That was well said Sister Jabou!

Credibility and praises must be due to Halifa and his party. We are sure
they are far from perfect, but well convienced that they are genuine and
mature politicians which our people had longed after for a long time.

I commend all the debators with their excellent,critical and interligent
points they had been raising to Halifa, it would definately not have been
posible to know certain things about Halifa and the PDOIS if those questions
were not raised. This has categorically widen the political horison of
Gambians, and even a change of attitude towards political agendas.
Politicians must be challnged, critcised,and condemed so that they can proof
their guenuity.

The formation of the PDOIS has opened new epoch in the political struggle of
the Gambia, which have been well demonstrated here- engaging people into
genuine debats to profound clarity and judgement. The programmes of PDOIS
advanced by these gentlemen, Halifa, Sedia and the others illumined a sign
of political consiouseness- The people have been given civic knowledge- a
militant banner which greatly inspired me. I personally think that this is a
historic proclamation anouncing the appearance of genuine, mature, educative
and political awareness in the Gambia.

Polotically, we can see that Halifa is an indomitable political figure, who
devoted his time and life to struggle for the welfare of the people of the
Gambia. We know the merciless repression potical history of the Gambia, and
how PDOIS demostrated under their existence- a patriotic informative
political idea, with tireless and even bitter experiences of real life in
the contemporary society of the Gambia, full of contradictions and ample
supply of economic, social and political problems.

Admittedly, we shoud be proud of PDIOS for making Gambia a soil where great
political thought nd onciousness is gradually sprouting out. Their
fundamenta priciples,  political will and lofty socialist virtues are
nurtured; it is the cradle of their political conciousness where the party's
glorous traditions struck roots and the foundation for the prosperity of the
Gambian people were laid, which we had seen they sticked to- that their
stance is original and fundamental. It is therefore justified with those
developments that Halifa have achieved great sucess in the political arena.
History will tell!!!

Halifa/PDOIS disseminated progressive ideas and enegetically conducted
organisational work to arous them to a vigorous political struggle, and
exerted great efforts to prepare them as potential present, and future
guenuine politicians. I therefore salut Halifa/PDOIS and all those who are
genuinely contributing to the development of our people.

Peace
Yahya.



