The flagbearer of People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), Halifa Sallah, has told the nation his party’s goal is to end abject poverty in The Gambia.

Mr Sallah was speaking to jubilant supporters in Churchill Town as he returned from his nationwide campaign.

‘If [a politician] comes to you; you beg him or her [for] sugar, rice and clothing and he or she gives you those, and you in turn bestow him or her the coffers and he will be in heaven on this earth and you will be in hell on this earth: that’s is to born in poverty, grow up in poverty and die in poverty and live your family in abject poverty,” Mr Sallah said.

“And that is what we say should end in this country and what will end this: is for anyone of [Gambians] to know who you are and know what belongs to you and bestow your wealth to someone whom you will get back to benefit you,” he added.

“And when we went around the country, everybody agreed that: the poverty and hardship in the country is painful and it should end and we are the people [Gambians] who can end this problem.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba