Pa Nderry, what is your agenda, these days?  Are you this irresponsible?  
Did NADD call a press conference and tell you that?  You continue this 
behavior and you risk being viewed a joke.  It's up to you.

Chi Jaama

Joe


>From: panderry mbai <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [>-<] WILL DARBOE ACCEPT OJ'S NOMINATION AS NADD FLAG BEARER? 
>Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 04:15:49 +0000 (GMT)
>
>                    [input]
>      EDITORIAL
>
>
>
>   Today, we reported about the NADD leadership nomination, which seemingly 
>gave PPP'S former agriculture Minister Omar Amdaou Jallow, the lead. OJ, as 
>he is widely called was supported by three opposition parties to serve as 
>NADD'S flag bearer. We received the said reports from credible sources and 
>nobody can make us doubt the reliability of these well placed sources. 
>Darboe, we learned had asked to be given time, to consult with his 
>colleagues at the UDP. It is not yet clear, whether  the UDP leader will 
>recognise the nomination of OJ or not. NADD is undergoing crucial moment 
>and its leadership, should set aside the issue of  love for power.
>
>   We do not want to pass judgements now, since Darboe, is yet to make up  
>his mind on OJ'S nomination. We must point out that any attempt on Darboe 
>or any member of the coalition to pull out at this hour from NADD, will 
>cost the opposition dearly. The issue of identifying a leader should not 
>have been a problem in the first place. We still cannot understand why NADD 
>could not deal with this matter in one day. There is something wrong 
>somewhere. The mere fact that Darboe, could not agree on the spot at the 
>nomination ground, suggested that his dream of being a flag bearer had 
>shattered. We expect Darboe and all NADD executive members to dance to the 
>dictates of democracy. The choice of the people, should prevail at the end 
>of the day, irrespective of one's political following and popularity.
>
>   Darboe, should team up with any political leader selected by the 
>coalition. His request to be given time by the coalition to liaise with his 
>party, is not only worrying but discouraging to say the least. Our 
>political leaders should put the nation's interest at heart and do away 
>with the issue of "MANSA" dream. Our country is at cross roads and we 
>should not allow greed to undermine the growing demand for change.
>
>    OJ'S nomination is greeted by mixed feelings. While, some people 
>described him as a "spent force" others argued that he is one of the 
>country's most charismatic politicians. Yes, the PPP, government to some 
>extent were found wanting. But we must point out that this was the 
>administration,  that brought The Gambia, on the world map. Thanks to Sir 
>Dawda, our country, was ranked as one of most democratic countries on the 
>continent. Under Yahya Jammeh's rule,  is the opposite. Under Jawara, 
>people were free to speak their minds on national issues. People, were 
>never subjected to the type of dehumanisation were facing today. People, 
>openly criticised the old man, without having the fear of being arrested or 
>monitored by the secret service.
>
>   In order to restore the liberties and freedoms, we used to enjoy under 
>Jawara's rule, NADD should put its house in order and stop the unnecessary 
>bickering and power struggle. While, others doubted OJ's competence of 
>being a main challenger to Jammeh, critics of Darboe, also argued that he 
>should give chance to others, in view of his  two  failed Presidential bid. 
>That he ran on two consecutive terms, without winning the Presidency. 
>People are advancing all kinds of arguments these days to promote their 
>candidate of choice. It is healthy to agree and disagree, but we should not 
>lost track of the national interest, which overides individual interest.
>
>   Having said this, we urge the NADD leadership to go ahead with their 
>programs and avoid falling into Jammeh's prediction. Jammeh, will be more 
>than happy to see NADD in disarray as reported by his paper,  the Observer, 
>the other day. The whole world is watching at NADD. If its leadership, 
>failed Gambians, our country is doomed politically. This will give Yahya 
>Jammeh, the opportunity to rule our country for three decades, just like 
>that of the  deposed PPP administration. If such a thing happens, we 
>foresee a Gambia, where people will die in the streets because of 
>starvation. We foresee a Gambia, where the prisons will be the homes for  
>the powerless and the under privileged, as it obtains today under Yahya's 
>self perpetual rule. This will also pave way for Jammeh, to  further 
>infringe on the rights and liberties of citizens.
>
>   OJ, seems to be trusted by the three opposition parties. That they all 
>rallied behind him. As Bob Marley said"WHO THE CAP FITS, LET HIM WEAR IT."  
>We are not suggesting that OJ is the right candidate, but the wishes of the 
>people should come first. Despite the odds attributed to OJ, we can 
>comfortably say that he is a true nationalist. Here is a man, who refused 
>to toe to the line of Yahya's repressive regime. Earning himself as the 
>most arrested politician, OJ, suffered torture and untold persecution under 
>Yahya's watch. Because of his  love for the country, OJ, abandoned personal 
>life,  just to defend the hijacked God given rights of Gambians. He is one 
>of those politicians, who openly stood against Yahya's bully tactics.
>
>   As far we are concerned the PPP is incomparable with the APRC.  They are 
>far better than the APRC and people trying to blame them  for their past 
>deeds should thoroughly compare the two, before making unfair judgements. 
>As an independent Newspaper, we will not support the nomination of any 
>candidate, for ethical reasons, but we have all rights to comment on the 
>shortfalls of some of the candidates. We owe it to our readers to comment 
>on the shortfalls and achievements of Darboe, OJ, Halifa, Hamat and Waa. We 
>believe that such commentaries will help electorates to make informed 
>decisions on their political leaders.
>
>   This is not the time for Gambians to be economical  with the truth. This 
>not the time for sycophancy. This is not the time to advocate politics of 
>tribalism. We must address  issues without fair or favour. Since NADD said 
>they came to rectify a corrupt and dictatorial system, it should not 
>entertain praise singing. A good number of Gambians, prefer to speak behind 
>the scenes and not in the open, even though they have reservations against 
>what their leaders are doing. We must break the culture of silence, if we 
>want to effect any meaningful change in our dear country. NADD belongs to 
>the people and its leaders should encourage its followers to speak out. 
>This will help NADD to make head way in their bid to effect democratic 
>change.
>
>   Its leadership should also be opened to the Press to avoid speculations. 
>NADD should be organising press briefings, on a weekly basis to inform 
>Gambians about their programs. The Gambian voters, reserve the right to 
>know what their political leaders are doing on their behalf.
>
>   On a final note, we  want to reaffirm our last statement to Darboe, that 
>it would be suicidal on his part to contemplate pulling out from NADD. 
>NADD, is the popular demand for The Gambian people and we expect him to 
>respect the wishes and aspirations of  Gambians. We say Ousainou "ESABARI" 
>meaning cool down. We hope NADD will officially name  its flag bearer, 
>Thursday, when Ousainou reports back to them. Until then. As for now, they 
>say OJ is on the lead.  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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