>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah, PDOIS & Foroyaa
>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 00:47:05 EST
>
>Thank you Alpha Robinson.Mr Sallah will also have to excuse me for making
>him
>even more uncomfortable here, but you express my sentiments exactly( in
>your
>posting below)in a much more eloquent way than l would have been able to
>do.
>
>Familiaring myself with the work that Halifa and PDOIS have been engaged in
>all the while, has certainly been an eye opener that has renewed my hope in
>the future of our country. This, while those whose only contribution has
>been
>to rob our country and our people blind ,and feed an insatiable power
>hungriness pound their chests, and the cronies  of yet another generation
>of
>opportunists devise ever more deceitful ways to pull the wool over our
>eyes.
>
>However, this is the dawn of a new day in Gambian politics, a new day where
>people are more politically aware, and some of that credit has to go where
>it
>belongs. Namely to the people who have made it their business and their
>life's work not to be mesmerized by "cheap power", to be in touch with the
>common folk, teaching them that they matter, and that the taxes paid by the
>market seller who sells her "kani" on a piece of sack cloth, is equally as
>precious as those paid by the millionaire. That their  tax money, voices
>and
>their votes are needed otherwise there will be no government, and no money
>to
>spend on fancy cars that the politicians ride in with arrogance.That even
>the
>borrowed millions are to be paid by none other than the  sweat and blood of
>these common folk.That as their representatives, their government has the
>responsibility to address their  every need, and that it is these
>parameters
>that the people need to use to determine who has their interest at heart,
>and
>who does not. Mr sallah and PDOIS have and continue to do all the above, by
>working on the grassroots level, with the common people, and thereby know
>what ails them, and what their needs are, and went even further to devise
>some  solutions to  these problems even with the meager resources they have
>to work with.This is the mark of true leadership, and this is what we need.
>
>If anyone else wants to grab our attention, it will have to be with
>something
>equally substantial that we can sink our teeth into, and the arena is wide
>open.But please be forewarned, manipulation, trickery and attempts to
>discredit do not and cannot qualify as acceptable methods.  Let those who
>think that cunning, manipulation and the smearing of people's character is
>what will win them or those they support a position in the hall's of
>Gambian
>leadership think again.Gone are the days of  politicians operating on "the
>embicile factor" And just what is "the embicile factor"? It is when
>politicians and their supporters operate on the assumption that those whose
>votes they are seeking are stupid. Tell them anything,make up any stories,
>promise them anything until you get their vote, and then do as you please,
>because they are not sophisticated enough to know the idifference anyway,
>to
>think throught the issues and decide what is fact or fiction, what
>arguments
>hold water and which do not.
>
>Mr Sallah, the jury is out as far as l am concerned, and all l see is
>credibility, competence and an undying dedication to the betterment of our
>people and our country. As we say on the L, keep up the good work down
>there.Some of us are wide awake with our feet planted firmly on the ground,
>and those numbers are climbing at an alarming rate.Truth will never be the
>equal of fiction.
>
>Jabou Joh
>
>In a message dated 12/10/99 1:25:34 AM Central Standard Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< Brother Sallah,
>
>  After reading this mail of yours, I had to pause for a while and think.
>  I think I can feel the dilemma you are in. I must say that I personally
>  did not know that you were offered a ministerial post for a second time,
>  and I thought I am to some extent informed. likewise I had to discover
>  during your trial that PDOIS had challenged the P.P.P. Government before
>  an international court on election irregularities and won, without
>  making much noise about it or using it for political propaganda. These
>  are examples of your way of dealing with the urgent task; do what needs
>  to be done in the interest of the country without drumming on your chest
>  or trumpeting your greatness.
>
>  Honest human beings who know you will never doubt your integrity,
>  sincerity, straightforwardness and the great sacrifices you have made
>  your way of life. Sometimes, I feel that this world is not a place for
>  people who are honest and just. The dilemma you seem to be faced with
>  now is whether to continue doing the work of the people without blowing
>  your trumpet loud or to clear the way once and for all, thereby
>  inevitably trampling on certain people.
>
>  Halifa, whatever you decide, be rest assured that there are many
>  Gambians and non-Gambians who treasure your role in our history. Today,
>  tomorrow and the day after, there will be Gambians who will do
>  everything necessary to straighten the records. No one can throw sand
>  into our eyes any longer. No one can turn us against you. My personal
>  opinion at this very moment is to clear the way ONCE AND FOREVER in a
>  document which will be kept for anyone who comes up later with baseless
>  accusations to access, and ONLY after reading such a document come back
>  to challenge your stand before and after the coup. That way, you can
>  focus on the more important work of the people.
>
>  Let me conclude by saying that I know you will not be comfortable with
>  this kind of writing; I know you do not like to be praised, but allow me
>  once to state before this Forum that I count myself among those Gambians
>  you have always inspired to this very day. I had to get this out of my
>  chest. To be honest, I was preparing a more detailed piece to deal with
>  the rudeness, lack of respect and absolute lack of objectivity with
>  which some members on this Forum continue to try to castigate you. How
>  many of them are raising a finger to contribute to the enlightenment of
>  our ordinary people? How many of them are ready to drink brown water
>  from wells in the countryside to be in touch with our people? How many
>  of them are ready to put their lives on the hook to defend our
>  sovereignty and human rights, as you did in Jawara's time and after the
>  coup, when the iron was really hot?
>
>  Somehow, some people seem to think that by writing on Gambia-L the
>  Gambia can be changed overnight. Those who bother to look beyond their
>  noses will certainly know that the future of our country is primarily
>  determined by what is happening on the ground. And anyone who is honest
>  to accept simple truth knows that you could have easily found green
>  pasture in the big cities of industrialized nations like most of us. For
>  who in this Forum doubts your intellectual capacity? Maybe you would
>  have been treated differently if you had pursued academic interests
>  alone and become Professor, Dr. Halifa Sallah, riding black, shining
>  Mercedes Benzes, wearing silk neckties and talking through the nose with
>  arrogance, producing tons of academic "junk" which bears little
>  relevance to our deplorable situation.
>
>  May you be strengthened to continue doing the work of the people with
>  perfection and vigilance. Let me make it clear that everything written
>  here is my personal opinion. I satute you!
>
>  Alpha Robinson
>
>*******************************
>
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