Folks,
   
  Below is my resignation letter, I tendered about a week ago. This mail is  meant to set the records straight. The NADD leadership problem is also having its toll on the private press.  Please read on................
   
   
  Thanks you Mr.Ceesay, for your observations. I stood by the story,  we published about the NADD leadership crisis and was reported in good faith, without malice or ill will. Myself and Ebrima G Sakareh, investigated the piece and we have no cause to doubt the  reliability of our sources.  God willing, we will be vindicated by the test of time. The failure to  organise the much talked about Brikama, NADD flag bearer naming rally, is a substantial evidence to suggest that there is a leadership problem faced by the coalition.  The truth shall prevail at the end of the day. We harboured no grudges against NADD. 
   
  I appreciate your efforts to contact Sam Sarr to clear the air, but this does not in anyway  suggested that our story was erroneous. Politicians are free to give their side of the story on controversial issues of this nature, but  independent minded journalists will continue to raise questions about the delay on the side of NADD, to  name a flag bearer at this hour. We got our story on the nomination of OJ, from well placed NADD insiders and due to the ethics of the journalism profession, we cannot violate the right to protect sources. Journalists who takes the pride of naming their sources, often ran out of audience. We shall continue to protect our sources and will not hesitate to apologise to our readers, if  we erred in our daily reportage of events. 
   
   We worked as a team and as such if there are inaccuracies in our reportage of Gambian politics and beyond,  we should all bear the responsibility. It is a collective responsibility. You as the managing editor and proprietor of the paper reserves the right to vet stories prior to publication. You also reserves the right not to publish stories if you feel, that they might undermine the credibility of  The ALLGAMBIAN. Such decisions can be subjected to editorial meetings or correspondence just as you did today. 
   
  I remember fully well when you asked me to prepare a "MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE ALLGAMBIAN," which is today serving us as the guiding touch light for the paper. It will tantamount to betrayal  of trust, if I should at any given time, depart from the spirit of that mission statement I authored. I can also remember, when you asked me to be writing editorials for the paper and also to serve as Editor-in-Chief. I  clearly stated time and time to our readers that the said editorials were the opinion of the paper on burning issues of the day. That they were not news items, but the opinion of the paper. Newspapers all over world had their positions on issues. Readers reserve the right to agree or disagree on our editorials.  The idea basically is to enable our readers  to make informed decisions on issues we report. When I write editorials, I tried to address topical issues and cares less about who is affected. 
   
  We as a news medium, owe no obligation to any political party in The Gambia and should try to keep our journalistic distance from manipulative forces bent on undermining our project. These are people pretending to be fans of  THE ALLGAMBIAN, when in actual fact their objective is to divide us.  I do not want to name names at this hour, but a  so called journalist in the recent past tried to raise silly remarks about my editorials. I worked very hard for my unshakable credibility over the years and would not allow anybody to black mail me in the name of objective reporting.
   
  I'm equally concerned about the credibility of The AllGAMBIAN  and will not allow anybody to use this medium, which  we worked for tirelessly to sell its  image to Gambians and the outside world. You can bear me witness, for having turned down couple of unconfirmed stories filed by our Banjul Correspondent in the recent past. The said pieces could not be independently verified by sources on the ground and as such  if published was going to undermine the credibility of  the paper. My actions were geared towards safeguarding the paper's reputation. 
   
  In view of the recent developments,  I humbly ask you to identify somebody among our team or an outsider to be writing editorials for The ALLGAMBIAN. This decision of mine is made in good faith and for best interest of the paper. You can also  identify an Editor-in-chief , with immediate effect. This does not necessarily mean that, I'm withdrawing from The ALLGAMBIAN. I'm still part  and parcel of  The ALLGAMBIAN and will do everything in my means to help you realised your online endeavours. As stated earlier, my decision is personal and is geared for the common good. 
   
  We should move on and continue to work as a team. Our country is at cross roads and it is only the private media that can help to expose the atrocities perpetrated by the Jammeh, administration. The media, will fail Gambians, if it allowed  to be reduced as mouth piece for any interest group. We should report the news, irrespective of who is affected. We all have political affiliations, as human beings, but this should not  affect our job as journalists. 
   
