Supporters Disagree With Leader Email This Page Print This Page The Independent (Banjul) November 30, 2001 Posted to the web November 30, 2001 Seedy Bojang Banjul, the Gambia Supporters of veteran politician Sheriff Dibba say they beg to differ over his declared plans to consider coalescing with other political parties including the ruling APRC. Mr. Dibba the leader of the National Convention Party, emerged from a meeting with President Jammeh at State House last Friday with what some of his supporters called a change of heart over his political responsibilities. Omar Jatta of Brufut said Dibba's decision to consider coalescing with the APRC is tantamount to what he called slaughtering the spirit of the party, and paving the way to consolidate the exploitation of limited resources by Jammeh's government which he still sees as a military outfit. He implied that it would be criminal for Mr. Dibba to join forces with a regime whose leading officials had come to squander The Gambia's meagre resources. Dibba he said would demonstrate prudence if he considers forging an alliance with other opposition parties, instead of helping to perpetuate the APRC. Kebba Kanyi, a Serrekunda market vendor also believes that Dibba should be more interested in forging an alliance with existing opposition parties than considering to forge links with the APRC which he accused of disastrous leadership. He also argued that a political veteran as significant to Gambian politics as Mr. Dibba should demonstrates good example of fortitude, and bravery to as he put it translate his vision into reality. He said anything short of this from Mr. Dibba is cowardice and a betrayal of the common interest of those who support his party. A civil servant who wished to remain anonymous said Dibba's change of policy towards the ruling party is amply indicative of him accepting to be induced by APRC with a view to crippling the opposition. He placed the blame for the opposition's defeat squarely at Dibba's feet, saying the veteran politician was contradictory in terms by lambasting its leaders. He believes it would have been more prudent of Dibba to consider joining forces with the opposition to "drive Jammeh from power". Another civil servant who also requested anonymity bitterly complained against Dibba's latest overtures to President Jammeh saying they expose the selfish intentions of a veteran politician who has betrayed his faithfuls. According to the constitution Sheriff Mustapha Dibba through over-age would not qualify to stand in the next presidential election. Mr. Dibba is on record as a onetime critic of President Jammeh, whose leadership style he had described as militaristic, irresponsible and cruel. Some of Dibba's staunch supporters said their leader must be suffering from megalomania after he conceded defeat to the APRC government, which had been responsible for putting The Gambia in misfortunes and ruin. They said Dibba's uncompromising stance for what they called national liberation, is most needed "at this critical stage when the human rights record of the country is going from bad to worse, and Gambians continue to suffer, because of their political orientation or affiliation". _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>