Momodou, thanks for bringing in a fresh perspective to this discussion and I
concur with your observations.  I doubt whether the PPP or NCP have working
constitutions.  If they do, I doubt that they contain anything that
addresses their current situations.  PPP was Jawara and Jawara was the PPP.
The same applies to the NCP with Sheriff Dibba.  You see the same set up
with the APRC, and NRP too.  Jammeh owns the APRC.  Such party structures
are centered around a personality.  Yes, after 30 years of loosing elections
the NCP stalwarts never once asked him to step down.  When Dibba thought
that Dembo By Force was in bed with the APRC, he orchestrated a preemptive
strike and made him leave the NCP, only to turn around and be Yaya's
favorite uncle for the time being.  What we tend to have as leaders are
actually Philosopher Kings and that is what our people want, it seems to me.
  Which is why when PDOIS came and said power rests with you, the people,
folks are still fighting with their mind.

Like Malcolm X said in his parable of the house slave and the field slave.
When both were given freedom as free persons, the field slave vanished out
of sight lest Masser changes his mind.  Whereas, the house slave refused to
walk away unless Masser walks with him.  The mind of the house slave was
poisoned with such thoughts as, where can I get better shoes and clothes
than that which Masser gave me?  Where can I eat better food than that which
Masser provides me?  Where can I get better housing than that which Masser
provides me?  If masser's house is on fire, the field slave pray for heavy
winds for the fire to claim all that Masser robbed from him.  Whereas, the
house slave would do everything to save the house.  If masser is sick, the
field slave would send the doctor the other direction, away from the Big
House, whereas, the house slave would would ask; what's the matter boss,
We's sick?  See, the house slave loves his masser more than his masser loves
himself.  That is the stage we are in.  The majority of us refused to be
liberated and contented to be led as house slaves.  Our people want to take
the offer, but are so stuck to the personality cult following that they are
used to over hundreds of years.  It's going to take time for this new
thinking to take hold, just as it did with the house slave.  Let's hope it's
within our life time, however the pace is not encouraging.

Thus, the NCP after the Dibba coup, is lost for direction and some are
contemplating just giving up and joining other parties.  The same applies to
the PPP.  What I see going on now is OJ trying to do damage control after
the APRC put the Mojo on Jawara.  He knows that the PPP following is to
Jawara and thus, is trying hard to still open the line of communication
because he cannot afford t loose Jawara for good to the APRC.  So far the
APRC have the upper hand it seems and we shall see how the saga unfolds in
the next weeks and months.  Good observations.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: Momodou S Sidibeh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Give Jawara A Break
>Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 18:30:46 +0200
>
>Brother Joe Sambou,
>
>Sharing my cola-nuts with you! But what seems to me so obvious and what we
>in the first place perhaps ought to address is just what intra-party
>democracy means in Gambia. Is it now not just as clear as noonday to all of
>us that what we have in Gambian political party history is simply a
>semi-organised group of people with vested interests who are still to
>transcend the vagaries of a backward patrimonialism? Why can't anyone dare
>tell president Jawara, "thank you for your lifetime service, but the PARTY
>needs to renew itself completely....so we would appreciate very much if you
>can serve it with the benefit of your vast experience as an adviser?" The
>same goes for S.M Dibba. Having lost so many elections even before 1994,
>how
>is it that NCP members cannot tell him it is time he resigned as party
>leader?
>
>For God's sake do not these parties have a Constitution where the process
>of
>succession of leadership is adequately treated? Can we not all see that
>because there is nothing in the workings and organisational setup of our
>political parties that resembles a modicum of democracy as the major reason
>why they will all be so hopelessly undemocratic even if in power? Is it not
>indeed why the APRC, having its origins in the army (where everyone is an
>expert in taking or giving orders), should be the worst possible candidate
>from which to expect democratic behaviour? Can we not see why they all have
>always been so reluctant in preparing heirs? (They want to stay there till
>they die! - Remember Jawara's fake announcement to retire in the late
>eighties?) We have no right to expect decent democratic behaviour from
>leaders who have themselves no experience of such behaviour throughout
>their
>political lives.
>
>Unless the young, active in all our political parties dismiss this current
>order of sultanism, politics in Gambia might forever remain hostage to the
>caprices of old men, too proud to admit failure and with a following too
>confused and cowardly over its loyalty.
>
>Sidibeh, Stockholm/Kartong
>
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