Omar et al, we all know the reason why the UDP is contesting in Sere-Kunda 
Central - to make Halifa loose, even if that means APRC wins (vindictiveness 
and pettiness).  They are "settling a score" from the Presidential 
elections.  That is acceptable when one truly embraces the democratic 
process that power lies in the hands of the electorate, and the electorate 
in Sere-Kunda Central will exercise that power entrusted on them.  Thus, 
Halifa will step up to the plate and rise up to the occasion.  His work for 
Gambia and Africa is unquestionable and it is not a do or die situation for 
Halifa but a continuation of his work.  Win or loose, he will continue to 
uplift the lives of Gambians and Humanity in general.  He is there to serve 
and if the people choose not to re-elect him, his contribution continues.  
Thus, I am not worried or concerned about the vindictiveness and short 
sightedness of the UDP leadership.  Folks brought reason and sanity to them, 
but none will beg them to see the interest of Gambians.  They will remain 
the spent forces that they have become.  We are moving forward and none can 
stop this train.  If Gambians in the opposition still believe that their 
salvation lies in Ousainou and his lack of leadership, they have that choice 
to make and will live with it with defeats to eternity.

The tragedy here is more so, with the "sympathizers/supporters" of the UDP, 
especially in the diaspora and we have seen them dance all over this place 
before.  Thus, it is evident that there's is not only blind following, but 
they also lack independence in thought and in the interest of our country, 
with the exception of a handful that spoke their minds.  Yes, it is part of 
the democratic space for anyone to contest against whomever, and that is not 
the the issue.  We want good representation for the the "opposition" in the 
Assembly (more representation), and also law makers with substance.  UDP, 
like the APRC, is saying that Halifa is not fit to represent Sere Kunda 
Central, and that is really funny.  We shall let Halifa's record to speak 
for itself and the voters to decide that.  IF folks had trouble believing 
the UDP leadership is without substance, this is yet another example of that 
charge, on a pile of many many more.  With this mindset Gambians are 
destined to have a long rendezvous with Yaya, if they do not stop their 
blind following of destructive forces.

I hope the voters that abhor what Yaya and the APRC stands for, to vote the 
opposition candidates in, regardless whether they are NADD, UDP, NRP, or 
Independent.  We first have to stop the hemorrhaging before we cure the 
wound.

IF any wants to help NADD and the Independent candidates that share their 
vision, you can send your donation directly to them by contacting them at 
these numbers: 4393177 or 4394536.  You can also send your contribution to 
Joe Sambou, 8046 S. Kimbark Ave., Chicago, IL 60619.  It is ten days to the 
vote, so, please take note of that.  Thanks for your support of constructive 
forces.

