For the first time the opposition has taken the bold step, to restore what
they believe to have been broken. Two thumbs up! The London organisers a job
well done. Again, an opportunity has presented itself. The question becomes
of how well utilised this opportunity will be?

From the history of the Gambian political life, the opposition quits where
and when they are needed the most. The big players in the last Government
all quitted as soon as decree 89 surfaced and stayed mute for years as if
they, themselves ceased to exist. It was only PDOIS and the occasional
interviews in the papers of OJ that, reminded us of the former political big
wigs. Of course, Waa Juwara, has been a strong muscle.

The surfacing of Sheriff Dibba and Assan Musa Camara et al from their long
political slumber may help or hurt the opposition the more. Here's my view;
Do they have the political support as they enjoyed before? if they do, will
that be enough to win the Presidency? Or make a significant impact? The
chances are slim. They will only consolidate the APRC grip to the political
mantle. Here's why: The opposition base is small, and this minute support if
fragmented among these numerous persons will not yield any positive result.
On the other hand, quite a significant impact can be made, if all these
former politicians organise themselves into one giant political movement,
galvanising their political heavyweights together. This will be their
toughest battle yet. I can visualise the struggle of whose leadership it is
going to be under.

This is to get the debate going. Once again, congrats Londoners!
Harona.



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