Gambian President Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh Dialogue: 'God Loves the Gambia

18 May 2009

2009 'Dialogue with the people' tour by Gambian president Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh continued over the weekend with a series of engagements in Basse, in the URR; Galleh Manda, Sapu, Walley Kunda and Jareng in the CRR; and Jarra Soma in the LRR.

Speaking to thousands of people in Jareng in CRR, yesterday evening, on Day 7th of the tour, President Jammeh expressed thanks and gratitude to the Almighty Allah for making The Gambia a bountiful country that is well loved and cared for by Allah Himself. However, the president observed that for Gambians to ensure the maintenance of this godly blessing, they must stand and take up their true responsibilities.

He told the gathering that the country is blessed with numerous resources, of which some are revealed while others are hidden. But the fact that Gambians are not willing to take charge of these gifts makes the president somehow displeased. And he never makes any attempt to hide his feelings with regards to the indifferent attitude of some Gambians. "I am not saying Gambians should work for me, but I want any development that my government embarks on to benefit the last Gambian," he said and added: "I am your worker and my aim is to make the Gambian people independent and to gain the respect of other countries."

He called on Gambians to be caring and loving to one another, saying "the importance of neighborliness in life is to have mercy for one another." The central government, he explained, cannot do everything for the people; instead it can only pave the way for the people to contribute to national development. "Gambians," President Jammeh went on, "we know where we are, but we know not where we are going to end. To alleviate poverty in the country, government alone cannot do it. It is the people's readiness to work that can ensure the realization of a poverty-free nation." Commenting on the phenomenon of rural-urban migration, the president said: "I am not saying we should not go to the capital, but what I mean is we should not forget back home".

While calling on Gambians to work hard for the development of the country, President Jammeh urged them to make the maximum use of the resources available. "If we should deport all the foreigners today, it is going to be very tough with us the following day. We are not going to eat fish; not even meat. We are not going to have even the services of mechanics and shopkeepers because these positions are all occupied by foreign nationals," he said.

Making reference to the green youths, the president said that when they say green, they must all get up and make the country green. "We must not spend all our time on football alone. I am not here to back any tribe, instead I am here to develop the country," he told the gathering.

In conclusion, President Jammeh thanked Gambian women for their support, hard work and dedication to the national development efforts. He also promised to give a tractor to the green youths of the region, in response to their request to embark on farming in this year's season.

EsinIslam.Com