Now that the National Assembly Member for Jarra West, Baba Jobe has been
incarcerated, what's next? Well, I thought my good friend, Karamba, will be
on the Gambia-Post Radio today so that I can solicit his political insights
into this unfortunate political development, but to no avail. Or, should I
call Hon. Halifa Sallah? I don't know. I just don't have time to listen to
series of quotations from Gambian Books of Law. Laugh! I admire these two
folks for their courage and determination.
Though, one thing I know for sure is that Baba Jobe will be expelled from
the APRC. Then the IEC will declare Jarra West Constituency for a
bi-election within sixty to ninety days. Parties will start scrambling for
nominations of candidates. So, after all these, will a united opposition
coalition pick up Jarra West? This is the multi-million dollar question
before the Alternative.
Before answering the above question, it will be prudent to take a brief look
at the political history of this geographical area during the first and
second republics from a parliamentary perspective.
First and foremost, Jarra West was first represented in the House of
Parliament (now, National Assembly), by Yaya Ceesay of the People's
Progressive Party(PPP) for almost the entire period of the First Republic.
His main challenger was Kemeseng Jammeh of National Convention Party(NCP).
Kemeseng barely came any close to unseating Yaya, who had tremendous support
within Jarra. Yaya Ceesay was best remembered for his efforts in bringing
electricity, especially street lights, to most of Jarra. I mean a regular
electricity service.
Then came July 22,1994. The PPP government was overthrown. All political
parties(except PDOIS) of the First Republic were disbanded by the junta. The
United Democratic Party(UDP) was formed prior to the 1996 Elections. Here
comes Kemeseng again for Jarra West. But this time as a UDP flag bearer
since his former Party was disbanded. Baba Jobe, a Libyan-trained
revolutionalist contested the constituency for the APRC. It may be worth
noting here that Baba Jobe was earlier tried for treason by the PPP
government a few years prior to the coup. Although the govenment could not
prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt because of lack of enough evidence,
his passport was confisticated. So, because of Baba's revolutionary
ideology, his stance against the former regime, his willingness to practise
what he studied(intimidation and thuggery) and aboveall, his liaison ability
between his former mentor Muamar Ghadaffi and the junta, he became a darling
of the AFPRC/APRC government. However, Kemeseng Jammeh succeeded in securing
the seat for UDP amidst wide spread intimidation and thuggery by Baba Jobe
and the defunt July 22nd Movement.
AFPRC/APRC thuggery machinery continued in Jarra until 2002, when the UDP
decided not to contest the National Assembly Elections. Baba Jobe was left
unopposed. Thus, he automatically became the NAM for Jarra West. Janjangbure
Prisons was a second home to any openly opposition sympathiser.
Considering the above developments, the Alternative can very well capture
the Jarra West seat. So, will this be the testing or starting ground for the
Alternative? It's yet to be certain.
Seedy
From: "Joe Sambou" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: [>-<] Breaking News/Baba Jobe
> Seedy, thanks for your post.
>
> "However, it's worth noting that injustice continues to be meted against
his
> constituents and constituency. I got information that public taps in Soma
> and the environs either seized to operate or will seize to operate because
> of lack of payments. Where is the Local Government in Soma? The
installation
> of public water pipes in these areas are said to be masterminded by Baba
> Jobe. As a result, residents of Soma and the environs have abandoned their
> wells. Now, if these public taps should seize to operate that would pose
> great inconvenience to these residents. I hope those concerned will take a
> second look at their decisions."
>
> To the above, I say folks in Soma and its environs now have an opportunity
> to join the Alternative to defeat the APRC candidate. Lemons are provided
> in this vacancy, I hope the Alternative make lemonades with it. The
> objective of winning this seat is in essence to jumpstart the campaign to
> force Yaya out, in straight language.
>
> On the issue of the Libyan delegation, this is a clear testament to
Libya's
> meddling in the chaos in Africa. I also think their attempt at meddling
has
> more to do with the impending indictement of Gaddafi by the Sierra Leonean
> War Crimes Tribunal. Gadaffi was mentioned in numerous circles as the
main
> backer of Foday Sanko and the arms that Baba and Yaya were supplying
Taylor
> and Sanko came from Libya. So, Gadaffi has reasons to be concerned when
> Yaya threatened to hand over Baba to the tribunal. That would have
> completed the circle from Libya, to Gambia, to Liberia and Sierra leone.
So
> far, Taylor and Jobe has been indicted and Yaya and Gadaffi are being
worked
> on.
> Regarding Yaya, his case is still open pending corroboration from possible
> witnesses to link him directly. He has confirmed that he owned Mellenium
> Air, used to transport some of the arms and return with gems. All they
need
> is for Baba to say that Yaya was part of the arms and gems deal to link
> Yaya. Thus, Yaya's was just a bluff because handing Baba over meant
> exposing himself.
>
> However, Gambians should be outraged that the Libyans have the nerve to
come
> and attempt to pay a bribe right in our backyard. Would they be drunk
> enough to attempt a bribe in Europe or the US after the Pan Am bombing?
> This shows the contempt this camel have for Sub-Saharan Africans. What am
I
> saying, this is not the first time he prostituted Yaya and it would not be
> the last. He owns Yaya's behind, just watch.
>
>
> Chi Jaama
>
> Joe Sambou
>
>
> >From: "Seedy S. Khan" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: [>-<] Breaking News/Baba Jobe
> >Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 14:56:04 -0500
> >
> >Mam Jay:
> >
> >I do concur with your observation. I am not and have never been a fan of
> >Baba Jobe. But, it's really sad to see him go down the drain he himself
> >helped to dig. It's often said that "in a jungle, only the fittest
> >survive." Today, The Gambia is deeply attributed to the aforementioned
> >adage because of the lack of the rule of law. Baba Jobe's case is a
> >classical example of consequences of class struggle in a dictatorial and
> >tyrannical environment. A dictator will never allow any one else rise to
> >prominence. Baba Jobe's constituency is now buried, if not dead, at least
> >for now or for ever.
> >
> >However, it's worth noting that injustice continues to be meted against
his
> >constituents and constituency. I got information that public taps in Soma
> >and the environs either seized to operate or will seize to operate
because
> >of lack of payments. Where is the Local Government in Soma? The
> >installation of public water pipes in these areas are said to be
> >masterminded by Baba Jobe. As a result, residents of Soma and the
environs
> >have abandoned their wells. Now, if these public taps should seize to
> >operate that would pose great inconvenience to these residents. I hope
> >those concerned will take a second look at their decisions.
> >
> >Seedy
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Mam Jay Ceesay
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 12:37 PM
> > Subject: RE: [>-<] Breaking News/Baba Jobe
> >
> >
> > [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Mam Jay
Ceesay" ]
> > Seedy,
> >
> > I must say this is a first in Gambian history - sending someone to
jail
> >on corruption charges. Just read in the Observer that a team from Libya
> >was in the country to settle the sum he owed. Wonder why that deal was
not
> >accepted. I think this is a personal issue between him and his boss. I
> >hope he gets out of this whole thing as a better person. Yaya is very
good
> >at what he does. Pulls you very close to him and then shoves you down.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Seedy S. Khan" <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> > >To: "The Gambia and related-issues mailing list"
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> > >CC: <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Subject: [>-<] Breaking News/Baba Jobe
> > >Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 11:56:14 -0500
> > >
> > >FYI:
> > >
> > >I just received a call from a source in Banjul saying that Baba Jobe
> >has been sentenced to Nine years and 8 months imprisonment.
> > >
> > >Seedy
> >
> >
>
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