Karamba, Haruna, and Momodou, thanks for the fruitful dialogue regarding
PDOIS' performance in Gambian politics.  Like Karamba and Haruna, I think
the Gambian electorate is so used to what's in it for me and have seen
folks, since independence get into politics, take what's not their's and
bait the very owners of the wealth with their money to stay on.  In their
minds the candidate has gotten what he wanted (being next to the national
pot) and the electorate has earned the privilege to show up in the
candidate's office or home at interval to get a share of the loot.  Thus the
patron-client relationship that forms the bedrock of our political
landscape.  In this process, the highest bidder always gets the vote.  When
PPP was at the helm, they were the highest bidders and thus were able to
stay on until Yaya ushered them out.  Now that the APRC is the highest
bidder, history repeats itself and the very auctioneers in the PPP era have
restructured and emerged as the new and improved auctioneers of the APRC.
Talking about selfless folks, Sidia even gave part of his meager salary to
his constituency, but as usual in our neighborhood, the highest bidder gets
the vote and he lost in his own constituency.  Jammeh showed them the money
and they readily took it.  To bring it closer to home right in the US.  In
May, hundreds of our country-folk turned up in D.C. for the ALD
celebrations.  It coincided with the presidential election year and we were
privileged to have the parties come to us to present their platforms.  How
many of us went to the symposium (Karamba can testify to this)?  If you
guess less than 75, you're dead on the money.  But how many were at the
parties and the soccer/BBQ? Hundreds.  In unhealthy appreciation for
immediate gratification, we chose the fun and easy stuff.  The political and
economic problems of the country being a process in itself, takes back seat
because we cannot stomach not reaping the benefits right now.  Unless we
wean ourselves of this insatiable and unhealthy appetite for the here and
now at any cost, we shall be slaves to Sadducees called corrupt politicians.
  Just observe the parliamentary elections and see us in action.  As I write
folks are in line to get a piece of the distributions from Yaya et al.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Mr Momodou Sedibeh/Commentary
>Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 04:34:34 +0000
>


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