Tunkara, very interesting read and you raised many points that should be of 
interest to not only UDP supporters, but all those that oppose the status 
quo.  I think opposition supporters should assess their leaders, be it 
Darboe, Sallah, Juwara, Bah, Jallow and any others out there visa vie the 
sign of the times.  I hope that we continually challenge the short comings 
of those that want to lead us, when ever they are lacking.  I will leave the 
UDP supporters continue with their assessment.

A very important point that the UDP supporters seem to miss is that, 
Ousainou would have been nominated the flagbearer of NADD if he had done 
just one simple act - agree to the safeguards against a monarchy - 
continuation of Yaya's Gambia.  The sad thing is that he knew that, but for 
what ever reason, the man has a propensity to reject reason, even the things 
that are to his favor, for stubbornness or missing the big picture.  The 
fixation was to be president, but more importantly, to stay forever, just 
like Jawara and Jammeh.  That is the reason why he pulled out hastily 
because it was for him to keep, but with a condition.  In the midst of the 
noise and distraction, he managed to get his intension, only to realize it 
to his and Gambia's loss.

Can someone please give me the logic why Ousainou only contest for the 
presidential elections?  At a time when the opposition needs more 
representation (including the UDP), why is the man not running?  Is being a 
NAM beneath his status?  Is it another advise from a sage?  Is there 
something in the political mix that I do not understand?  Someone please 
enlighten my outlook.  That would have been an easy victory for the 
opposition.  What is he going to do in the next five years?  The answer is, 
same as he did between 2000 and 2006 - not add value to our political 
landscape and the rubberstamp to continue with their dirty work.

"Any Gambian who is yearning for democracy and development should support 
the NADD sponsored and assisted candidates. I think Voting for the UDP 
candidates is like voting for Jammeh."

The goal of the opposition in the upcoming NA elections should be to 
increase their representation to at least have a chance to inject common 
sense to the current rubberstamp.  Thus, I think it would be a mistake to 
not vote for the UDP.  Yes, the STGDP, approached the opposition, yet again, 
and pitched for a tactical alliance as a way to maximize the "opposition" 
representation.  NADD agreed that was the way to go and we also reached out 
to the UPD supporters in the diaspora to lend their voice to that strategy, 
only for it to be rejected, for a weak argument, some where between the US 
and Gambia.  The dilemma of the opposition now is, how can they be tactical 
with UDP putting up a candidate in almost all constituencies, with NRP, NADD 
and independent candidates, all intermixed.  In a lot cases, we have three 
candidates contesting (APRC, UDP/NRP, NADD/Independent).  Not a good 
position to be, but we still have to some how, make the best out of an ugly 
situation.  It does not appear at this stage, that the UDP leadership will 
reason with anyone, and are determined to contest against all, even if that 
means the APRC wins.  What do we do, that is if we can even do a thing?  It 
is very unfortunate that since 2000, the biggest obstacle for the 
"opposition" is Ousainou Darboe, and I would call him by name, if it were 
substituted for Halifa, Waa, Hamat, OJ, or Yaya.

Yes, the UDP needs new blood and direction, however, I cannot see that 
happening, with the structures that are in place and the people that guard 
that structure.  Its grassroots can make that change, but they are also 
under the tight grip of the cabal at the top.  So, how can that happen?  I 
had be very surprised if Darboe will entertain this outlook, because that 
will interfare with his presidential aspirations.  Gambians in the 
opposition (UDP, NRP, and NADD) need to take control of our political faith 
and change our misdirection.  I wished we were not in this corner.

