By: Mariama Njie
Honorable Halifa Sallah, leader of PDOIS, has announced his retirement saying that he has retired from political representations but that his love for The Gambia and its people remains in place.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference held at his party bureau in Churchill’s Town, he said: “this is the end of his political representation, as he admonished citizens of missed opportunity in not electing him for a genuine system change where sovereignty wealth of the people will be used for their socio-economic development.
“When election results were announced by the IEC, we consulted our polling agents and we do not have any evidence that we can present before the Supreme Court to challenge the validity of the results, so in my regard we have accepted it and respect the choice of Gambian as they decide,” he said in a strong and healthy mind.
“We struggle for you to take back your country, power and voice, I was cautioning you that 2021 was your opportunity to move from poverty to prosperity injustice to justice,” he said, adding that “there are intellectuals who want to change this country and ready to sacrifice to change the destiny of this country but they don’t see the concern from the people who are suffering.”
“I cautioned you (Gambians) that democracy could only thrive under the sovereignty of a people who are dignified and not allow themselves to be induced or intimidated by anybody, if we surrender our democracy to copper coins to dalasi, ultimately there are billionaires in the world willing to take minerals, everything a country has by financing elections and winning not for the people but for themselves,” he added.
“Gambians have decided, each of us must sit down and ask ourselves the question; who is the loser and the winner? Adding that there are no winners or losers but there is a task to be performed and a challenge to be addressed which is nation building and do not in any way think that I am emotionally broken, I will be calmer and the fire that was burning in me will quench today.
“I thought I could inspire you to refuse to take the rope of slavery and put it back around your neck but since you have done that the tears have dried in my eyes, now I will be calmer to see how I can tell you to love yourselves,” he said as he addressed members of press and others.