BY INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
   
  The conspicuous absence of the UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, at the NADD flag bearer meeting Wednesday is a cause for concern. Darboe, did not show up at the meeting, but decided to delicate two of his party officials, Yaya Jallow and Kemesseng Jammeh. A man harbouring Presidential ambition, missing such a meeting is just pathetic. To say that his party officials deputised him is not just enough. What does this latest developments suggested?  Will Darboe and his party  help us with answers, for God sake?  
   
  We do know that he is a lawyer by profession and as such is busy handling high profile cases, but should attend meetings of this nature, if he is truly committed to NADD'S MOU. We can only excuse him,  if he was not medically fit to attend or was bereaved at the time of the meeting. But in the absence of the two mentioned reasons, we will not buy any arguments  advanced by his camp. 
   
  While many observers viewed Darboe's failure to attend such a meeting,as a contempt to the NADD leadership, some argued that the politician is lacking faith in the whole leadership selection process. "Boycotting the meeting completely, will send a negative signal to the NADD supporters. The move to send in two UDP officials at the meeting will allay well founded fears within and outside the country that the UDP is going to part with the coalition. Darboe's absence is indeed worrying. We hope he had valid reasons to justify such a move."said a political commentator.
   
  We have no bone to pick with Darboe, but the reality is that he should attend such an important meeting. Such actions on the side of Darboe, do not tell well for a man seeking to be a President of The Gambia. Yes, Yahya Jallow and Kemesseng are big  guns  in the UDP leadership, but none of these people have expressed interest in leading NADD. Yes, they can argue and represent Ousainou on political forums, but not an important meeting of this nature. Darboe, had objected to OJ's nomination by Dullo Bah, of the NRP. What would happen if OJ, Halifa or Waa turn around and objected to the decision taken by either Jallow or Kemesseng on the basis that they are lesser officials? We are really disturbed by these developments. 
   
  Is Darboe telling us that he cannot sit an eye with his colleagues, following the leadership crisis? Is there any acrimonious relationship we are not aware of? What is going on? We are just being curious. It will be of great importance on the side of the UDP leader,  if  he offered us with  reasons for  his absence at the meeting. Some will condemn us for raising this issue, but it is our duty to be interested about the life of our leaders. Knowing how Darboe is committed to political process, we cannot just understand what compelled him not to show up at the meeting in person. We challenge Darboe and his allies to give us convincing reasons to allay further speculations on the full blown NADD leadership crisis.
   
  It should be the business of every Gambian to ensure that "would be future leaders" take national matters seriously. Our leaders should put national interest ahead of personal interest and must be tolerant to divergent views. The press writing about Darboe, does not suggest that we harboured grudges against him. Darboe, should be happy to see the press commenting on his life. It is healthy to nurture vibrant press in a country like The Gambia. Journalists should not hate to offend people, because they reported the truth about their political career  or social life. We must take our leaders to task, if we feel that they are not meeting the expectations of their people.
   
  This is not the time for Darboe to delicate his colleagues to represent him in such meetings. Darboe is a major stakeholder and his absence should not be taken lightly. We hope and pray that the NADD six man technical committee will come up with a decision that will be in the best interest of NADD and the country. Darboe, missing such a meeting speak volumes about the type of politician he is. How can such a person be entrusted with the affairs of the state? I'm just left wondering.
   
  We talked to well placed sources in the NADD leadership, but they intimated that there was no word given  for Darboe's absence. This is not a good sign for NADD. Darboe, should tell us the reason  behind his move. We learnt that the six man technical committed had been  tasked with the responsibility of profiling candidates. We hope and pray that they will do justice to Gambians to expose the shortcomings of Presidential aspirants. Darboe's move is just unacceptable to say the least. 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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