Chi Jaama

Joe


>From: omar joof <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list              
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE? UDP candidate in Serrekunda 
>Central
>Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 11:03:51 +0000
>
>Folks,
>We must now accept the fact that the differences between NADD and The 
>Alliance for Regime Change (ARC)  are real. Unless we do so we may never be 
>able to identify the issues involved with a view to addressing them. By 
>sponsoring a candidate in only Serrekunda Central out of all the 
>constituencies in which NADD is directly contesting, The UDP is making a 
>clear political statement. For whichever project one adheres to ( be it the 
>one for system change or the one for regime change), there is a monumental 
>political problem. This emanates from the fact that non of these projects 
>can be put in place while the current debacle in the opposition rages. By 
>virtue of the sizes of their followings, NADD and The ARC control the vast 
>majority of opposition votes in The Gambia. They can only stand by being 
>united and will surely fall by being divided!
>We must move on!   It is obvious that unity between the two coalitions is 
>imperative for dictator Jammeh's removal from power. Thus we must work 
>towards attaining that unity by all viable means possible.
>Omar Joof.
>
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------
> > Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:41:10 -0500
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Fwd: WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE? UDP candidate in Serrekunda 
>Central
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE?
> > Is it quality  enhancement or quality elimination?
> > I cannot really fathom the reason that  must have motivated the United
> > Democratic Party (UDP) to put up a candidate to  contest the Serrekunda 
>Central
> > National Assembly seat. However, before I  proceed, let me state that I
> > acknowledge the inalienable right of any  individual who wishes and 
>satisfies all the
> > constitutional requirements of  nationality, age, residency, voter 
>eligibility,
> > etc., to vie for this office of  representation, more so, a registered
> > political party to sponsor a candidate. My  concern, therefore, is in no 
>way
> > negating this right. It does not preclude the  right of the UDP to put 
>up a candidate
> > in any constituency. It is only trying to  find a solution to the puzzle 
>as
> > posed in the questions that captioned this  article.
> > As the country was emerging from a presidential election that was
> > characterised by widespread voter apathy and again bracing itself for a 
>looming
> > National Assembly elections impregnated with uncertainties, the NADD  
>presidential
> > contestant and minority leader, Halifa Sallah, announced his  party’s 
>resolve to
> > employ a tactical alliance with other opposition parties and  
>independent
> > aspirants. The objective, as he said, was to ensure a Non-APRC  majority 
>in the
> > National Assembly. This would have allowed the combined  opposition and
> > independents to agree on sponsoring and supporting only one  candidate 
>against the
> > APRC in every constituency based on the assessed  competence, charisma 
>and
> > optimal chances of the person or the party. The NADD  further cited 
>examples that
> > in such a scenario they would ensure that the  constituencies of 
>Kemeseng
> > Jammeh, Hamat Bah, Dembo Bojang, to name a few, would  not be rivaled by 
>the
> > opposition considering the non-rubberstamp role these  people will be 
>expected to
> > play in the National Assembly when elected.
> > This  move was very much welcomed with enthusiasm and optimism by all 
>those
> > who care  to see democracy and rule of law prevail in The Gambia. These 
>include
> > both the  opposition and the APRC supporters, as well as concerned
> > non-nationals who all  believe that a critical National Assembly is what 
>will make the
> > country move  forward by putting a check to the excesses in governance 
>and
> > which cannot be  done by an APRC dominated rubber-stamp legislature. A 
>critical
> > non-APRC majority  in the Assembly augurs well for democracy and good 
>governance.
> > For the  rational opposition, the voters have already made the big 
>mistake by
> > electing  President Jammeh for another five years of misrule, 
>mismanagement
> > and impunity.  However, the conviction is that the absolutism and 
>excesses of
> > the APRC regime  can be put to a leash when the voters elect people who 
>are
> > critical and resolved  to make the National Assembly an effective and 
>robust
> > oversight institution as  prescribed by the constitution of the second 
>republic.
> > Hence the interest and  support for the opposition to be one block this 
>time
> > round. As for these APRC  supporters they believe in the separation of 
>powers.
> > They are happy that  President Jammeh has been re-elected. However, they 
>would
> > want him to deliver  and which they believe can only materialize when 
>there
> > exist a strong Assembly  of non-praise singing, non-flattering and 
>non-self
> > seeking deputies who will  guide the executive to serve the people. For 
>these
> > people, they are ready to  support any candidate who is more credible 
>than the
> > APRC one in order to serve  this purpose.
> > Why then did the UDP and NRP not reciprocate by declaring the  
>constituencies
> > of the likes of Halifa Sallah, Sidia Jatta, etc. non-contestable  for 