Chi Jaama

Joe


>From: Muhammed Lamin Touray <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list              
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Analysis of UDP's Political History
>Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 23:15:31 -0800
>
>I find it hard to comprehend why UDP led alliance still command some 
>support among the Gambian electorates, despite UDP’s numerous political 
>missteps. The political history of the UDP is marked with inconsistencies 
>and flip-flaps. The UDP leader has never failed to demonstrate these during 
>or after each presidential election, the party contested. Some of these 
>blunders were so severe, their consequences are still haunting Gambians.
>
>   The UDP started as a formidable force, capable of winning the first 
>presidential election of the second republic. However, the preponderance of 
>the party’s political moves was incompetent, illogical, and misguided. This 
>lack of clear direction resulted into shattering the wishes and aspiration 
>of the supporters. Indisputably, the leadership of the party is responsible 
>for designing and adopting misguided political tactics and strategies. 
>According to one Mandingo proverb, “you cannot insult the whole village and 
>exclude the Alkalo,” in the same vein, you cannot exclude the leader from 
>the failure of a group. Therefore, the failures of UDP are equally failures 
>of Mr. Darboe’s leadership. Mr. Darboe has abundantly demonstrated to the 
>Gambians his lack of suitable qualities to lead the Gambia in this 
>generation. Our generation requires pragmatic, visionary, and servant 
>leaders, who would not only vigorously advocate for the wishes and 
>aspirations of the people, but must
>  also, logically and consistently adopt concrete strategies to attain 
>victory.
>
>   I know some of the supporters of the UDP and Mr. Darboe would disagree 
>with this analysis, but the facts I am about to present cannot be disputed. 
>I think it is a national duty of every patriotic citizen to scrutinize our 
>public officials in order to enlighten the people and catalyze a positive 
>change process. The Gambia belongs to us all and it is our collective 
>responsibility to develop it, which, I believe, cannot be attained without 
>good leadership. I do not question Mr. Darboe’s intellectual abilities; he 
>is one of the best legal minds in the Gambian. However, he has failed to 
>translate his intellectual abilities into wisely leading UDP to political 
>victory, only one mistake after another.
>
>   Let us take a close look at some of the mistakes Mr. Darboe and the UDP 
>have made since the inception of the party.
>
>   The emergence of the UDP was an instant intimidation to the power-hungry 
>AFPRC Military Junta and/or the APRC Political Party, due to the 
>formidability of infant UDP support base. The majority of my friends, 
>family, neighbors, and I supported UDP when it was first formed. We 
>campaigned for Darboe and the UDP in the run-up to the 1996 presidential 
>election, by risking everything, including our lives. This election was 
>marred with violence; at least one UDP supporter was killed and scores were 
>subjected to merciless beatings in the hands of the military, resulting 
>into severe injuries. In the midst of all these, where was the party 
>leader? According to reliable sources, the UDP leader sought refuge at a 
>foreign embassy the night of the 1996 presidential election. Mr. Darboe who 
>had the means to run, ran to the foreign embassy for cover, while his 
>supporters were in the open, exposed to Jammeh’s power-hungry military and 
>the Green Boys, better known as the July 22nd
>  Movement.
>
>   The most important quality of a leader is the courage and guts to stand 
>up unselfishly for the common good of the group. For the sake of argument, 
>let us assume, the UDP actually won that election, one may wonder, who was 
>there to claim the victory. Not the party leader, because he was in hiding 
>at a foreign embassy. I wonder how then the wishes of the people can be 
>fulfilled if their hero take on his heals even before the outcome of the 
>contest is decided.
>
>   While this political blunder undermined the UDP leadership, it served as 
>a political rallying moment for the Junta. Such cowardly actions have 
>indeed emboldened the AFPRC/APRC in violating our constitution and other 
>laws. Jammeh knows very well that the leadership of the main opposition 
>party lacks the political will and moral fiber to stand head to head with 
>him. This is why the Green Boys consistently harassed and intimidated the 
>opposition while Jammeh is tightening his grip on the lives of Gambians.
>
>   Instead of hiding, in the 2001 presidential election night, Mr. Darboe 
>called and congratulated Jammeh for his victory. According to UDP sources, 
>Mr. Darboe’s concession call was made without consultation with polling 
>agents and party officials. A concession literally means the losing party 
>in the contest certifies the outcome. Therefore, Mr. Darboe’s 
>congratulation call to Jammeh implied that the election was free and fair 
>from his point of view. How could the UDP leader concede defeat even before 
>his soldiers returned from battle? Could this not be considered 
>authoritarianism on the part of Mr. Darboe? I do not think Gambians would 
>consciously replace a dictator with a dictator. It would be like jumping 
>from the frying pan into the fire.
>
>   Within three months of his certification of the 2001 presidential 
>election, Mr. Darboe and the UDP boycotted the proceeding parliamentary 
>election. They cited lack of free and fair polling. I do not know what had 
>changed within the three months because the status quo remained the same 
>within the three months between the presidential election and the National 
