(JollofNews) – Ladies and gentlemen, since after the declaration of my candidature for Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Mayor, our inbox is filled with messages, countless people sharing the page.
On a daily basis, both the team on the ground and us in the diaspora receive phone calls from even unknown people offering to support – the reaction for our bid has been overwhelming.
We appreciate all of you and your believe in me not for anything but the remarkable record I had in leadership and national engagements through multiple opportunities I was availed in the last decade and half.
Nelson Mandela said “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lived” – This has been my hallmark as youth volunteer in the early 2000 and as a professional in the mid 2000 until date. My primary focus has always been to contribute, in my little ways to the personal development of people I come into contact with and to the advancement of my community and country.
From a community environmental and social justice advocate to a national activist for justice, good governance and rule of law, I have for 15 years, strived to maintain consistency in what I do no matter the conditions. From serving in the National Youth Council to handling Program Officer portfolio of an NGO coalition and worked with communities, traditional and women leaders from Banjul to Basse, Kartong to Lamin Koto. From holding training sessions for professionals in government, civil society, securities units, youth and children to the many international assignments, I sure did leave marks.
From a radio and TV broadcaster to serving as Councilor in KMC – the same Council I have been encouraged and I have humbly accepted to seek to return and serve as its Chairperson and Mayor of the Municipality. I know the challenges because I lived them myself growing up and living all my life in the suburbs of Ebo-Town.This is why I took that bold decision to return home and serve.
I submit myself to you, with a clear vision and plan on paper – in the form of a manifesto to seek for your endorsement and support so that together, we can manage a better council, one that is transparent and accountable, one that respect it staff and give them the tools to work. A council that returns tax money to it payers in the form of people driven socio-economic development initiatives and a municipality that prides itself as a clean, healthy and lively metropolis. All these we can do when we are united in purpose and working for the KMC we want.
Mr. Bakary Badgie I feel sorry for you looking for this essential position because anyone from Jammeh’s tribe will be hard to be trusted because you are all infected with his monstrous activities. Where were you when he was butcharing, stealing and cheating on Gambian? Remember Jammeh had already destroyed the images of your tribe and anyone close to him. We can’t be fool twice by telling baseless statements to the Gambians. Don’t even think about this position that belongs to true and honest Gambians. People like you have no room in this promising and honest regime. We don’t want anyone to infect our decent and honest President Barrow.Again don’t even think about this position that belongs to decent citizens
Modou
I vehemently disagree with your notion of dismissing Mr.Badgie’s candidature as the Mayor of KMC based on his tribal allegiance. I think such notions should be consigned to the dustbins of our dark history under Yahya Jammeh. The Jolas are and will forever be part of the Gambian fraternity as they suffered equally the barbarity of Yahya Jammeh’s crimes. Who gave you the right to decide who is a decent citizen and who is not? Is being Jola disqualify him from holding a public office?
You know what Modou, people like you have no room in our beloved civilized new Gambia, the new Gambia where every citizen should be judged not based on tribe but the content of their characters. No one tribe in the Gambia should be made to carry the guilt of what Yahya Jammeh and his regime did to our beloved citizenry. All the tribes being Jolas, Mandinkas, Fulanis, Wollofs etc collectively aided and abetted the various crimes against our people. We had all been infected with his monstrous evil activities directly or indirectly. Mr. Badgie have the same right as any other Gambian and is within his right to seek public office. Let the people of KMC decide whom they want to elect to represent them.
Please lets stop this bullshit now. Yahya Jammeh is gone and forgotten, so lets embrace each other as citizens and strive to build a better society for our children.Shameful rants like that should have no place in this discourse. We are all Gambians and that fact will remain whether we accept it or not.
God bless our beloved nation.
Modou, I think you are wrong on this issue, Mr Badjie is not Mr Jammeh, these are two different people with a different views. Mr badjie the legitimate rights to stand as a mayor even if he wins people will embrace him as their new mayor. Mr Modou you don’t judge a book by its color.