Former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has said President Adama Barrow’s government failed to keep promises of improving the lot of Gambians.
He also said that neighbouring Senegal is now in charge of the country, as shown by Senegalese security forces coming in and arresting Gambians in their own country.
Yahya Jammeh addressed his supporters assembled in Gunjur Berending on Wednesday 24th November, 2021.
Mamma Kandeh, one of the presidential candidates, has been letting the former president address his campaign rallies.
Kandeh received the blessing of Yahya Jammeh, ahead of the 4th December presidential election, and is being supported by the APRC no-to-alliance movement backed by the former president.
“They (the Coalition 2016 of Gambian opposition parties which defeated Jammeh in the election) have fooled the Gambian people.
They said that if they win the election, they will reduced the price of a bag of rice to D700.
However, when I left, within less than two weeks there was no water, no electricity, the hospitals deteriorate, and the roads got damaged, ha ha ha.”
He added: “Fellow Gambians, I want to remind you that for 22 years, I have been telling you that anytime the opposition wins the election in the country, everybody including those who voted for them will regret their action.
“In 2016, they engaged in stealing the election, and spreading unfounded stories that they won. But they rigged that election.”
According to Yahya Jammeh, Coalition 2016 had brainwashed some Gambians by accusing him of, among other things, barring Europeans from coming to the country as expected.
He said that under his government, expecting mothers feel happy to visit the hospitals, unlike today when women are afraid to do so for fear of losing their life during delivery.
The former president also spoke of a lack of security in the country, leading to loss of lives.
He said that during his reign, no one was scared of sending minors to the corner shop late at night. However, nowadays even an adult is scared to go out at night, as he/she may be attacked by criminals.
“I have told you that anytime the opposition wins election, it is only them and their families who will enjoy,” he went on.
About Senegal, Jammeh said that nowadays everything Gambians need comes from the neighbouring State. The Senegalese are now ruling the Gambia, and are doing whatever they like in the country, he continued.
“Now that the Senegalese are ruling our country, they are doing anything they wanted to do. But during my time, no Senegalese is crazy to enter the Gambia to shoot at our citizens.”
He further said the Senegalese have depleted fish stocks in the sea.
“I have said this at my Tanjie meeting; that anytime I leave power it will be hard for the poor to afford bonga fish in the local markets.”