  I have high regards for you, and will never doubt your commitment to the struggle. United we stand, divided we fall. Pa Nderry, will not be a party to black mailing schemes and will never hesitate to call it a day with your paper, if I feel that my journalistic principles and ethics are threatened. I have good intentions for The ALLGAMBIAN, which you rightly alluded to in your letter of enquiry. I must add that my resignation as Editor-in-chief of the paper and editorial column anchor man does not suggest that I'm no longer with this leading paper. I believe that, I can still positively contribute to the development of the paper, even in the absence of such responsibilities. I love my country and will team up with genuine progressive forces committed to the true ideals of the journalism ethics. My commitment for the paper, is more stronger today than ever before. 
   
  I regret for any inconvenience this decision might caused to our readers and fellow editorial members. I just feel like taking a back seat for now. I thank you all for the support and encouragement  given to me during my association with the paper.It was not an easy decision to call it quits, but I'm still loyal and committed to supporting my brother and colleague Bubacarr Ceesay to realise his dream for The Gambia. 
   
  Regards
   
  Pa Nderry M'Bai
   
   
  

Bubacarr Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  Mr. M'bai:

You're doing a good job providing valuable service to our readership on
issues affecting their daily lives. I thank you and still respect you for
that. I will remind you of the day when i first delegate you to write
editorials for this medium. The editorial column is meant to serve as the
mouthpiece for all members of allgambian, not and individual or outside
groups. I hope this will help you understand where i am coming from.

Following the events that have caused so much alarm about the piece on
NADD nominations, I have taken it upon myself as the manager of the medium
to verify facts. I talked to uncle Sam Sarr of Foroyaa yesterday about the
said happenings and quite frankly i was shocked to learned that your
reportage was in
stark contrast to the explanation i received. My findings are now posted
on the site for your review. The Nadd leadership is open to the press and
there are no obstacles as to why we would be denied first hand
information. It is our responsibility to verify information received from
sources before posting articles that have the potential to stain our
credibility as a reliable media outlet.

In this regard, i want to categorically make it clear that we cannot allow
interest groups with agendas to fight their egoistic battles using the
cover of this medium. This is not what allgambian is about and cannot be
turned into such. I harbor nothing against any politicians or political
groups; our goal in this effort is to see a meaningful change for the
Gambia. I have equal respect for all Nadd leaders and ready to support
whoever's the peoples' chosen leader. I have personally criticized Nadd
members in the past and will do so whenever i have justifiable grounds to
do so. This i hope should be true of all of us.

I am requesting explanation or back up of your facts and naming of
credible sources on the said happenings within the NADD as a burden of
proof. If this cannot be done, then i have no alternative but to drop this
piece and any subsequent as an allgambian editorial. If you so desire
otherwise, you are entitled to your opinion and the opinion page is for
that purpose.

If you do realize that your reportage was in error, it would be worthwhile
to come up with a correction to rectify the situation. I believe this will
the right decision to maintain the confidence and trust of the readership.

Thank you for your attention.

