Be rest assured that the opposition UDP will win this election more than expected. Mr Jaiteh might come from Badibbu, but he got every thing wrong. The people of Njaba Kunda cannot support APRC because Maron Jammeh is still detaining one of their noble son LALO JAITEH and sent Alhajie Kanteh to exile. One thing I know is that come Saturday, the people of Badibu and Kiang are going to show the whole Gambia and the world that Jammeh will loosed the October election.
>From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: How sure is an opposition victory? >Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 16:43:18 -0500 > >Jaiteh, please allow me to engage you here in a very constructive >manner. I >will try my level best not to be perceived as attacking you. I want >to >believe that we are on the same side here. Having said that, I must >express >some dissent here. I just read you try and rationalize an APRC >victory in a >manner that even APRC stalwarts on the ground cannot begin to >envisage. APRC >stooges like Sedat Jobe are now talking about the October elections. >They >have given up on this one. Their worry is now how to recover the >deposits >put up by their candidates. This is not Opposition propaganda. These >are >facts on the ground. > >If you read newspapers or call people on the ground, they will >inform you >that whereas UDP rallies attract thousands of people, APRC bring >bus-loads >over to Baddibu and Kiang and pretend that their few long-time >supporters >are crossing over from UDP. We all know that they are lying. And >please do >not tell me that these thousands of UDP supporters are going to the >rallies >(risking their lives) just to pass time and that they have no >intention of >voting for the party. These are enthusiastic and dedicated >supporters. > >Why is Saho's personality not fair game? If the man is a drug addict >uneducated loser, you think the people of Baddibu are not entitled >to know >that before they send him to Banjul to represent them? Are you >avoiding >talking about the man's character because you are afraid that that >might >lose him some support? > >In your analysis you left out the influence SM Dibba still has in >Baddibu. >You also failed to factor in the impact of Nafa Saho's unprincipled >move >when he sold his soul to the devil for a Pajero. I also think it is >unfair >to try and undermine the Opposition's campaign pledge that they will >help to >develop the constituencies. First of all, UDP is not planning to >remain in >the opposition for very long. Come October, they will be the >government of >the day. Right there, your contention is neutralized. But even if >they do >not win in October, I remind you about why we are having a >by-election. Do >you remember what the MPs were doing when they met their untimely >and >unfortunate death? Was it Yaya who financed the mosque they went to? >Opposition MPs can also be effective. > >The argument that only candidates of the ruling party can help >develop their >constituencies, does not hold water. You call Nafa Saho a shrewd >politician, >I call him a low-life opportunist. I hope the Opposition do not >listen to >you and go ahead and expose the two Sahos for what they are. They >should >highlight the broken promises they were given by APRC. They should >reiterate >how devoid of good ideas people like Yankuba Touray are. > >Finally, I will respectfully counsel you to liaise with people on >the ground >before you write such thesis. Reports we got indicated that when >Yankuba >Touray (your so-called son of Baddibu) faced off with Darboe in >Baddibu, it >was Touray that was caught running with his tail in between his >legs. There >is no way Yaya can win this election if he does not steal it from >the >people. Our farmers might have been screwed by the APRC government, >but >people in Baddibu and Kiang are not so destitute to (en masse) sell >their >votes for 25 dalasis (which I understand is the going rate APRC is >offering >to UDP supporters). These people are smart enough to know that this >is just >the beginning of the end. Come October, the final nail will be put >in the >coffin. Rest assured that any attempt at intellectual >rationalization of a >Yaya stolen victory, will be challenged. >KB > > >>From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: How sure is an opposition victory? >>Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 15:42:22 -0500 >> >>As reports on the by-elections campaign come in one would like to >>think >>that >>the UDP is for an easy win in Baddibu! My question is how sure are >>they? >> >>Even in a normal election year, central Baddibu's elections are >>always >>close. That is largely because of 1) demographics and 2) >>traditional >>rivalry >>between the two main population centers, Salikeni and Njaba Kunda. >>Shrewd >>politicians like Dr.Saho understand that very well and had in the >>past used >>it to his advantage. Past elections showed that with Salikeni >>divided (both >>candidates come from there) the guy who takes Njaba Kunda had >>always been >>the winner. When Njaba Kunda and Salikeni have their own candidates >>the >>trick is to capture the surrounding villages. The internal >>divisions within >>Njaba Kunda and Salikeni do not allow for block votes. >> >>With that in mind I am seeing this as a particularly difficult >>contest for >>the opposition. >> >>1. Salikeni is deeply divided. Both Lamin Dibba and Sakou Saho are >>really >>equals in the eyes of ordinary voters. They are all little known >>outside >>their friends and family. To the ordinary Baddibunka, they are the >>same. >> >>2. None of the two would capture Njaba Kunda by themselves.One can >>say >>Sekou >>Saho has the advantage in Njaba Kunda because of Dr. Saho and >>Yankuba >>Touray. Njaba kunda is Yankuba's adopted home. He grew there. APRC >>losing >>in >>1996 was really a combination of alienating both Sherif Dibba and >>Dr Saho >>and AFPRC arrogance. This, I believe was quickly learned and he >>spent a >>great deal trying to mend fences with Njaba kunda. Transferring the >>Chieftaincy to Njaba Kunda was all part of that. Dr. Saho on the >>other hand >>is Sekou's uncle. Infact it could be argued Sekou is really a >>surrogate >>candidate. I wonder how many remembered Buba Saho contesting as >>Independent >>candidate on Dr. Saho's ticket in central baddibu in 1972 when Dr. >>Saho was >>disqualified by Jawara and SM Dibba on technicalities? Well this >>time it's >>not different. >> >>3. The opposition. The opposition do not seem to understand the >>demographics >>or politics. Could one argue that they went early after Dr. Saho >>and in >>effect helped APRC from committing political suicide? Perhaps they >>did. >>Lately they are spending too much time on Sekou's personal life. I >>wish >>instead of saying much about Sekou's education or lack of knowledge >>about >>Baddibu, they would try to engage the Baddibunkas about their kids >>who are >>either killed or missing during the so-called coupe attempts or >>those >>languishing in jails without charge or exile without a cause. You >>wonder >>why >>they are not saying anything thing about the recent Hajj 2001. When >>it >>comes >>to economics they should avoid the "if I am elected I will develop" >>Baddibu. >>The Baddibunka's know very well Opposition do not have the >>resources to >>"develop their districts". They should be talking about the trade >>season >>and role of Yahya government. Also they should not underestimate >>the role >>of >>money in this. While the Baddibunkas are very descent and honorable >>folks >>many of them are very poor indeed. Yahya and his team know that. >>The >>opposition should realize that few people can afford not to take >>money for >>their vote. Afterall, their cousins in Banjul, the well-to-do civil >>servants >>are selling much more than votes! >> >>I hope am dead wrong! >> >>Malanding >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the >>Gambia-L >>Web interface at: >>http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >>You may also send subscription requests to >>[log in to unmask] >>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to >>write your >>full name and e-mail address. >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >_________________________________________________________________ >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the >Gambia-L >Web interface at: >http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html >You may also send subscription requests to >[log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to >write your full name and e-mail address. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------