Folks,
We must now accept the fact that the differences between NADD and The Alliance for Regime Change (ARC) are real. Unless we do so we may never be able to identify the issues involved with a view to addressing them. By sponsoring a candidate in only Serrekunda Central out of all the constituencies in which NADD is directly contesting, The UDP is making a clear political statement. For whichever project one adheres to ( be it the one for system change or the one for regime change), there is a monumental political problem. This emanates from the fact that non of these projects can be put in place while the current debacle in the opposition rages. By virtue of the sizes of their followings, NADD and The ARC control the vast majority of opposition votes in The Gambia. They can only stand by being united and will surely fall by being divided!
We must move on! It is obvious that unity between the two coalitions is imperative for dictator Jammeh's removal from power. Thus we must work towards attaining that unity by all viable means possible.
Omar Joof.
----------------------------------------
> Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:41:10 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fwd: WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE? UDP candidate in Serrekunda Central
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
> Is it quality enhancement or quality elimination?
> I cannot really fathom the reason that must have motivated the United
> Democratic Party (UDP) to put up a candidate to contest the Serrekunda Central
> National Assembly seat. However, before I proceed, let me state that I
> acknowledge the inalienable right of any individual who wishes and satisfies all the
> constitutional requirements of nationality, age, residency, voter eligibility,
> etc., to vie for this office of representation, more so, a registered
> political party to sponsor a candidate. My concern, therefore, is in no way
> negating this right. It does not preclude the right of the UDP to put up a candidate
> in any constituency. It is only trying to find a solution to the puzzle as
> posed in the questions that captioned this article.
> As the country was emerging from a presidential election that was
> characterised by widespread voter apathy and again bracing itself for a looming
> National Assembly elections impregnated with uncertainties, the NADD presidential
> contestant and minority leader, Halifa Sallah, announced his party’s resolve to
> employ a tactical alliance with other opposition parties and independent
> aspirants. The objective, as he said, was to ensure a Non-APRC majority in the
> National Assembly. This would have allowed the combined opposition and
> independents to agree on sponsoring and supporting only one candidate against the
> APRC in every constituency based on the assessed competence, charisma and
> optimal chances of the person or the party. The NADD further cited examples that
> in such a scenario they would ensure that the constituencies of Kemeseng
> Jammeh, Hamat Bah, Dembo Bojang, to name a few, would not be rivaled by the
> opposition considering the non-rubberstamp role these people will be expected to
> play in the National Assembly when elected.
> This move was very much welcomed with enthusiasm and optimism by all those
> who care to see democracy and rule of law prevail in The Gambia. These include
> both the opposition and the APRC supporters, as well as concerned
> non-nationals who all believe that a critical National Assembly is what will make the
> country move forward by putting a check to the excesses in governance and
> which cannot be done by an APRC dominated rubber-stamp legislature. A critical
> non-APRC majority in the Assembly augurs well for democracy and good governance.
> For the rational opposition, the voters have already made the big mistake by
> electing President Jammeh for another five years of misrule, mismanagement
> and impunity. However, the conviction is that the absolutism and excesses of
> the APRC regime can be put to a leash when the voters elect people who are
> critical and resolved to make the National Assembly an effective and robust
> oversight institution as prescribed by the constitution of the second republic.
> Hence the interest and support for the opposition to be one block this time
> round. As for these APRC supporters they believe in the separation of powers.
> They are happy that President Jammeh has been re-elected. However, they would
> want him to deliver and which they believe can only materialize when there
> exist a strong Assembly of non-praise singing, non-flattering and non-self
> seeking deputies who will guide the executive to serve the people. For these
> people, they are ready to support any candidate who is more credible than the
> APRC one in order to serve this purpose.
> Why then did the UDP and NRP not reciprocate by declaring the constituencies
> of the likes of Halifa Sallah, Sidia Jatta, etc. non-contestable for their
> parties, given the well pronounced caliber and quality of representation of
> these NAMs in the National Assembly? Although the UDP has not put up candidates
> in the constituencies of Sidia Jatta and two other NADD candidates. Whether
> what was responsible for this has been the inability to scout a candidate or
> considerations based on sentiments is left for the reader to conjecture.