Buba


panderry mbai said:
> EDITORIAL
>
> The NADD leadership crisis is getting out of hand. It appears that the
> dust surrounding the leadership impasse is far from settling down.
> Recent news reports suggested that the coalition, will not go ahead with
> the much talked about Saturday, flag bearer naming political rally.
> These reports are not only a cause for concern, but also a betrayal of
> trust and confidence reposed on its leadership by The Gambian
> population.
>
> Our recent editorials and news reports on the NADD leadership,
> stalemate, was not well received by some strong NADD supporters, who
> went all out to call us names. We accepted the criticisms in good faith
> and will never deter us from doing our job as required. It is wrong for
> anyone, to consider independent journalists, as supporters or
> sympathisers of the opposition. We support no political party and our
> independence as reporters will be jealously guarded. We shall remain
> objective and will report the news as we received it, irrespective of
> who is affected.
>
> The criticisms heaped on this author, by opposition supporters for
> merely reporting about NADD private meetings, is a positive report card
> for Pa Nderry. While the ruling APRC, perceived me as an opposition
> journalist, the opposition supporters are today crying foul for my
> reportage of their party activities. Interesting times. Most of the
> critics at some point in time, praised me for exposing the Jammeh
> dictatorship. But today, is a different story altogether. It is healthy
> to have dissenting opinions in any true democracy. But I must add that,
> journalists should refused to be used by any interest group to propagate
> its political objectives. We are not here to please any particular
> political party, but to report the truth. NADD is not immune from
> scrutiny and as such we cannot understand why our story on the NADD flag
> bearer nomination and editorials were blown out proportion. We love The
> Gambia, and will ensure that we make our leaders accountable to
> Gambians.
>
> With this latest developments, one is compelled to ask what type of
> Gambia, are we trying to create after the fall of Jammeh. If NADD
> supporters cannot withstand issues reported by the press on their
> leaders, what will happen if they come to power? We should avoid the
> repeat of the APRC, style of governance. We should be tolerant and allow
> the private press to do its job, if we are truly committed to the
> ideals of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and the freedom of
> the press. We should not be over carried by our emotions to make
> unsubstantiated statements. We are not the least move by such criticisms
> and will report about NADD if the need arises.
>
> People, have all rights to disagree with the issues we report. We are
> not saying that we should not be criticised. What we are saying here is
> that people, should not be economical with the truth. They will "see the
> moon and say no, this is the sun." It is evident that there is power
> struggle within the NADD leadership. It is also evident that UDP leader
> Ousainou Darboe, could not readily give his blessing to the nomination
> of Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ) as flag bearer for NADD. There is a problem
> at hand and our critics don't want us to admit this fact. That they
> wanted us to stay away from covering the NADD leadership selection
> process, until a definitive decision is reached. Journalists who worth
> their salt will never wait for the news, but will rather pursue it. We
> are not under the pay roll of any interest group and as such it is a
> mockery for anyone to dictate to us how we should do our job. We don't
> mind to be called names, but the truth will be reported.
>
> We are glad that sanity is gradually returning, as some of our critics,
> had admittedly stated that, we never invented or manufactured NADD'S
> leadership struggle. We want to praise such critics, for being brave
> enough to vindicate us at this hour. NADD'S failure will not be in the
> interest of Gambians and as such journalists are aware of the potential
> dangers of misinformation. We shall ensure that anything reported about
> NADD or the APRC will be in the best interest of the country and her
> people. Now is the time for Gambians, including the press to develop
> interest as to who will steer the affairs of NADD. People should air
> their opinions on those vying for the NADD flag bearer seat. Such
> opinions will help to guide NADD, in its flag bearer selection process.
> We should not allow the NADD executive to steal the show. We all have a
> stake on the democratic process. Our readers should tell us how they
> feel about Ousainou Darboe, OJ, Halifa, Hamat and Waa. Our country
> should be
> entrusted to people with vision and not power greedy politicians. In
> that, we are not suggesting in any way that those mentioned above are not
> competent to run The Gambia.
>
> Coming back to the NADD leadership stand off, we are calling on
> Ousainou Darboe, to tell his supporters to be tolerant and accept the
> majority decision. If the NADD'S MOU is to go by, then NADD is a
> transitional government in the making. We still cannot figure out any
> sense on the said leadership tussle. Darboe, should have been the first
> person to champion the need for coalition officials to accept whoever
> is selected as flag bearer. He had tried on two consecutive terms and
> couldn't win the Presidency. True, those elections were stolen by
> Jammeh, but the reality is that Darboe, should not allow everybody to
> spit at him. The talk going around in town is that Darboe, want to be
> "Mansa" and as such will not hesitate to call it a day with anybody
> trying to block his Presidential aspiration. Unless Darboe, himself
> clears the air people will continue talk.
>
> To do justice to his country and NADD, he should put aside his
> Presidential ambition for now and allow a fresh "Johnny just come" to
> lead NADD. Darboe, could be of great help to NADD, in view of his
> wealth of political experience. He was one of those, who engaged the
> former junta led by Jammeh. Power is sweet, but we all cannot be
> leaders. I'm sure my statement will not be well received by Darboe's
> fans, but I'm entitled to my political opinion as a Gambian. I have high
> respect for Darboe, but this statement is not malicious in anyway.
> Darboe, can run for the Presidency, after the rectification process,
> initiated by the proposed NADD government.
>
> While, NADD is engulfed by the leadership issue, we humbly suggested as
> a last resort, to nominate a non executive member, as a flag bearer, in
> the event the UDP, refuses to recognise OJ. It will not earn Darboe or
> any opposition leader to part with NADD at this hour. Greed should be
> set aside for now and rescue Gambians from Jammeh's tyranny. We rest our
> case.
>
> The author is the former Secretary General of The Gambia press Union and
> also a former Voice of America radio Banjul Correspondent. Mr. M'Bai who
> now resides in the US State of North Carolina Raleigh was a leading
> political and crime reporter with the Point and Daily Observer
> newspapers respectively. He can be reached by email at the following
> addresses: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] or
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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