Dear Jabou,
Thanks for that fine comment. Unless PDOIS and NCP can quickly prove to us
the contrary, it is just fair to conclude from their feet dragging that they
( PDOIS& NCP) would rather subject us all to another round of Yaya's
bullying than endorse a more winning party than theirs to lead an opposition
alliance. It will definitely not be strategically sensible to catapult
PDOIS or NCP to the helm of any alliance against APRC. PDOIS, with more than
15 years in the political arena still has trouble connecting with even one
fourth of the population. Besides, with all due respect to its leadership,
I wonder how many of us sincerely believe that PDOIS's socialism platform
can fly in this age of globalisation? The NCP Leader on the other hand, owes
us a lot of convincing about how concerned he really is about all of us. I'm
sure most of us are curious to know how productive he has been during the
past 7 years?. In other words, did he use the opportunity to draw up a
bluement for Gambia's development in anticipation of a comeback ? How much
in touch has he been with the aspirations of ordinary Gambians.? How many
times did he visit the provinces during the past 7 years. Has he ever made
attempts to raise funds to support development efforts in the Gambia? Where
was he when OJ and others were fighting against decree 89? These are some of
the many questions that Dibba ought to address to convince us that our
agenda is his agenda . Because October is just around the corner, every
second must be spent finalising strategies for Yaya's exit and  finetuning
programmes for a post APRC era. Enough with bickering, and let 's all get
down to real business of building our nation's future.


>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Caution to Jabou
>Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 09:58:43 EDT
>
>Halifa,
>
>Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. If time proves me wrong,
>I
>shall gladly apologise to whoever i owe an apology to, and you can count on
>that.
>
>I guess you can say that I am at a loss for any sensible reason  as to why
>there is anything personal, philisophical orotherwise that would delay
>forging a coalition when the election is just a couple of months away and
>in
>view of  the critical situation we find ourselves in.
>I do not think anyone is foolish enouhg to think that any of the political
>parties will be giving up individual philosophies by  joining a united
>opposition againt Jammeh. My point is that this is a temporary fix designed
>to get us our of an ever worsening situation that could enmesh us in a
>bloodbath and another 5 years of a regime whose record all of us know well.
>All the political parties in The Gambia have endured 30 years of the Jawara
>regime, and almost 7 years of Yaya Jammeh. For these parties to set aside
>their differencies in philosophy for a moment and join hands to save us
>from
>another 5 years of brutal oppression that knows no reason, and that will
>eventually create an atmosphere where all will pursue their respective
>agendas, is not something that should be guided by personal philosophies or
>any other reasons,  but is to be treated as an emergnecy action and a last
>resort.
>In the final analysis, it is the country and the people who matter as you
>rightly pointed, and therefore, all political parties must realize this
>instead of embroiling in endless strategysing and defense of their
>individual
>views and agendas, there will be ample time for such things if and when we
>get rid of the monkey on our backs.
>
>This, dear brother is my point, and I think it is abundantly clear that you
>have done much work in our constitutional reforms etc, and can do even much
>more during the tenure of a government that may not be ideal for you or
>some
>of us, but during whose tenure fear and murder and mayhem will not be the
>order of the day. Such an atmosphere is not  conducive to the reforms we
>hope
>to put in place in our country one day.
>Yes, we want a politically mature populace who can  be masters of our own
>destiny one day, and therefore, we need to do all that is necesary to get
>rid
>of those who kill, maim and silence any opinion otherwise there will be no
>people left to enjoy this  golden period we are aiming for.
>I guess i am playing the people's advocate, because we do need to remind
>the
>politicians sometimes that they cannot see the forest for the trees.
>However, as you said, if there is yet light at the end of this tunnel, it
>will indeed be good news for the people, and i shall not hesitate to
>apologize. I just hope whatever the position of PDOIS and Dibba turn out to
>be, it does not take so long that it affects the planning that will render
>any colaition effective.  This is an emergency situation, and the last
>thing
>we need are long drawn out contemplations that may not serve the best
>interest of the people in the long run.
>Again, thanks or the response.
>
>Jabou Joh
>
>In a message dated 8/15/2001 5:24:44 AM Central Daylight Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > Jabou,
> >           I am disappointed. I have always seen you as an independent
> > minded Gambian sister who is after the truth. I would have thought that
>you
> > would give your self-time to get all facts before you draw any
>conclusion.
> > I promise you that when you get all the facts you will owe PDOIS an
> > apology. Personally, I am in same position as you. I am not any body's
> > presidential candidate. I don't think any body can say that I am waiting
> > for Sidia Jatta to give me a ministerial post. I have bee offered such
> > posts too many times to mention. I am not speaking for PDOIS at this
> > moment. This is a personal intervention. The party is still studying all
> > the facts in order to come up with a mature and respectable position. If
>I
> > did not have respect for you as the only woman who spends day and night
> > following events here, I would not have responded. This is no time to
> > question our sincerity. This is the time for all of you to own your
>minds
> > and seek to draw lessons from facts and not from fictions. It is
>abundantly
> > clear to me that it is the people who change society and not the few
>who
> > claim, rightly or wrongly, to be their leaders. When the Gambian people
>are
> > politically mature they will have mature leaders. My interest is similar
>to
> > yours. None of us is a presidential aspirant. What each of us should
>want
> > is Gambia to be led by people who will eradicate the ignorance, poverty
>and
> > subjugation of our people. Do not condemn Dibba or any one. Find out
>what
> > all political leaders have to say and draw your enlightened conclusion
> >
> >
> > Greetings
> > Halifa
> >
>
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