By Omar Bah
The interim leader of the opposition APRC has said the former ruling party will not repeat mistakes made under former President Jammeh.
“Another APRC leadership in government will not repeat the mistakes made under the leadership of former President Jammeh. I want to emphasise that, this is a new group of leaders, we are not soldiers but civilians who are interested in the development of this country,” he said at a press conference recently.
He said recent comments from a sitting National Assembly member demanding for the APRC to be banned should not be entertained in a democratic state.
“The current APRC leadership is with the conviction that, selective justice is unacceptable in a democratic state,” Jatta said.
He further stated that the Coalition Government should stop being “paranoid” about the APRC and its former leader President Jammeh and focus on their developing the country.
“We want the Coalition Government to expeditiously put up measures to curb the growing rate of armed robbery, rape and murder especially in the Greater Banjul Area and stop the blame game on the former government,” he said.
He said the Coalition Government came on a platform of a “New Gambia”, which will ensure democracy, rule of law and protection of fundamental rights with lot of other promises.
“Therefore, we demand that they fulfill their campaign promises and stop the rhetoric about APRC and Jammeh. As far as the promise by the new government Gambians are expecting the creation of youth employment, price reduction of basic commodities, for example, a bag of rice to cost D500, free visa for our youths, reliable and efficient electricity supply and the introduction of presidential term limits among others,” he added.
He said the government has also failed in its promise to protect Gambians’ fundamental rights including freedom of association, assembly and expression.
“The government since taking over, has not fulfilled any of its promises, even the provision of seed nuts, farming implements and fertiliser to farmers. It should be noted that the distributed fertilizer were the APRC government leftovers,” he alleged.
He said the new APRC leadership demands the new government to immediately appoint a vice president and immediately launch an independent investigation in to the death of Haruna Jatta.
“We also call on the Coalition Government to immediately drop all politically motivated charges against APRC members such as the Kanilai peaceful demonstrators and those arrested during the victory celebration in Sibanor and demilitarise the Fonis especially Kanilai.
“While urging government to focus on fulfilling these promises and demands rather than being paranoid about APRC and Jammeh. We wish to be on record to say that the APRC and all its membership believed and accepts that President Barrow is the current president of The Gambia.”
He also disclosed that the party is currently looking for new political bureau.
