Comrade,

Thanks for sharing your viewpoints on the flag bearer discussion. There are
indeed varying opinions among Gambians as to who should lead NADD and it
seems the exercise of selecting the most suitable candidate is being stymied
by 'politricks' within NADD itself and the 'independent minded journalism'
of which we have seen an eccentric brand of lately, is not helping the
issue; thus making  even more urgent the need for all of us to speak our
minds.

From an ideological point of view, the ideal flag bearer should emerge from
PDOIS, the reason fro which I'll come back to later. Having said that, I'd
like to add that the most media exposed personality among the PDOIS
leadership, at least among 'intellectual' circles, is by far, Halifa Sallah.
(Just before setting out to write this message I saw yours requesting info
on who penned the MOU).

I am in no doubt that you are quite aware of PDOIS' style of collective
leadership as opposed to the one 'leader' syndrome that we are accustomed
to, not only in The Gambia but throughout the rest of the continent. In that
regard, it will be inconsequential -  if the flag bearer were to be selected
from PDOIS - whether it will be Halifa or Sidia. But from the point of view
of mass appeal (outside 'intellectual's circles), taking into consideration
the ethnic demography of the country, Sidia would be the most suitable in my
opinion. Both are what I would term 'detribalised' Gambian and woe betide
the tribalist that tries to influence these comrades with well documented
track records of selfless dedication to the upliftment of the masses.

Needless to say, the word 'masses' has a significant connotation in these
guys' political philosophy as anyone who has followed their political lives
cannot fail to have discerned. (Believe me, I am depressed at not being able
to trace Sidia's 'classic resignation letter' as you called it, as it would
have put into perspective much more eloquently the thinking behind the man).

For me personally, a very significant factor in the whole exercise hinges on
'trust' and it is particularly 'trust' that feeds my contention that
ideally, Sidia (Halifa/PDOIS) is our man. These guys have demonstrated
beyond any reasonable doubt that they are not interested in power just for
the sake of it and I can bet my life that given the opportunity he would
lead a transition government of reform, honouring and respecting in its
entirety the spirit of the MOU.

From the days when all of them, including Sam, were in government service
they have tirelessly sought more out of their careers than just a salary and
the glory of being well placed civil servant. In fact it is no accident of
history that these guys found each other with a shared political destiny,
two having been fired for supposedly clandestine subserversive activities,
the other tendering that classic resignation letter which every time I read
it, gave me goose-bumps!

The opening line, the vein of which was along the lines of how one morning
at the impressionable age of a school-beginner, his father called him into
his hut and told him he was going to send him (Sidia) to school and the
expectations he had for him to equip himself intellectually in order to
enable himself to handsomely contribute toward national development.... how
he eventually ended up at the education department after excelling in his
chosen field, only to be brutally awakened to the same
realisation/frustration that many progressive African intellectuals have
suffered - that the government of the day was not at all serious about
national development and therefore his time would be better spent somewhere
else doing something that can benefit the masses - goes far toward
demonstrating the principle and integrity. So PDOIS and the ideology that
bound and continues to bind them together is somehow a marriage of
romantics. The track records of both Sidia and Halifa in parliament continue
to bear testimony to the fact. They carry out their duties to the nation
with religious fervour.

So it is no accident either that Halifa, according to leaks from the
nomination negotiations, when nominated, declined whiles some other members
continue to hold the whole process hostage. Bearing in mind the essence of
coming into existence of NADD, one cannot help but wonder if they harbour
ulterior motives?

The whole idea of NADD came into existence so that Jammeh's
self-perpetuating rule could be ended, knowing full well that no single
party can on its own dislodge his despotic regime. The very act of this
deadlock in selecting a flag bearer is a demonstration of a lack of spirit
and is a dishonour to the MOU.

I do understand your reference to other coalitions that have taken place
elsewhere on the continent and there are many lessons to be learned from
them but ours, to me is a unique situation. When SOPI came into existence in
2000 for example, it was to fight a second round of voting which they saw as
their only chance of dislodging Joof. In the Gambian context, it is the
contrary, the coalition came into existence because Jammeh has mutilated the
constitution, forfeiting the possibility of a second round of voting.

Had NADD been formed after a deadlock in a first round of voting, the leader
of the most populous party  as the logical flag bearer would be a far gone
conclusion. UDP in my opinion, has been very lacklustre in the communication
sphere. One would have expected a party of its size and calibre to at least
have an organ of communication.

Does Darboe harbour any political ambitions beyond 2011, for example? If
word is not coming out of the party office on such significant questions it
is only natural that many are sceptical about him being selected flagbearer.
Would he honour the spirit of the MOU in the event he is selected? There is
little reference on Darboe for one to be able to make a comprehensive
assessment of his political philosophy aside from popular utterances he has
made from rally platforms.

His fallout with Waa and the subsequent birth of NDAM still leaves many
important questions unanswered and if I may add, some bad blood. Considering
the fact that when a flag bearer is eventually selected all hands are
expected on deck campaigning as if our lives depend on it - which in a way
it does - I would like to again reiterate that from my point of view Sidia
would make the best runner.

