Haruna Darbo,
Good morning
Given the current political climate in the Gambia, I think the question should not be about whether or not the Gambia opposition can unite behind a competent leader. We have seen that happen in many places in the world. The question should be about whether or not our opposition leaders are ready to stand up to the challenge. If their goal is to improve the wellbeing of the Gambian people, they must unite to achieve this noble goal.
How could they blow up the chance we had in 2006? How many innocent Gambians have been arrested, detained, tortured, and harassed by the government between 2006 and now? Many times these victims are not the opposition leaders, but innocent Gambian citizens who are often their supporters. Worst still, the opposition leaders rarely demand justice for these victims. They languish in filthy detention centers across the country. Does one man’s ambition to rule the Gambia more important than a united front to change this dangerous path the Gambia is set on?
We will not forgive the opposition leaders for their failure to exploit the best opportunity we had in so many years. Many of us don’t accept the fact that under current conditions, no single opposition party in the Gambia can defeat the APRC. Therefore the most practical cause of action is for the opposition to unite under one umbrella and challenge the APRC, by insisting on rule of law and fair play.
Of course, size matters as most UDP supporter would argue, but it is irrelevant right now, since no one party can do the job by itself. A united front will give birth to a formidable force that will not only win the election, but also set the stage for elaborate rectification to prevent the current status quo from returning. I think all the opposition leaders should approach the negotiations for a united front without preconditions.
Furthermore, I don’t think subjective judgment about which party is strong or weak is relevant at this time. The synergy that would emerge from a united front would be stronger than any single party’s competencies. In fact, the urgency of the time requires us to act swiftly or risk further disintegration of our society.
What is it going to be? Are we going to use the internet to make mockery of those on the ground resisting the current status quo, or are we going to use our collective wisdom to bring the opposition together for a higher moral cause? Each of us has a responsibility!
Thanks
From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Gambia Opposition Should unite under lawyer Ousainou Darbo
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 2:32 PM
Mr. Touray, Lawyer Darboe, Halifa, Sidia, Hamat, OJ, Mai, or Waa CANNOT unite the opposition behind them. Do you agree? What each of these folk can do is to unite their partisans behind them. You can however coalesce opposition parties. A Union of political parties is not what is desired and may be impracticable given their raison d'etres. Any coalition (if that is what you mean) begins with recognition of the value in coalition which you have summarized beautifully. Then formulate a clear purpose for the coalition. The identification of the constituent parts/elements of a coalition comes after that. It is now past time for sermons and gratuitous disdain should you desire a coalition. Or is it a Union you desire??? What we have now is this: UDP/NRP Alliance weakened NADD GMC So you would want to strengthen UDP/NRP alliance. Strengthen NADD after her contours are
defined Engage in conversation with GMC and after NADD is properly defined, identify the responsible officers of NADD to negotiate with Then perhaps you can yield a coalition. It cannot come out of the rarefied air of conceit and cluelessness. Haruna. -----Original Message----- From: Muhammed Lamin Touray < [log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]Sent: Wed, Jul 15, 2009 2:45 pm Subject: Re: The Gambia Opposition Should unite under lawyer Ousainou Darbo
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Where is Lawyer Darboe? Is he still in the Gambia? If he is in the Gambia and still involve in party politics, I think it would be appropriate for him to unite the opposition behind him, rather than asking the opposition unite under him. As the name indicates, leaders are supposed to lead their followers, not the other way round.
Darboe should come out from hiding and take a stand on the illegalities of the Jammeh regime. UDP supporters are still languishing in illegal detention; I don't hear Darboe take any meaningful action.
I would support this proposal if Darboe take his rightful position.
--- On Wed, 7/15/09, lamin dampha <[log in to unmask]" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: lamin dampha <[log in to unmask]" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Gambia Opposition Should unite under lawyer Ousainou Darbo
To: [log in to unmask]" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 10:56 AM
0A
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Bailo raise some good points and i think something can come out of it when given a chance. UDP is the only opposition party that can pull over 100,000 votes .The problem of the last coalition is the issue of leadership and the rules and regulations put in place for the leadership of the coalition. Nadd coordinator was so much concern of after jammeh, rather than tackling the changed the gambian peoples want at that time.You cannot teach the electorates how to choose a good leader or who is good or bad, when the electorate did not believe that change is possible through the ballot.
In my own opinion , i think that any gambian who comes after jammeh ,will be better than Jammeh, so what we need now is just someone who can workout for the change ,by convincing the electorate that change is possible through the ballot.
Gambian oppositions always stand a chance ,if one take a closer look of the number votes the oppositions had and the the number of peoples that refused to vote during the last elections . The target of the next coalitions should be to those peoples who did not want to vote in one way or the other.
I would also like to suggest for the Gambians abroad to consider helping foroyaa with a FM Radio station, so that the opposition can have place to broadcast their meetings.
On campaign style ,lets=2 0used the campaign style that gambian electorates known ,house to house ,bantaba to bantaba .I would like to suggest two songs of yusu ndour to be used during campaign periods for the next coalitions,the songs are "JUMM" and "DOLEH". AS we all know that before meetings starts they used to play musics, so this two songs are very good songs and its has a strong message that can counter "AFINJANG".
Dampha
Nema
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