Hi Rene,
A fair analysis. You have spoken the truth. Can you now contrast this to the cowardice shown by Allfoolsainey Darboe in 1996?
Muhammad Bai Drammeh Bin Alhagie Sheihu Muhammad Lamin Drammeh Bin Muhammad Kanday Drammeh bin Muhammad Kissima Drammeh bin Foday Drammeh
--- On Sat, 18/4/09, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?/Ginny
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Saturday, 18 April, 2009, 5:23 PM
LJDarbo,
I have deliberately tried not to comment on this issue, but I just cannot resist the temptation. I think what we have to acknowledge, is the fact that there are two distinct personalities in the person of Halifa Sallah. There is Halifa as an individual, and there is Halifa as a symbol; although the contrast can be less delineating.
I have the privilege of knowing Halifa, even before he entered into politics. The first time I came into personal contact with Halifa, was at a symposium at the Gambia High school, organized by students at the Sixth Form. At the time Sam Sarr was a teacher at the school, and was the coordinator for the event. Halifa Sallah was then an employee at the Social Welfare Department. I could fully well remember the topic for the symposium: Maintaining Moral Standards As A Youth. The Gambia High school auditorium was almost at full capacity. The Panelist for the Symposium were, if I remember correctly, a lady by the name Dr. Almeida, Mr James Abraham who was the principal at the Latrikunda Secondary school, Halifa Sallah from the Social Welfare, and a fourth person who I cannot recall now. Among the guest were Fisco Conateh and Saul Njie of the Radio Gambia at the time.
When it was time for questions and comments from the floor, I remember raising my hand up and making some unpleasant comments about the government. Halifa instinctively knew that I could be in trouble, and thereby set upon making the situation amenable. He rose up and addressed the issues I raised making them less contentious. Afterwards he told me: I will talk to you. This is how my relationship with Halifa started.
When Halifa left the Social Welfare Department, and before PDOIS was launched as a party, I used to visit Halifa at his home. One day he said to me: "you have been coming here often to see me. But I have to warn you. There might be secret agents posted everywhere to see who is coming to see me. You can still continue to come and see me if you so desire. But I just have to warn you." This is one of the characters of the man I come to know. Truthfulness. Halifa told me the truth about being watched by state security agents, and at my own peril if I continue to come and see him. Thereupon I stopped going to see him.
I could also remember another incident. It was the election in which PDOIS first contested as a political party, I believe. The venue was at the Serrekunda school. It was a polling station. At one point, the President of the Republic Sir Dawda Jawara, came at the polling station with a large entourage and under heavy guards. Halifa Sallah was walking alongside President Jawara, separated by few meters shouting at the top of his voice, that the people who were there to cast their votes should not be intimidated. The only escort he had was Adama Bah, another PDOIS member. Again another character of the man I come to know. Fearlessness. Driven by his own convictions, and having a stake in the evolution of the political process that PDOIS has started to impact, Halifa had no qualms in confronting the most powerful man in the country: the President.
Therefore, it doesn't surprise me a bit that Halifa has become the center of this contentious debate, which as a matter of fact, is a prelude to the kind of Gambia that would be evolving. It is going to be a battle of ideas; it is going to be a battle of principles and convictions as to who will, and what will shape the outcome of our future political deliberations. And to this end, Halifa is a symbol; he has articulated a vision that most Gambians found noble, inspiring and the dawn for a new era. It is only in Halifa's vision that Mandinka's, Jolas, Serers, Fulas, Manjagoes, christians, muslims, and indeed all facets of our diverse peoples and cultures could find common ground. And this is the future.
Rene
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