Dibba Strikes Alliance Deal With Jammeh, Tipped As Next "Speaker Or Vp"


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The Independent (Banjul)
December 14, 2001  
Posted to the web December 20, 2001  
Darboe
Banjul, the Gambia  
In a move which could pass off as the natural sequel to their meeting last month, Sheriff Dibba, the leader of the National Convention Party met President Yahya Jammeh at State House Friday December 15 to strike an "alliance deal" between the NCP and the ruling APRC.
Mr. Dibba who visited State House in the company of NCP bigwigs including Ebrima Janko Sanyang, a former parliamentarian for Foni Bintang Karanai, Gibou Jagne and Badara Sidibeh allegedly unveiled his plans to join forces with the ruling party in the coming National Assembly election slated for January 17, 2002.
Reliable sources told The Independent that part of the deal is for Sheriff Dibba to become the next Speaker of the National Assembly in place of M.B Wadda who would be retiring soon. However, other sources also intimated that Dibba might be appointed as the country's next vice president as speculations abound that vice-president Isatou Njie-Saidy was planning a voluntary retirement.
Last month Dibba met with the president and spoke of the possibility of coalescing with any party including the APRC. Before what many of his supporters believe is his change of heart over his political conviction, Dibba a veteran Gambian politician had been scathingly critical of Jammeh whom he accused of destroying democracy and instilling a culture of fear and intimidation among Gambians. In the run-up to the October 18 poll he was also quoted as describing Jammeh's administration as a military government, which has committed unpardonable blunders such as banning some politicians of the old order, which included him. He was also critical of the arrests of citizens without any cause, and the mismanagement of the economy, which he blamed for a run-away inflation, and the fall in the value of the Dalasi.
Up to press time, the executive of the NCP could not be reached for more details on the meeting between Dibba and Jammeh. The party's chieftains were said to be indisposed as they held what was described as a crucial meeting at Dibba's residence in Banjul over the weekend.Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

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