>Assembly election. The UDP boycott enabled the APRC to go unopposed in many 
>opposition strongholds and winning all the seats except three. I think this 
>misstep and others by the UDP gave president Jammeh legal but monarchical 
>or absolute powers over the affairs of the Gambia. President Jammeh does 
>not only possess absolute executive powers, he also possesses absolute 
>judicial and legislative powers. Remember that a few months ago, the 
>legislature amended the constitution to give power to the president to 
>dissolve parliament at his choosing. All independent legislatures in the 
>world tend to increase their powers rather
>  than surrender them to the executive. This decision has also helped the 
>APRC camp to enroot themselves in former UDP constituencies to swell their 
>ranks, which implies that the UDP is losing support to the APRC.
>
>   In January 2005, all the opposition parties, except NCP formed a 
>strategic alliance to dislodge APRC from power. On behalf the UDP, Mr. 
>Darboe appended his signature on the legally binding document: The 
>Memorandum of Understanding that created the National Alliance for 
>Democracy and Development. The first few months that followed this historic 
>achievement by the Gambia opposition, witnessed high sense of optimism 
>among majority of Gambians who yearn for democracy and development. NADD 
>generated wide support and acceptance among Gambians both at home and 
>abroad. President Jammeh and his APRC became terrified and started acting 
>desperately, even to the extent of arresting and detaining three executive 
>members of the new powerful force.
>
>   However, this marriage, as predicted by critiques, did not only failed 
>to survive the test of time, it also raised questions about the integrity 
>of the Gambia opposition leaders. Some members of the alliance, did not 
>have the political will and moral fiber to swallow their pride for the sake 
>of the Gambia, they are fighting to lead. This time too, Mr. Darboe left 
>his colleagues in limbo and took the route of go-alone. Then Mr. Bah and 
>his NRP and some executive members of PPP also left NADD and joined Mr. 
>Darboe’s UDP. According to many observers, the motive behind the NADD 
>disintegration was the feeling that MR. Darboe, the leader of UDP, may not 
>be selected as flag bearer of NADD. Remember that the NADD flag-bearer 
>selection process was still ongoing when Mr. Darboe and Mr. Bah left. 
>According to Mr. Darboe, he left NADD because of distrust among some 
>executive members of the alliance. Why could Mr. Darboe not call a press 
>conference to express his feelings to the
>  Gambian people? Why he could not wait until all the provisions, relating 
>to flag-bearer selection process was exhausted. If he just wanted to lead 
>the alliance, he had all the chances in this world to lead it, through 
>primaries. I still wonder why Mr. Darboe refused to call for the primaries, 
>if he believed to have commanded the support among the supporters.
>
>   The Grand Alliance thought they were poised to win the election without 
>the support of other opposition parties. Obviously, if you add the actual 
>votes of the UDP and NRP for 2001 presidential election it would seem that 
>they had the votes to win without the support of other opposition parties. 
>However, politics is more complex and multi-facet than addition and 
>subtraction. Mr. Darboe failed to realize that his party’s popularity has 
>been dwindling, mainly due its misguided tactics and strategies.
>
>   Instead of improving their individual percentages of total electoral 
>votes, both the UDP and NRP performed far worst that their 2001 
>percentages. One can argue that the low turnout and poor opposition 
>performance are mainly due to the disintegration of NADD, which is 
>indisputably caused by Mr. Darboe’s arrogance and impatience.
>
>   Unlike the previous presidential elections, this time around, Mr. Darboe 
>and his alliance declared the 2006 presidential election result null and 
>void, and filed election petition papers with the courts. In order to put 
>this protest into its correct perspective, one must not overlook the fact 
>that the Grand Alliance participated in the entire electioneering process 
>without any major objection to the status quo. Surprisingly, the case was 
>thrown out by the court for lack of interest on the part of the plaintiff. 
>According to the Judge, Mr. Darboe failed to appear for hearings and the 
>court concluded that the petition was abandoned by the plaintiff.
>
>   Furthermore, despite wide spread calls for a tactical alliance among the 
>opposition, a few days ago, 37 UDP sponsored parliamentary candidates were 
>nominated by the IEC to contest the forth-coming legislative election. Some 
>of these candidates are running against other opposition candidates.
>
>   In the light of Mr. Darboe’s political blunders and for the sake of 
>national interest, is it not fair to question Mr. Darboe’s leadership 
>abilities? I think it is high time for Mr. Darboe to quit active politics 
>and support the younger generation with vibrant ideas. He can serve as a 
>senior citizen and leave others to lead the party. The UDP has become very 
>effective and its integrity is disappearing into thin air. This manifested 
>by the number of UDP supporters arrested and detained by the APRC 
>government. How many UDP supporters are illegally detained or being 
>detained by the government for no reason without attracting any protest 
>from the party’s leadership?
>
>   Any Gambian who is yearning for democracy and development should support 
>the NADD sponsored and assisted candidates. I think Voting for the UDP 
>candidates is like voting for Jammeh.
>
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