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Nadd hits back at FJC
By Ebrima Jaw Manneh
Jan 27, 2005, 08:37

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Halifa Sallah, coordinator of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (Nadd), has rejected claims by Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay in a recent Observer interview that Nadd’s MOU was a ‘carbon copy’ of the APRC 1996/2001 manifesto.

Speaking in reaction to Jahumpa’s claims shortly after his return from South Africa, the National Assembly minority leader said: “I expected a more seasoned approach by any spokesperson of the APRC in dealing with the MOU of the alliance. Fatoumata’s first error was that she confused MOU with a manifesto. A technical committee has been setup to work on Nadd’s manifesto.

Our first allegation is that the President has personalised power, and established a foundation for a self-perpetuating rule. In the contrast, we assert that the presidential candidate for the alliance will be in office for just five years. Subsequently, a two term limit for a president to occupy office will be constitutionally established. This is not in the manifesto of the APRC. Despite the demonstrated incapacity of the APRC regime to reduce poverty, it still aims to stay in office beyond 2020.”

Halifa also said that 69 per cent of the Gambian populace were poor, and that poverty was on the rise. He said FJC could not counter Nadd’s argument. “Instead, she confirmed our allegation by asserting that they are not thinking about the 2006 election, but that of the 2011. This shows that FJC is out of touch with realities of the African continent. Jammeh will be a pariah on the African continent if we were to wish him to stay in power for 22 years. In present day Africa, two term limit is being established as a standard to check the monarchical mind-set of dictators,” he added.

The Serrekunda Central NAM disclosed that Nadd’s MOU indicted Jammeh for militarisation of the administration of the country by calling for one operational code after the other. “Can you believe, since Jammeh took power, no auditor general report assessing the statement of account of the APRC regime has ever been provided to any agency before the birth of the National Assembly and after it came into being in 1997. Instead of making the institution designed to prevent mismanagement, or make those culpable to pay, he gives the impression that he is the institution that should ensure accountability,’’ Halifa said.

Corruption
Recalling that it was pointed out to the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs that in 2003, D26.6 million was taken from the national coffers to settle outstanding debts without authority, Hon Sallah said: “In 2004, D20 million was taken from the national coffers, and in 2005 another D20 million was taken without authority. All this monies were utilised to cover-up unauthorised expenditure. If the auditing system was working, such lapses in financial discipline would not have happened. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Nadd MOU calls for the functioning of institutions and not the militarisation of the administration under the commander-in-chief.’’

Constitution
Sallah alleged that the APRC regime has been violating the constitution of the republic, and it has subjected it to editing to weaken the devolution of power to the local authorities, such as the abrogation of the chieftaincy, and alkaloship elections. “These powers have been usurped by the President and the secretary of state for local government and lands. The regime has amended the provision for the second round of voting, and even made an attempt to eliminate the permanent structure of the IEC. This failed because of the difficulty they would face in a referendum. In fact the alliance should be commended for affirming its commitment to the democratic provisions of the constitution, and its promise to restore those provisions, which have been amended,” he added.

Freedom of expression
According to the Nadd coordinator, the MOU also accused the APRC regime for its “total lack of commitment to the freedom of expression by silencing Citizen FM, and enacting draconian laws which imposed not less than six month sentence without the option of fine on journalists. The alliance promises to abrogate all these provisions, and commits itself to come up with freedom of information and laws that would bar any censorship.”
Nadd’s presidential candidate
Turning to speculations that Nadd wanted to select a female candidate to contest against President Jammeh in the 2006 elections, Hon Sallah said: “There is no need for speculation where Nadd MOU made it clear that the selection of the candidate of the alliance shall be done by a consensus. And in the event of an impasse, primaries shall be held on the basis of equal members of delegates per party.”

He said the selection of a candidate had not arisen yet. “We are more concerned with the structure and principles of the alliance. We have established a solid foundation, which will make it easy for us to make decision on all fundamental issues. What is more important is to go across the length and breadth of the country to explain to the people what Nadd stands for. Once the people accept Nadd, the executive committee will make their mature judgement to select the best candidate who has the possibility of winning the election and remain faithful to the alliance. The candidate could come from anywhere, as long as the constitutional provisions are adhered to. It is not fair to be mentioning peoples’ name. There is no room for speculations,” he asserted.

Time
Asked whether Nadd was not behind time in the build up to the 2006 Presidential elections, Hon Sallah replied: “We are going to build branches in all the administrative areas of the country as soon as possible. The technical committee is working on all these things. Branches will also be built in constituencies and villages. I am sure within the coming weeks; more will be heard about the alliance.”

Tribalism
On FJC’s allegations that tribal differences will disintegrate Nadd, the NA minority leader said: “In psychology, there is what is called fixation. That is when it’s difficult for an adult to get rid of childhood habits. FJC is suffering from political fixation. Those type of politicians are used to attacking parties and individuals of tribalism and would prefer to continue doing so.

“However, Article 3, paragraph J of the MOU states that the alliance will establish a code of conduct that would put an end to politics of slander, character assassination, patronage and intimidation. This will be replaced with politics based on enlightenment, principles, policies and programmes.”

Ideological differences
Countering Omar Baru Camara, NAM for Kantora on Nadd’s ideological differences, Halifa contended: “Not a single party within the alliance has sacrificed its principles. The viability of the alliance emanated from our rigorous search for the lowest common multiple of principles as in mathematics, and on the smallest indivisible principles as in physics, that all could subscribe and rely on as the basis of the alliance.”

Reaction
Contacted for comments, Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, nominated member of the NA and executive member of the APRC said: “It is not correct that I confused a MOU with a manifesto. I said the opposition alliance was going to draw their manifesto based on the content of their MOU, which had been already provided by the APRC since 1996. This shows that they have nothing new in their MOU. And the trend we are seeing is that one party’s ideology is dominating the activities of the alliance. This party has been here since the first republic.

“We do not deal with individuals in our political dispensation. The simple thing Gambians understand is development, democracy and progress. All these are being provided by the APRC. And I want to maintain that the 2006 presidential election is a forgone conclusion. We are thinking of the framework for the 2011 elections.”
FJC concluded by saying that politics of pettiness was not APRC’s agenda, but rather, politics of development.

© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company

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