The man who won the November 24th Presidential Election has reaffirmed his commitment to accelerate the national development process.

President-elect Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was addressing thousands of Gambians at the July 22nd Square in Banjul on Saturday, while delivering his victory speech. The Gambian leader made a solemn pledge that by the grace of God both the Silicon Valley and Economic Superpower Vision of the country will be achieved. He also vowed to execute development projects every three months.

He said: “By the grace of the Almighty Allah, any Gambian who leaves this country and goes overseas and stay there for three months, by the time you come back, you will find a new major development project in the country."

“I swear that Allah willing if you go to overseas for studies for a period of five years, when you come back you will ask for directions because you will not recognize the country.  Why because thanks to the prayers of the good people of the country, Allah has endowed us with a lot of resources which I will not disclose here. But it is very clear – today by the grace of the Almighty Allah we will achieve the dreams of not only turning the Gambia into a Silicon Valley of Africa but an economic superpower in the world.”

The president-elect, who is to begin a fourth new mandate said he will give notice to countries that have triumphed in terms of socio-economic development such as Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, that in five years, no one will talk about them but The Gambia in terms of advancement. “They have the tallest buildings in the world, but what we will have will be the highest standard of living, and the highest life expectancy in the world,” he promised.

Jammeh said in the next five years, they want to turn The Gambia into the most literate country in Africa, pledging that in the same period all Gambian children will go to school “free of charge”.  The president stated that he will “live and die” for Gambians, especially the women and youths, as well as patriotic development-oriented Gambians.  While noting that he habours no hatred for anyone as his heart cannot accommodate enmity; Jammeh however said he will not accommodate those people “that do not wish this country good”.

While thanking the Gambian people for their support for him, the president-elect seized the opportunity to enjoin all and sundry regardless of status or affiliations to put all hands on deck to build a modern Gambia. He also seized the opportunity to name a long list of foreign countries to salute them and recognise their invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. He concluded by promising that he will be sworn-in on February 2011.

Speaking at the celebration, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters Lamin Kaba Bajo, hailed the militants and supporters of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction for the 72 percent vote, emphasising that this record victory would not have happened without them being steadfast and their selfless sacrifice.

He stressed that the verdict given have indicated that the citizens will not change Yahya Jammeh with anyone. Bajo, the APRC 2011 campaign manager hailed the party leader for his meaningful guidance and support in his capacity to steer the affairs of the ruling party campaign for the just concluded November 24th Presidential Election.

“We thank the Almighty Allah and Gambian people for coming out in their numbers for not only the voter turnout but voting massively for the president. This is really yet another manifestation of trust and confidence in the president and they [citizens] want him to continue steering the affairs of this country for the next five years,” Bajo told this reporter in a pre-victory speech exclusive interview.

Quizzed on his reaction to the increase in the APRC percentage in this election from 67 in 2006 to 72 in 2011, Minister Bajo said such a development demonstrates the increase of the party’s strength in that more people have switched over to the ruling party. Bajo enunciated the Gambian leader’s Friday message for all positive-minded and well-meaning Gambians to put aside politics to join the bandwagon of development under the ruling party. “I think it is time for development, it’s time for work; politics is over and we are calling on everyone to join us. And at the same time the president has said it the doors of the party are open to all to join the bandwagon of development,” he added.

Meanwhile, the mayor of KMC and APRC national mobiliser, Yankuba Colley, Yankuba Touray, women national mobiliser Aja Ndey Jatta, youth mobiliser Babou Gaye Sonko, and Mayor Samba Faal of Banjul all took the platform to thank the Gambian electorate, especially APRC supporters for this historic victory.