Your humble self, Buharry, as always, and Mo Baldeh, among others have
brought out some thought provoking aspects of the whole exercise and I hope
this necessary flow of exchange will continue into October and beyond.

Regards,

Kabir.

PS: In my search for Sidia resignation letter I stumbled upon a hand written
letter you sent to me in '86.  scan and forward it to you tomorrow, Allah
willing ! :-)






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Momodou Sidibeh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 13:07
Subject: Re: NADD or the Birth Throes of a Political Alliance


> Comrade Kabir and All,
>
> Though hard pressed at work, I felt I need to chip in some observations
> counter to your informed ones. I have no love for this  search for a
> "leader". Though quite necessary, infact, I think it is almost
> petty-bourgeios, a population's frantic groping after the most qualified
> individual capable of delivering us from damnation. Herein lies buried the
> root of the question "are there any guarantess...". It is a futile
business,
>
> this looking for a god, a god that will eventually fail.
>
> From inside NADD, Sidia Jatta, Sam Sarr, Halifa Sallah, are all quantities
I
>
> would bet my life for. (Kindly post here Sidia's classic resignation
letter
> from government sevice when you find it). But considering our wider
national
>
> political and voting history, whose choices for preseident will any
> of these gentlemen be?
>
> If the coalition is to remain a coalition and decides to choose a leader
> from within, capable of kicking out the junta, then Ousainou Darboe is the
> most obvious choice! He simply commands the largest following in the
> country; he polled the largest share of the opposition's vote in the last
> two elections - infact greater than the combined votes of the other
> presidential candidates. Infact for whatever Gambian reason should he step
> aside to allow someone else inside NADD to lead? Just why, never mind Pa
> Nderry Mbaye's pagan reasons about public pressure on him to do so? Which
> public?
>
> [True, Pa Nderry has every democratic right to report what he wants. But
> NADD is an ongoing process, and thus can suffer derailment if its
> deliberations are wired around the world even before reaching conclusions,
> for obvious reasons. But that is a NADD problem. They must simply shut
down
> Pa Nderry Mbaye's "unimpeachable source" from leaking on matters that are
> still being debated inside the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE!  Because he is
nowhere,
> Mr. Mbaye is practically everywhere].
>
> ALL over the place, the SOPI coalition in Senegal that ousted Joof in
2000,
> the NARC coalition in Kenya that kicked out KANU, the six-party coalition
> that failed to wrest inherited power from Faure Gnassimbe in Togo, it is
> always the leader of the largest party that leads! But NADD crafted a
> formula that allows equal representation (from its constituent parties) in
> its structures, to sort of equate that with the democratic content of
> subsequent decisions and choices it makes. How wise that is should be a
> matter for debate. In Senegal, more than twenty leftist parties (or
rallies,
>
> or movements) joined Wade's liberal PDS to effect the Joof ouster! Looking
> at it this way, it needs to be said that it is the other qualified
> candidates who need to rally around Darboe, inspite of all past
diferences.
>
> But the problem then becomes what the enemies of the coalition will do
about
>
> Darboe as flag-bearer. Buharry and others have so eloquently showed us the
> potential juridical risks. But are those risks compelling enough to
outweigh
>
> the other weighty risk of a weakened, unorganised and unprepared NADD
> without a Darboe flagbearership? I do not know. However, it is interesting
> to note that Dr. Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change in
Uganda
> is now dividing his time between appearing in court and campaigning.
> [Ugandans, unfortunately could not form a coalition against Museveni,
> another god that failed, now bent on re-authoriting the constitution to
> perpetuate his rule.
>
> Sister Jabou Joh's question about debunking the NADD agenda for the
exercise
>
> of personal power is important. How do we guarantee ourselves against such
a
>
> menacing possibility? A swift pick of flag-bearer must be immediately
> followed by mobilising all supporting parties to create an organisational
> body with structures that must promote and sensitise the entire population
> on the NADD objectives anad strategic goals. A programme of education in
> theory and practice that must continue even after the elections. The
> leadership qualities we have come to know from all NADD executive
committee
> members, progressive journalists, youth and gender organisations, all
> democratic forces including ourselves must get invovled in this
> democratisation process of the transition period before NADD
self-destructs.
>
> In other words NADD must simply get ORGANISED democratically around its
> agenda. We the people, when strongly organised can ensure that whoever is
> elected answers to our call. That is why the question of a flag-bearer, as
> important as it is, should not overshadow the even more important issue of
a
>
> robust organisation with concrete goals. That I think is the only possible
> guarantee.
>
> To end this, allow me to reiterate Bambalaye's call for patience. These
are
> historic times in our country. We have never been here before. That is why
> all progressive and democratic forces need to unify around NADD. It does
not
>
> mean that we should not debate rigorously. It means that we must exercise
> humility and tolerance for the views of others, with the hope of playing
at
> least an advisory role to those on the ground in Gambia. Naturally
> disagreeing on important matters is part of the process. But it is
possible
> to do that in a climate of civility. I think this is a reasonable way
> forward for those of us behind NADD.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Sidibeh
>
> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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