President Yahya Jammeh, has predicted a comfortable victory for the APRC party in the September 22, presidential election. "I will win comfortably", he said. President Jammeh made this prediction yesterday at a ceremony held on the beach, behind State House, where he welcomed about 500 defectors from the UDP, PDOIS, and the NRP.

At the beach rally, President Jammeh welcomed Dr Muhammad Lamin Manneh, former PPP Minister, Mambanyick Njie, former Publicity Secretary of NRP and Ebrima Choi, former NRP Candidate in Lower Niumi, as well as other defectors.

President Jammeh told the gathering that he holds no ill-feelings against anybody, saying “I have forgiven you of everything you had said against me and my party. All I want you to know is that I am not here to make Gambians suffers but rather to develop this country. I am your servant. I welcome you all to the APRC party. I will develop this country to higher levels”.

President Jammeh pointed out that some oppositions will plunged into coma, if the results of the September elections are announced.

He blamed unpatriotic Gambians and the oppositions of making lives difficult for the youth. He described their behaviours as self-centred, saying they do not have the country at heart.

“The opposition makes lives difficult for Gambians. In 12 years, my government has performed far better than the centuries of the colonialist and the 30 years of the former regime. Without the APRC government, how many Gambians would think of going to the University. It is the youth of this country that are benefiting from all the developments that has taken place in the country,” he said.

Leaders of Nyodema and Fankanta Kafoos of Tallinding, as well as the Bambadinka Kafoo of Bundung declared their allegiance to President Jammeh and the APRC. They also promised to contribute to the national development process and maintain APRC's hegemony in the political arena.

Neneh Macdoul-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology, who doubles as the honoured mother of the defectors advised the militants to be “loyal, truthful and to follow the APRC for a brighter future. “You should not cross-carpet, because of money. You have a role to play in the socio- economic development of the country,” she said.

Bala Garba Jahumpa, Secretary of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, described the defection as timely. According to SoS Jahumpa, the opposition are a group of disgruntled elements, who are not interested in development.

He informed the gathering about government's preparedness to construct tar-roads from Barra-Amdalaye; Soma-Basse; Farafenni-Senoba; and Basse-Wellingara (Senegal), come the next five years. He also informed the gathering about plans to build a new pediatric hospital for children in Western Division and ensure free education for boys in the country. He then urged Gambians to rally behind President Jammeh in order to enable him realise his wishes for the country. According to him, The Gambia is blessed with a development-oriented leader, who can transform the country into a heaven of Africa.