahelian consequence of drought thereby transforming agriculture and farming from a seasonal to a throughout-the-year activity," indicated Minister Saho.

Eye opening projects that the APRC government has embarked on, he said, include the new GRTS satellite and the University of The Gambia. National Mobiliser Saho concluded by noting that they are certain that eligible voters will turnout in massive numbers to support the ruling party in the 2011 presidential elections and to demonstrate their appreciation of the good work of President Jammeh.