This being my first contribution, I wish to first begin by given a brief analysis of our present political situation. The question I will first ask is : Who is best placed to replace Jammeh for these elections ? Our present political parties are : PDOIS, UDP, NRP and the revived PPP. As for PDOIS, most intellectuals who have understood their manifesto do agree to side with them since the PPP era, but their inability to win the large gambian populace who have the power to put them in are yet to understand what PDOIS is and the party seems only contented in wining the hearts of few educated individuals around. Their time, therefore, is still not even around the corner. Could that be why they are not even hesitating to form a coalition ? UDP, unfortunately for those who trusted them in the beginning, seems to drift away from positive politics. Their campaign, if not tribalist, is more of destructive criticism. They have probably forgotten they should present a positive and constructive manifesto to win the hearts of Gambians. They should have acted more of advisers rather than rivals to the Jammeh administration. Mr Hamat Bah has proven very vocal in assembly sessions but he lacks the image a ‘respected-to-be’ leader should have. He acts more like a clown. As for our PPP friends, it would have been better if the should think of joining the other parties. Or haven’t they found a better party to join ? Lets now come to the APRC party. There is no doubt it is a party of soldiers. It is. Yahya would have been honoured or even idolised if he had chosen to step down after taking over the country. Which ever president had been elected would have showered on him respect and honour. But no ! He stayed. And like almost all juntas, he intends to stay forevermore. No amount of infrastructures built, well-rehearsed speeches or battle for international recognition, all in search of cheap popularity, would acquire him that honour and prestige he would love to have. Exactly like in Jawara’s era, all those flocked around him are fighting for their selfish interests. They are afraid to see themselves in the streets. Are they honest with their intentions. Thanks to Yahya to all he has done, but like his namesake in the bible- John – he should announce the coming of the next president and step down. That’s the way he can get honour and international stardom.

However, after all these analysis, who is best fit to be the « saviour » ?

Kurawel

>From: Lamin Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: THERE WILL BE AN OPPOSITION ALLIANCE (Soon) >Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 17:40:16 +0000 > >Mr. "Dampha", >Once again here you go speculating. It is true that the oppositions >are >working together and they may come up with something by thursday to >my >understanding, but it is in no way going to be able to ouster the >present >regime. >President Jammeh is going to be elected because of what he doing for >the >country. The Gambian peole are not sleeping. They have seen a 30 >plus years >of any Jawara alliance and I have no doubt that they will vote >Jammeh in for >those reasons. >Obviously our national state could be better, but not based on some >forged >alliance to be headed by any former PPP stalwarts. We have all seen >the >Jawara five year development plans and what a seven year actual plan >could >do. The Gambia is far better off today that yesterday. This might be >arguable depending on who you talk to, but certainly infrastructure >wise it >is the truth. >What some of you failed to understand is that the country was at a >very >sorry state when it was being rescued, and any alliance that has the >Jawara >likes will be the worst mistake the opposition will do. This will >just fuel >the opponents of such. >And yes, Mr. "Dampha" we all know how much you will and continue to >try to >show how cunning you could be to show that you are not taking sides, >but >your writings speaks volumes. I always see you on the defensive when >your >one sidedness is shown, but you need to break up from that. >October is around the corner and I have no doubt that the old >mandingo >saying that "a lost wrestler will always have an excuse" will be >seen. I >hope you all will have the courtesy of acknowledging it when you >lose. I >can't wait. > >Lamin Ceesay. > > >>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: THERE WILL BE AN OPPOSITION ALLIANCE (Soon) >>Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 12:35:03 -0400 >> >>The final nail has just been registered on Yaya’s coffin. The work >>our >>leaders on the ground have been putting in during the past few >>weeks have >>finally bore fruit. THERE WILL BE AN OPPOSITION ALLIANCE to fight >>the >>October Presidential Elections. According to irrefutable >>information coming >>from Banjul, ALL the Opposition Parties (UDP, PDOIS, NRP, PPP, NCP, >>GPP) >>have agreed in principle to form a coalition to fight Yaya in >>October. >> >>There are one or two sticking points, but these issues are >>negotiable and >>will NOT prevent the formation of the Alliance. I will NOT dwell on >>those >>issues out of respect for our leaders on the ground. We continue to >>pray >>for >>them to reach a consensus as soon as possible and announce the >>structures >>of >>the Coalition before the end of the week. We need to move quickly >>and >>present a United Front that is going to register a resounding >>defeat on >>Yaya. >> >>I am confident that when the leaders announce the modalities of the >>Coalition, all well-meaning Gambians will be happy with the >>outcome. >>Opposition supporters would have realized that their leaders put >>the >>interest of The Gambia at the forefront (overshadowing narrow >>Party/personal >>interests). I cannot express in words how proud I am to hear that >>our >>leaders WILL come together to fight the menace in our society. The >>maturity >>shown by these leaders in recent days, is highly commendable. They >>managed >>to take themselves above the pettiness coming from APRC stalwarts >>aimed at >>bringing discord in the Opposition. Attempts from APRC to pit one >>party >>against the other have woefully failed. Our leaders are smart >>enough to >>recognize that removing a child murderer from a position of power >>in the >>country, is more urgent than fighting over old battles that cannot >>be >>redressed now. >> >>I wish the leaders all the best. I hope they communicate >>effectively to >>their respective constituents and explain to them the benefits of >>joining >>an >>Alliance aimed at removing the Dictatorship back home. Above all, I >>look >>forward to the day when all these leaders will stand on one >>platform and >>endorse one leader to defeat Yaya. The endorsement should be >>followed with >>vigorous campaigning in every party’s stronghold, for the leader >>selected >>by >>the Coalition. This is a very important turning point in Gambian >>History. >>By >>the end of this week, Yaya’s dead warrant would have been signed. >>KB >> >> >>_________________________________________________________________ >>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at >>http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp >> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>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/intl.asp > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------