> Anyway, I have gathered from sources, earlier on, that scouting was being done by
> them, but as to whether it bored nought, I don’t know. The question still
> remains; Why Serrekunda Central? What is the motive of the UDP in contesting
> this particular seat given the important role that Halifa is playing in the
> Assembly? Is there candidate more competent? Can that UDP win the seat? Is the
> mission’ UDP cannot win but Halifa will not be allowed to win either’? Can
> this move be claimed as good faith? All these are questions that beg for honest
> answers.
> Notwithstanding, I believe the UDP should not have contested the Serrekunda
> Central seat and should have embraced the NADD’s call and engage in a
> tactical alliance. This would have paid more dividend for them both in terms of
> credibility and chances of winning seats. I think the Presidential election
> should have been a lesson for them. For them to still harbour the illusion that
> they can succeed by going it alone, especially given the present political
> context in The Gambia, is self-deluding. The 2006 Presidential election is a case
> in point. Where is the ‘majority’ that was bandied about by the UDP that
> made them to pull out of the NADD conglomerate with the illusion that they will
> win the election without the others. This is the ‘majority’ that one of my
> sisters often refers to as “majority ming mang nafa soto” or “majority bu
> amul barkeh”, meaning a so called strength that is not potent or lacks blessing.
> The 2006 presidential poll is now history and what is left is to draw the
> necessary lessons for the future. As for me, the NADD political project was the
> best arrangement that suited our circumstances, as it was designed to herald
> in a new order that will establish a truly democratic space for everyone. It
> would have gone to enable every Gambian to be recognised or sanctified as
> sovereign. Unfortunately, the prospects for the attainment of these lofty and
> necessary goals were aborted mid-way by the clash of two differing and opposing
> desires. It later became very clear that two strains constituted the NADD
> leadership. One group was interested and committed to the cause of removing the
> APRC regime and replacing it with a democratic dispensation where the
> empowerment of the people, the rule of law, constitutionality, economic, political
> and a predictably stable and social accountability order is in place or
> prevail. The other group was only interested in a change of regime where the
> status quo will be maintained with absolute power vested in a privileged
> executive which is sustained by a non-politically enlightened, divided and
> dis-empowered electorate. Hence it was the existence of and struggle between these two
> irreconcilable interests that led to the eventual break-up of NADD which
> shattered many peoples hopes for a new and democratic Gambia to be midwived by a
> United Opposition Front.
> The repercussions were: widespread voter apathy, President Jammeh re-elected
> with a narrow escape, the two opposition presidential candidates from the
> socalled ‘majority’ and socalled ‘minority’ parties both losing the election.
> Infact, when one reviews the results with circumspection, one will not fail
> to discover that President Jammeh is far from being popular and has just
> narrowly escaped due to the opposition disunity which led to the large-scale
> voter apathy. Again, the number of registered voters who did not vote are more
> than those who cast their votes for Jammeh. Can one call this popularity?
> Indeed, it is even the UDP that emerged to be the sole loser because of its
> shrinking ‘fortunes’ or support in terms of votes. The UDP lost nearly 30% of its
> votes whilst the combined UDP/NRP 40%. This is how much the disunity costs
> the UDP/NRP.
> Now, whether this will be repeated is left to the electorate. However what
> is certain is that a critical National Assembly is very crucial in ensuring
> that The Gambia continues to exist as a fledging democracy. This however cannot
> be realized if the voters allow the APRC to again command a majority in the
> Assembly. Again quoting my sister’s words of wisdom “Don’t give the person
> the meat and also the knife, lest he cut a pound of flesh from a part of your
> body that will send you straight to your grave.” Since President Jammeh is
> mandated to serve for 5 years, a critical National Assembly composed of
> competent, dignified, selfless and determined members should also be elected to
> serve as an efficient oversight institution to prevent excesses, misrule impunity
> and mismanagement by the executive.
>
> Long Live The Gambian People
> Long Live Democracy
> Long Live The Gambia
> O. S
> A Concern Citizen
>
>
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