PANORAMA with 'Bulfaaleh'-Sympathy votes,threats,10 years of APRC-no need for Jubilation.
  Never open your doors to defeatism! 
  Factors causing the shocking outcome! 
  Those of us on the ground know what caused the shocking outcome. There is no cause for alarm neither should the opposition reduce its zeal. No one should open his or her doors to defeatism. This is not wishful thinking from us here it is reality. We will be addressing every factor in the most appropriate way.
   
  
  Bufaaleh gives his side of the story on the 
  by elections.!!!
  Sympathy votes... 
  Kebba Touray died only a few months ago...many of those he shared values and love with cannot simply ignore this after a short while. In this context we are not surprised that the APRC gathered votes in Pirang. Even if some people do not like Jammeh for cultural and traditional reasons they could simply not go against the APRC for the sake of honouring the late NAM Kebba Touray. Kebba was a businessman who had good relations with many people in that vicinity. He used to win the votes on his own the APRC did not make him win. The second cycle on the sympathy votes were geared towards fighting a war in favour of the former chief who was disgraced, jailed and then set free by the same President Jammeh.The people of Kombo East are educating President Jammeh i.e. for him to understand that they did not dislike the man he called a thief and then jailed him for bogus charges on corruption. This is disgraceful for Jammeh. This should also teach Jung a lesson. 
  Infact looking at the outcome it is not a good signal for the APRC. A former chief and a former seat all in favour of the APRC yet they had only a margin of 300 votes? This means if NADD's votes were added to those of UDP/NRP then APRC would have been lingering behind with 1000 votes below the winner! This is what disunity has caused for the opposition. They should think twice on this one. 
  This is why President Jammeh amended the constitution....the no-second round tester 
  This is not rocket science, it is simple logic. President Jammeh could have won with only one single vote if the Kombo East elections were national ones! Simple as that, this is why Jammeh hates seeing a united opposition in The Gambia. The day UDP,NRP,NADD and others come together. President Jammeh will invite Henry Gomez to join him and then he will resort to arresting the key opposition figures. 
  He knows that Henry means nothing when it comes to winning votes in the rural areas. The test match for Jammeh was not so good. An insider told me today that President Jammeh is not all that comfortable with a margin of 300 votes. Kebba Touray if he was alive could have had more votes. This is not all that good for Jammeh when one thinks about another election to come. The opposition does not have much to lose by coming together. They should do so this second. The winning card is in their palms. Let them do away with pride and cynicism. There is no time for endless theories let them be practical and join hands. 
  10 Years of APRC and disunity amongst the opponents... 
  No one should see this as a defeat for the opposition. This is an out come of disunity simple as that. If NADD.UDP/NRP were together there is no way that the APRC could have won. This is a disgrace instead. It is a disgrace for both sides. The opposition leaders should be ashamed of themselves for failing to swallow their pride and unite against a ruthless African dictator. The APRC should also be ashamed of itself for winning by a margin of 300 votes after being on that seat from 1996 to now. 10 good years! Why are they jubilating in the first place? 300 votes can come from two Kabilos.So they are nearing the end. 
  Ramifications of the March Coup, fear captivates the voters. 
  This has been a difficult period for Gambian families and for every one of us here. Families are defending loved ones from President Jammeh's wrath by trying to show loyalty to the man. Prior to the election day security forces were armed to their teeth, then deployed to various polling stations at night. That was a threat to those illiterates. Who dares vote against President Jammeh a month after a coup d'etat? I met a voter who said this..." If the President is going to be here for 30 years then I will not waste my time following the opposition..." Jammeh's 10000 man march was meant to set the stage before the elections. People are equating voting against Jammeh to being part of the coup. There are opposition strong holds that feared for their lives. They voted for APRC not because they love them but they fear. The same trend may continue during the presidential elections. International observers and foreign diplomats are invited to help us. It is already instilled in
 the minds of Gambians that Jammeh means what he said i.e. he is going to be there for 30 years! 
  Two soft spots for the APRC-FARABABANTA and PIRANG. 
  Farababanta is a porous place for Casamance voters. This is a place where it is so easy for Casamance voters to come in and help Jammeh get the margin he may need to lead. In The Gambia today one single vote is enough to send this shameless President back to the state house. 
  In Pirang the APRC did not need to use any extra energy because the votes were meant to mourn a dead family member. No one in Pirang who has been there long enough would have voted against the ghost of Kebba Touray. This means the opposition cannot disregard the essence of unity in this case. 
  There are 2 options here. NADD joins Darboe or Darboe and Bah join NADD once again. Waa Juwara should also stop attacking Darboe in a harsh way. It does not help the situation at all. Waa should stop the personal attacks against Darboe. This can help bring them together against President Jammeh. 
  Darboe also has to stop thinking that he is a ready made leader. These are matured politicians who should not allow these shallow minds disunite them. The opposition has the winning cards in their hands, they should not miss the opportunity. The opportunity is no where else other than in them uniting period. 
   
    
Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 (Archive on Tuesday, May 30, 2006)
Posted by PANDERRYMBAI  Contributed by PANDERRYMBAI
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          Current Rating:  4.25                        Rating:   4    Darboe and Halifa should toss the coin, Who ever wins steps aside. It's that easy to defeat Jammeh            Rating:   5    Darboe is Yaya's best ally!!             Rating:   3    The fact has to be said. Darboe's policy of IT'S ME OR WE ALL LOOSE is the problem. This loss is an eye opener for him.            Rating:   5    
             

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