By Landing Ceesay
Pa Modou Mbowe, the mayoral candidate for the “No To Alliance” faction of the Alliance for Patriotic, Reorientation and Construction (APRC), pledged to make Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) the best in West Africa.
“We are here to make a change. A change that will transform KMC into the best council in West Africa. So good that other councils in the region will come to us to learn how we did it. I am the one who is telling you this, and I will make it happen. If I cannot do it, then I would not be standing here today to make this promise. The media is here filming everything, and it will be recorded for posterity.
“Residents of Kotu Quarry, I am a lifelong resident of Bakoteh Quarry, and I know firsthand the challenges that we face living in a quarry. I have seen our children, mothers, and elderly people suffer and die from asthma and other respiratory illnesses caused by the dust and pollution. If I am elected, I promise that Kotu Quarry and Bakoteh Quarry will be the first places I will change. I will work to clean up the environment, improve our infrastructure, and provide better healthcare for our community.” Mbowe promised.
95% of the children living at SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh have asthma, according to Mr. Mbowe. He believes that the quarry in Bakoteh is to blame for the high rate of asthma among the children.
Mr. Mbowe said the government cannot always use bags of rice and gallons of cooking oil to bribe them, as if they cannot afford to buy these things themselves
“People of KM, are you voting for the politicians who give you bags of rice? If so, I will bring a boat loaded with rice for you. But I ask you, is it not better to teach someone how to catch fish, so that they can provide for themselves? If you do that, they will be able to give you fish in return. Are you not tired of receiving cooking pots, bags of rice, and cooking oil? I am not politicking; I am not a politician because I am not a liar. I am simply asking you to think about what is best for your future.” Mr. Mbowe stated.
Ahead of Saturday’s polls, the “No To Alliance” faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) held a mega rally at Kotu Quarry.
The rally was attended by hundreds of supporters from Kotu Quarry in the Kanifing Municipality (KM). The leaders of the “No To Alliance” faction were also present.
On Saturday, Mr. Pa Modou Mbowe, the candidate of the National People’s Party (NPP), will face off against the incumbent Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) for the KMC Mayoral seat.