Hi!

    I would first of all like to thank Miss Joof, Tombong and all who brought us the results as they were being announced. Thanks to the wonders of technology, we received these results in near real-time. Now that the people have spoken out loud and clear, I join Karamba in urging that we respect their voices. To the victors, I say congrats for gaining the trust and mandate of the people. To the vanquished, I say better luck next time. To all I say that the interest of our country should stand above individual interest. Everyone should strive to maintain the peace, stability and cohesion of our country in a region plagued by war and instability.

    To the victors I further say that the people have chosen you out of several choices. Do not let them down. Do all within your power to ensure the well-being of your citizens. You have made several promises during the campaign. Do your best to live by those promises. Remember that the peace and stability of our country depends on how you rule. If you rule with justice, democracy and sound economic, social and other policies, the people will reward you with another term in five year's time. If you rule with heavy-handedness, disregard the rights of your citizens, institute poor economic policies and encourage rampant corruption, you are inviting trouble and compromising the peace, stability and cohesion of our country.

    To the vanquished I further say, respect the will of the people for they have spoken. Do everything in your power to maintain the peace, stability and cohesion of our country. Be good losers and not poor losers. After the dust settles, go through your whole campaign process and identify where you went wrong and institute measures to counter these in the coming parliamentary elections and in five years' time. Do not engage in activities that will threaten the peace, stability and cohesion of our country.

    To Gambia-l I say thanks for keeping us in touch with what is happening at home. We have all been calling for democracy back home and respect for the people's will. Well, they have spoken and clearly chosen those they believe will lead the country to a better future out of a number of choices. While some might not agree with the choices the people have made, I say that is the challenge of democracy. Democracy involves giving people the chance to choose and respecting their choice. Let us therefore desist from making calls for actions and activities that will endanger the peace, stability and cohesion of our country. Let us remember that most of us live far away from home but we have relatives and loved ones back home. Calling for activities that might bring about civil strife cannot but take us backward not to talk about the probability of having relatives killed and maimed. Let us therefore be mature, restrained and objective in our pronouncements especially at this crucial time. Let us in short not compromise the peace, stability and cohesion of our country. The people have spoken. Let us respect their voice. Thanks and have a good day.

                                                                                                                                                                                Buharry.

 

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