Political punditry from afar:

It is a reality to say that if elections were to be held today, more than likely the APRC would win. This is not to imply that elections gone by were free and fair, but with the unprepared ness of the opposition, the incumbency status of the ruling party, and even the doom and gloom of the economic situation will not tilt the election for the opposition. The question becomes, what needs to be done by the different political parties to get their house in order to become very competitive, and at the same time to have a major positive impact in bringing about an entrenched political system?

The major opposition party has suffered a set back, and as it is, it would take a miracle for UDP to win with Darboe at the helm. What is also a political reality, both UDP and what left of the PPP party has been engaged in a tango dance that might have given them some advantages, but the union is still seen as their commonality in their opposition to the APRC. Well, maybe it is time to make it a political reality, and revisit the strength of each party and make it one. In addition, by refocusing on each party’s weaknesses would help in charting a new beginning for the alliance. The PPP has always been Jawara’s party, the ex leader has become lot more of a political liability, and the demography of the political landscape has diminished any coattail from the ex-president. In fact most of the Gambian electorate today were not born to remember the hey days of the PPP. For OJ Jallow, a political stalwart that has gathered so much political capital cannot afford to squander it, and should use it to establish his own political direction. He is seen as the only person from the legacy of yesteryears politicians who has the courage to fight the status quo, rather than capitulate to the political realities of the day or to run away from it, including Jawara himself. It is time for OJ to allow Jawara to bury his own PP party, and assert himself to chart his own political direction.  This is where the big political move is, the UDP should bring in OJ Jallow as the new Secretary General of the new UDP Party and Darboe would step down as an Advisor. Clearly, Darboe is seen as someone without courage, or a belly of a real politician, and the recent accusation from Waa, and this was his only strength-credibility, whether true or not has seriously made him to be unelectable. Someone would question why not say OJ forms his own party? It will only muddy the political scene and postpone the inevitability of an alliance if they are to have any chance of winning the presidency. OJ is the answer to the challenges faced by the UDP: the lack of courage of the leader, issue of credibility, and the unfair labeling from some circles that UDP is a Madinka party that cannot stand to see a minority party at the helm. As for OJ he has to bring an end to that emotional nostalgia of the PPP hey days and his respect and admiration to the Old Pa, and assert his own political identity.

UDP has to make some total overhaul in order to remain competitive, and to be able to pose any chance of winning the Presidency. A new UDP party with OJ at the helm would bring the temporary tango dance to an end and would definitely incorporate their resources and support base on a permanent journey.

On the next political punditry from a far, I would attempt to illustrate what radical move is there for PDOIS to expand its support base and be seen as a party that can actually win elections and the presidency, and what would Isatou Njie Saidy leadership to the APRC, instead of Yaya would do to the APRC as we know it.

Thanks

Musa Jeng

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