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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 12:47:05
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Abdoulaye Wade's Press Conference at the Palace
On Idy, Tanor, Dansokho, Habib Thiam
Following the announcement of the provisional results of the pressidential elections by the National Commission of Census of Votes (commission nationale de recensement des votes) presided over by Judge Sheik Tidiane Diakhaté, President Abdoulaye Wade held a press conference at the Senegalese Presidential Palace in the evening of Thursday 1st February 2007. Wade used the news conference to announce the resumption of legal proceedings against some key opposition politicians who served in his government.
Abdoulaye Wade, after having paid hommage to the Senegalese people, announced the resumption of cases against those who have something to do with the state funds, in particular Messers Amath Dansokho, Moustapha Niasse, Ousmane Tanor Dieng, Habib Thiam and Idrissa Seck.
Wade went further to say that the turnout reaching 70% is quite "extraordinary". He explained the new system set up which requires a voter to combine the national identity card and the voter registration card to be eligible to vote. He asserted that he is pleased with the results.
Wade expressed delight for the calm environment during the election campaign. He said his campaign ended without incidents. The only noted incident he said is the confrontation between the militants of Idrissa Seck and the talibés of Sheik Béthio Thioune.
As for the poll of Sunday he said the electoral process occurred in peace.
On his incomplete projects, Wade said it now remains only with the International Airport Blaise Diagne. He promised that the construction of this project will be launched on April 4, 2007.
Abdoulaye Wade considers the allegations of fraud of a certain fringe of the opposition as simple fanfaronades to which we are accustomed; that all the reports/ratios of the observers showed the transparency. He said the system does not allow an error and the opposition was present at all levels of the process. The man of Sopi call for a fight against corruption for "serious charges" on "alleged financial scandals". He pointed out that efforts are being made by his government to fight against corruption. "We created a commission in which even the press has a seat and the opposition is present at National Assembly. It is necessary for me to speak against the corruption and stamp it out", Wade stressed. He said he is not the one who created the corruption.
Abdoulaye Wade showed the conference a copy of Le Quotidien (the Daily newspaper), which published in its Wednesday edition the disappearance of a huge sum of money from the treasury. "A method out to smear the image of our country", deplores Abdoulaye Wade. "This review of the World Bank is simply meant to show how much the country received and how it was spent. The survey is carried out in 25 countries comparatively. It is not money deposited with the treasury and I am glad that the World Bank makes such an investigation in Senegal", explained Abdoulaye Wade.
On what he referred to as an erroneous accusation against his son Karim Wade, President Wade said his son is not in any position that deals with money. Abdoulaye Wade specified that the last two projects comprising the embellishment of the Western Cornice and the widening of the Northern Road network financed by Kuwait at a cost of 19 billions CFA are underway. "This money is not given to my son, but is deposited with the treasury that deals with the Kuwaiti company responsible for the work. My son does nothing but supervise", said Wade.
He alleged that these rumours come from the ex-Prime Minister Idrissa Seck with the conviction that he wanted to put Karim Wade in his position. Wade said there is nothing worse than calumny, affirming that he forgave all those who wronged him, even Idrissa Seck.
Wade did not hesitate to add that he cannot forgive anyone for any wrong done to the state, and announced continuations of cases against those who owe the State. He said Idy, Tanor, Dansokho, Niasse and Habib Thiam who owe the state must pay it back to the state coffers. He said the audits were suspended so that he would not be witch hunting anyone or preventing any of his oppositions from going to the elections. He said there is no need for any witch hunt because the files were there. He named Amath Dansokho, Moustapha Niasse, Ousmane Tanor Dieng, Habib Thiam and Idrissa Seck as those who should face charges as a result of having something to do with state funds.
For Amath Dansokho, Wade said he was involved in land sales belonging to the airport, when he was Minister for Town Planning, and mismanagement as a mayor of Kédougou and diversion of 17 million Cfa received within the framework of the decentralized co-operation. As for Moustapha Niasse, President Wade said must answer 2 principal charges. Firstly, he said the purchase of his house on the Western Cornice (Fann) for 11 million Cfa in 19 months. Secondly, the sale of passports to Chinese people in Hongkong, when he was a Foreign Minister and should pay the money to the treasury.
As for Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Habib Thiam, Wade alleged that they must answer charges relating to the sale of the fishing licences valued at 20 billion Cfa. For Idrissa Seck, Me Abdoulaye Wade showed the conference a paper bearing what he alleged to be the signature of the former Prime Minister who made commitment when he was in prison to pay in installments of 7 billion Cfa.
According to Wade, Idrissa Seck knows that it is he who managed the political funds. He said 40 billion or more is deposited in an account in France; that there remains accounts in Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United States for recovery of the ill gotten money deposited there.
Calling for a majority in the Parliament, he again thanked the Senegalese people. "You entrust me a responsibility, but my capacity will be decreased if I do not have the majority in the National Assembly", Said Wade.
He said now the term of office for the President will be only two terms of five years. Delving into the issue of a successor, Wade said he or she would be intelligent, hardworking with a good international relation, etc. He was quick to add that it will not be Idrissa Seck.
Some people expressed surprise that a press conference which was considered to be an occasion to make reconciliation with the opposition has been used by President Wade as a ground for settling scores with his adversaries.
Dansokho And Niasse React To Wade
Amath Dansokho in his reaction dismissed Wade's accusation which were made at the Presidential Palace on Thursday,. "Wade is a coward to say that I Dansokho had sold plots of land in the zone of the airport and had a hand on the sum of 17 million Franc Cfa of the town of Kédougou of which I was the mayor', remarked Amath. He said Wade is a sweet talker. He said that Wade is fond of contradicting himself.
On his part, the candidate of the Coalition Alternative 2007, Moustapha Niasse said he is convinced that there are flaws in the election well before the day of the poll. The leader of the Alliance of the forces of progress (Afp) did not want to comment on the scores because as he put it, there are no matches because Abdoulaye Wade did not win the elections.
At a press conference on Friday March 2nd, at the head office of his coalition, Moustapha Niasse dismissed the Chinese passports scandal and the acquisition of his house, in response to the attacks of Abdoulaye Wade. He said the secretary general of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) have programmed victory two years ago; that a politician and natives of Keur Madiabel, Kaolack, mid-west of Senegal disclosed that people started voting from lists to which they did not have access.
By these mentioned practices he asked: "how can one face a leader who makes invectives, which seeks to make one dirty? I will not give him importance. I think of the young people whose votes were diverted", Said Niasse. Niasse added that 26 diplomatic passports were sold to the Jonas Savimbi's family.
Moustapha Niasse disclosed that Senegalese diplomatic passports were made available to the children of Jonas Savimbi, the late rebel leader f of Angola. He concluded that there are confidential documents supporting his claim.
On a malicious tone, he disclosed that the operation occurred in an almost clandestine way. The former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Senegal under the regime of Abdou Diouf, on the issue of the Chinese passports, said this was governed by a decree which exists since 1996.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 026/2007, 5-6 March, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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