(JollofNews) – A Gambian opposition leader who survived a road accident which left him with some facial injuries has renewed his determination to continue the fight against the regime of President Yahya Jammeh.
Halifa Sallah of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), was last month involved in a car accident in Jarra Jappineh while travelling back from Sareh Ngai, Upper River Region, where he went with some party members to sympathise with the family of the late Councillor Ebrima Menkeh Barrow.
Speaking for the first time after the accident, Mr Sallah, 63, who will be contesting against President Yahya Jammeh in the December poll said: “A local councillor died in Wuli and we went to pay our condolences. On our way back, our car hit a cow in Jappineh and killed it on the spot.
“The front of the car knocked my face and an object pierced my eye and blinded me. I could not see anything around me and did not know what happen to my face. But I decided to stay calm and focused and not to be shaken.”
The PDOIS was taken to an eye clinic in Serrekunda where he was successfully treated. He added that despite the pain, his mind was ‘intact’ and he advised his colleagues to stay calm and tight-lip about the accident to avoid creating panic among the people.
“None among these people who are here knew about it,” he told party supporters on Sunday in Fass Chaho, North Bank Region.
“I am here with you today with stitches in my eye which will be taken out later as it has healed now and I can assure you with a much better sight.
“The Halifa who stands before you today met death but conquered it and came back to life. The Halifa who stands before you today met blindness but conquered it and regain his sight. And it is not a fairytale that I am telling you but reality.
“When our party members nominated me as a presidential candidate, I was admitted in hospital and was being operated on a theatre bed.
“Now what is left in my life? I could have died there and then. Now what is left is for me to sacrifice my life for Gambia. Whatever the Gambia is demanding of my life, I am ready to give it to our homeland.”
