INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH
  ON NADD AND LESSONS FROM ARREST OF NADD EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

  FOROYAA: It is a popular demand that we talk to you especially on issues regarding the NADD leadership?

  Halifa: I wish people would speak to me as coordinator before formulating opinions on NADD. NADD is a complex organisation with members sharing diverse opinions. Democracy requires such opinions to bloom and contend each other. This can take the form of a calm or heated debate. What matters is the official decision taken on any particular issue. It is such decisions and conclusions that I have the mandate to convey to the general public as the position of NADD.

  Foroyaa: The introduction aside, is NADD in disarray?

  Halifa: This question has been answered months ago. NADD can never be in disarray. When it was first alleged people were questioning whether we will stand as NADD candidates or return to our original parties. I guess history has laid all the speculations to rest. NADD has three National Assembly members and a councilor. It is the official parliamentary opposition in the country. NADD is more consolidated than it has ever been. I continue to emphasize to people that after ten by elections NADD is leading in popular votes. This should not be treated as ordinary information. When one considers the voter apathy or purchase of voting cards to prevent people from voting one is bound to conclude that the APRC has already lost the electorate. What is now left is whether NADD will be able to grow to earn the confidence of all those who have abandoned or are ready to abandon the APRC once they see a force that can enlist their confidence. This is the challenge before NADD.

  Foroyaa: That is a rosy picture. The information reaching us from the internet indicates that there are some internal conflicts which are surfing.

  Halifa: Can you be more specific?

  Foroyaa: It is written somewhere that Ousainou Darboe refused to defend you despite the intervention of Mr. Hassan Musa Camara?

  Halifa: I am sure people who know my history will not find it difficult to know why I defend myself in court. I am a political figure and I have never been taken to court for any other reason other than matters associated with my political opinions and actions. In the past I have defended myself in court. It would have been strange if I changed that practice in this instance. There is no issue between Darboe, Hassan Musa and myself on the issue of the trial.

  My positions and that of the defence team complemented each other. In my view, taking into consideration the massive publicity that I ran away because of subversion, credibility would have been lent to the allegations if I depart from my usual practice of defending myself in person. I have enjoyed respect from all executive members of NADD, otherwise I would have either resigned as coordinator or be removed by the other members.

  Foroyaa: The second allegation is some do not accept NADD’s present status and that the flag bearer issue in still a problem?

  Halifa: NADD is a complex entity. It was given rise to by five political parties. The Supreme Court later made it clear that the National Assembly members who were members of NADD had abandoned their parties. By election had to be held in the four constituencies. The members who had lost their seats had the option to abandon NADD and go back to stand in the name of their original parties or stand as NADD candidates. The Executive Committee of NADD met to decide how to save NADD and the other parties. It was a general view that some executive member must remain in NADD and other registered members of  NADD may reign to be caretaker executive members of their original parties. The political parties engaged in consultation and finally came to a decision on who should stay in NADD and who should be in the executive of the original parties.
  The four candidates accepted to be NADD candidates after consultation with their parties and electorate.

  They received the backing of their original parties and the NADD electorate and won.

  After the by-elections NADD was faced with the challenge of the arrest of executive members. The executive members decided to promote the agenda of an olive branch revolution by counselling the supporters not to engage in riots. We succeeded in winning National and International Solidarity.
  At this very moment NADD has put the issue of a flag bearer on the agenda. Hence NADD is definitely not in disarray.

  Foroyaa: Let us state it concretely. It is said on the internet that Ousainou Darboe has declared his intention to separate from the executive members of NADD?

  Halifa: I have indicated that in order to give continuity to NADD and the other parties members of the executive were left to engage in consultation with their original parties to determine which members would oversee the existence of NADD.

  Individuals and parties may raise issues with the NADD leadership. Such issues are being subjected to debate and when conclusions are reached NADD will be transparent in giving clear information to the public. There is no need to speculate. The facts will be made known as soon as conclusions are reached.



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