>their
> > parties, given the well pronounced caliber and quality of  
>representation of
> > these NAMs in the National Assembly? Although the UDP has not  put up 
>candidates
> > in the constituencies of Sidia Jatta and two other NADD  candidates. 
>Whether
> > what was responsible for this has been the inability to  scout a 
>candidate or
> > considerations based on sentiments is left for the reader  to 
>conjecture.
> > Anyway, I have gathered from sources, earlier on, that scouting  was 
>being done by
> > them, but as to whether it bored nought, I don’t know. The  question 
>still
> > remains; Why Serrekunda Central? What is the motive of the UDP in  
>contesting
> > this particular seat given the important role that Halifa is playing  in 
>the
> > Assembly? Is there candidate more competent? Can that UDP win the seat?  
>Is the
> > mission’ UDP cannot win but Halifa will not be allowed to win either’?  
>Can
> > this move be claimed as good faith? All these are questions that beg for 
>  honest
> > answers.
> > Notwithstanding, I believe the UDP should not have contested  the 
>Serrekunda
> > Central seat and should have embraced the NADD’s call and engage  in a
> > tactical alliance. This would have paid more dividend for them both in  
>terms of
> > credibility and chances of winning seats. I think the Presidential  
>election
> > should have been a lesson for them. For them to still harbour the  
>illusion that
> > they can succeed by going it alone, especially given the present  
>political
> > context in The Gambia, is self-deluding. The 2006 Presidential  election 
>is a case
> > in point. Where is the ‘majority’ that was bandied about by  the UDP 
>that
> > made them to pull out of the NADD conglomerate with the illusion  that 
>they will
> > win the election without the others. This is the ‘majority’ that  one of 
>my
> > sisters often refers to as “majority ming mang nafa soto” or “majority  
>bu
> > amul barkeh”, meaning a so called strength that is not potent or lacks  
>blessing.
> > The 2006 presidential poll is now history and what is left is to  draw 
>the
> > necessary lessons for the future. As for me, the NADD political project  
>was the
> > best arrangement that suited our circumstances, as it was designed to  
>herald
> > in a new order that will establish a truly democratic space for 
>everyone.  It
> > would have gone to enable every Gambian to be recognised or sanctified 
>as
> > sovereign. Unfortunately, the prospects for the attainment of these 
>lofty and
> > necessary goals were aborted mid-way by the clash of two differing and 
>opposing
> >  desires. It later became very clear that two strains constituted the 
>NADD
> > leadership. One group was interested and committed to the cause of 
>removing the
> >  APRC regime and replacing it with a democratic dispensation where the
> > empowerment of the people, the rule of law, constitutionality, economic, 
>  political
> > and a predictably stable and social accountability order is in place  or
> > prevail. The other group was only interested in a change of regime where 
>the
> > status quo will be maintained with absolute power vested in a privileged
> > executive which is sustained by a non-politically enlightened, divided 
>and
> > dis-empowered electorate. Hence it was the existence of and struggle 
>between  these two
> > irreconcilable interests that led to the eventual break-up of NADD  
>which
> > shattered many peoples hopes for a new and democratic Gambia to be  
>midwived by a
> > United Opposition Front.
> > The repercussions were: widespread  voter apathy, President Jammeh 
>re-elected
> > with a narrow escape, the two  opposition presidential candidates from 
>the
> > socalled ‘majority’ and socalled  ‘minority’ parties both losing the 
>election.
> > Infact, when one reviews the  results with circumspection, one will not 
>fail
> > to discover that President Jammeh  is far from being popular and has 
>just
> > narrowly escaped due to the opposition  disunity which led to the 
>large-scale
> > voter apathy. Again, the number of  registered voters who did not vote 
>are more
> > than those who cast their votes for  Jammeh. Can one call this 
>popularity?
> > Indeed, it is even the UDP that emerged to  be the sole loser because of 
>its
> > shrinking ‘fortunes’ or support in terms of  votes. The UDP lost nearly 
>30% of its
> > votes whilst the combined UDP/NRP 40%.  This is how much the disunity 
>costs
> > the UDP/NRP.
> > Now, whether this will be  repeated is left to the electorate. However 
>what
> > is certain is that a critical  National Assembly is very crucial in 
>ensuring
> > that The Gambia continues to exist  as a fledging democracy. This 
>however cannot
> > be realized if the voters allow the  APRC to again command a majority in 
>the
> > Assembly. Again quoting my sister’s  words of wisdom “Don’t give the 
>person
> > the meat and also the knife, lest he cut  a pound of flesh from a part 
>of your
> > body that will send you straight to your  grave.” Since President Jammeh 
>is
> > mandated to serve for 5 years, a critical  National Assembly composed of
> > competent, dignified, selfless and determined  members should also be 
>elected to
> > serve as an efficient oversight institution to  prevent excesses, 
>misrule impunity
> > and mismanagement by the  executive.
> >
> > Long Live The Gambian People
> > Long Live  Democracy
> > Long Live The Gambia
> > O. S
> > A Concern Citizen
> >
> >
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