Banjul — The new national mobiliser of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) party, who is also the mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, Yankuba Colley, has reacted to his recent political development and spoken at length about his untiring commitment to reshape and consolidate the achievements of the APRC?party.

Colley, a seasoned politician, who has been in the ruling APRC party since its inception, made his first media exclusive interview as the ruling party's national mobiliser last Saturday, in an encounter with the Daily Observer at his office at the Kanifing Municipal Council. The newly appointed national APRC mobiliser thanked the Almighty Allah for the blessings. He expressed profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to the party's chairman and president of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh for the trust and confidence reposed on him and for choosing him among the lots to man such a high political position.

He described his appointment as a challenging one but stated that he is ready for the challenge given his wealth of experience in politics specifically as a mobiliser at the grassroot level. The appointment came to me as a surprise. I have never expected or even think of becoming the national mobiliser of the APRC party, he remarked, indicating his readiness to battle the challenge.

Challenges

As the new national mobiliser of the biggest political party in The Gambia, Colley who was in Italy by the time of his appointment, told the Daily Observer that he is quite aware of what it takes to man such a position, noting that with a high sense of purpose, determination, commitment, and dedication, he is assured of success.

Mobilising is not new to me. In fact, I was introduced into this party as a mobiliser at the grassroot level where I was in charge of mobilisation for Serrekunda East for two elections. The difference here is that I was doing it at a smaller perspective but now it is going to be broader, as it is national, the new mobiliser remarked. I am well known in the political field and I know full well that I am up to the task. I have nothing but the party and I am ready to stand for any challenge that comes my way, he stated.

Mayor Colley, who preferred not to disclose some of his strategies in detail expressed his conviction that the strength of the party is very strong especially at the grassroots level, which he said have been taken care of. He expressed his untiring resolve to strengthen the achievements of the party. I want to revive the party. I have a lot in stock for the party. I know the party and the people and I know we can do it, he stated, indicating his resolve to ensure a general participation in the party.

2011 elections

Commenting on the 2011 presidential elections which mark the end of the third five-year term of President Jammeh, the new national mobiliser expressed high optimism about the ruling party's unchallenging stance to register a landslide victory, describing his party as unshakeable.

It could be recalled that President Jammeh got a total sum of 264, 404 votes in the 2006 presidential elections, constituting 67.33% of the total votes cast, while the opposition alliance's candidate, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe , got 104, 808, and NADD's Halifa Sallah pulled a total of 23, 473 votes constituting 26.69 and 5.98 percents of the votes respectively.

In the view of the new APRC national mobiliser, there is no opposition threat that can hinder the party's landslide victory in the 2011 presidential election. Our victory is written everywhere for all to see. Victory in the 2011 presidential election is eminent, he expressed in high confidence.

On whether the creation of a fresh opposition alliance against President Jammeh in 2011 elections poses any threat to the APRC party, the national mobiliser said that even if that is to happen, the party remains unshakeable and that history will repeat itself in 2011. In fact what is their percentage if they form themselves into alliance? So what is the worry about them coming together? Tell me which of the opposition political party is having in every village a proper structure? , he quizzed, indicating that the party has effective structures even in the smallest areas in the country. He described the party as the most organised one in the country, Look at all these past years what has been achieved for the people of the Gambia. Is politics all about talking? No! It goes with actions and thank God the president has done enough for the people. There is no single area in the country where development is not taking place, Colley stated.

As far as Colley is concerned, the ruling APRC party has already done a lot for the people, citing the unprecedented developments registered by the APRC government. This trend of development, he pointed out is enough to come to conclusion that Gambians will not hesitate to throw their weight behind President Jammeh in the 2011 presidential elections in his bid to make the country one of the best in the world.

Democratisation process

Colley used the opportunity to hail the country's democratisation process, describing it as one of the best in the world. He cited the multi-party system, the free, fair and transparent nature of elections, as well as the election system of voting using marbles which are inserted into candidate drums instead of ballot papers, as examples of the good democracy. He noted that the country has never recorded in its election history a situation where electoral boxes are missing as the case in other countries.

In the same vein, he hailed the country's peace and stability, describing it as exceptional. The new APRC national mobiliser concluded his interview by assuring his commitment to ensure that the ruling party registers major achievements. He also implored on all to continue rallying behind the party, while indicating that the party's doors are open to all those who want to join. He thanked his parents for their blessings, and all other people who supported him.