I read with utter dismay, the report BBC Focus on Africa magazine's Umaru Fofana presented which BBC peddles for an investigative report. It was short on substance and long on conjecture and listless wayfaring. The report was published on 9/24/09 and is titled:

Gambia's pitiful political class

By Umaru Fofana
BBC Focus on Africa magazine
Welcome to The Gambia, the land of "His Excellency President Professor=2 0Alhaji Dr AJJ Jammeh", a sign at airport tells visitors to the West African nation. 

 

Here, Below, I will use the report proper to highlight areas of consternation and disappointment.

 

It appears that Reporter Fofana made a visit to Gambia and he chronicles what he saw during that visit. Par for the course. Reporter Fofana also took advantage of his presence in Gambia to speak with members of the opposition parties in Gambia. His presentation of those conversations is the subject of my complaint.

 

All this publicity prompted one opposition spokesman to tell me wryly that the president is the "most popular" person in the country. If we find somebody credible enough to replace [Oussainou Darboe], we shall replace him
UDP party spokesman Femi Peters

"It poses a lot of problems for us," he sa id.] Umaru Fofana - BBC

 

Femi Peters is the spokesperson for the opposition United Deocraic Party and Reporter Fofana spoke with Femi Peters. Fofana had all the opportunity in the world to ask Femi any question he so desires on the positi on of the UDP on a myriad issues. This is appreciated.

 

[That is an understatement. Like elsewhere on the continent, opposition parties in The Gambia are beset with problems besides that of being out of power. The fact that the country has known only two regimes - some would say hegemonies - since becoming independent from the UK in 1965 seems to have blinded the opposition to the fact that their own "democratic credentials are as tattered and torn as the current military strongman-turned-civilian president", according to one Gambian journalist, who did not wish to be named.] Umaru Fofana.

 

Here, Mr. Fofana re-presents the opinion of an un-named journalist. And Mr. Fofana fronts for a journalist himself. He had the opportunity to investigate this claim because Fofana was present in Gambia and had open access to the opposition parties. I expect Fofana's notes below are exactly trained toward that end.

 

[The problem is that with the president's authoritarian presence lauding over a nation mired in poverty, you would think the opposition would overcome any petty squabbles to focus on a common enemy.] Umaru Fofana 

 

He re, Fofana conjctures that the opposition parties are e ngaged in squabbles and that those squabbles are 'petty' in the face of their challenge to defeat Yahya at the polls. This is unfortunate. I do not know from which country Fofana hails and what his understanding of Gambia opposition squabbles, if any, happen to be, but in this era of diminished fortunes for journalists some sobriety is expected. And given Fofana's first-hand and eye-witness account of the constraints of opposition parties as well as journalists, this conjecture borders on disingenuous and rumour-mongering.

 

[In fact, many of the leaders of the five opposition political parties in the country can barely stand to hear each other's names.] Umaru Fofana - BBC

 

Again conjecture. And malignant toward resolution of squabbles, if any. Petty. I am confident NO OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER IN GAMBIA SHARED such inutile disdain of their coleagues with the FOfana.

 

[Crucially, many Gambians say these parties are guilty of the very thing they often accuse the governing Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) of being: Undemocratic and lacking transparency.] Umaru Fofana. 

 

I expect Fofana will share with us whether his travels to Gambia and his visits with the opposition parties will indicate the reasonableness of this wild allegation.

 

Many do not even have headquarters, and where they=2 0do the structure is barely standing upright. Granted, though, they are operating in less-than-ideal circumstances. The government is stifling criticism by trying to cut off the oxygen for some of these parties. The United Democratic Party (UDP), for example, is banned from holding public rallies.] Fofana - BBC.

 

I suppose this obviates the allegation that the opposition parties are undemocratic and lacking transparency.

 

[But that is no consolation for many ordinary citizens. "My greatest concern is what happens after President Jammeh leaves or is removed from office," said a school teacher, who did not want to give his name. He lashed out at the president calling him "a despot". But said there was no alternative to Mr Jammeh's rule as opposition parties are not offering anything viable and lack the democratic torch to brighten his country's future.] Fofana - BBC.

 

We thank Fofana for sharing the "school teacher's" view. It would have been useful if Fofana asked the school teacher what the "democratic Torch" was in his/her opinion that was supposed to illuminate the future of Banjul. Such mindless and apparently banal comments issue from wanton and listless frustration - witness the school teacher lashing out at Jammeh the despot. It is not clear whether the school teacher, in seeing no better alternative in the opposition, is not acting20out of frustration20with Jammeh. This comment from the school teacher is theref ore not instructive to Fofana's readers. Mere gaucherie.

 

[This is a common view. One civil servant asked: "When was the last time any political party held any credible and transparent national delegates' conference to subject themselves to the democratic will of their members?"] Umaru Fofana - BBC.

 

To pass comments from two frustrated Gambians for pervasive OPINION is borderline unprofessional. This civil servant, if he/she were a member of any of the opposition parties of Gambia, would probably have known when his/her party held a "credible and transparent national delegates' conference", and would also be informed of the schedual of his party's congresses. And how does a party's holding a national congress determine its democratic and transparent credentials?  Mr. Fofana cannot even be properly informed of whether this civil servant is an APRC member, NIA member, Opposition Party member, or an independent citizen voter, given what Fofana knows about the state of affairs in Gambia. And to addition this vainglorious comment to "Common view" of the democratic credentials of opposition parties borders on report-padding.

 

The UDP came second in 2006 polls, and is thus the official opposition, but last held a conference in 2000. Some critics even dispute that date, saying the meeting was anything but a convention. The20UDP say that they are not even sure when they will hold the next one.] Fofana - BBC 

 

The Gambia has a military dictatorship which as Fofana shared is sparing no efforts to muzzel the opposition parties and the press. Fofana also shares that the UDP is presently banned from holding mere rallies. Is it any wonder then that the UDP finds it hard to hold open congresses or to share the schedual of their congresses with FOh-fana if they anticipate holding one tomorrow????? Is Foh-fana aware that Chief Manneh and Kanyibaa Kanyi and a multitude of other Gambians remain abducted and their whereabouts are not known despite Judicial rulings to present them in court? To answer to any and all charges brought against them????

 

[Most glaringly perhaps, the party has had only one leader since it was founded in 1996.] Foh-fana again.

 

How does an opposition party in Gambia having only one leader since independence present a glare on the party's democratic and transparent credentials???? Opposition Party leaders are chosen by the party's members and rank and file. If those who matter choose a leader and maintain that leader for eternity, how does that affect the democratic credentials and transparency of the party?? I'll tell you how. Sans any infringement on the rights and freedom of the voter, It indicates the advanced stage of the party's democracy. And where is Foh-fana from again????? I trust he is not British. If he were, he would understand the basic tene ts of democracy and he would have been dis-ingenuous in his report here.

 

[Its spokesman and campaign manager since its birth, Femi Peters, said Oussainou Darboe has been at the helm for so long because he is "the fittest person" and shows no compunction in saying so, adding: "If we find somebody credible enough to replace him, we shall replace him."] Foh-fana - BBC.

 

Well there you have it. I suppose Foh-fana does not think the UDP has a lesser democratic credential because "Femi Peters is the UDP's spokesperson and Campaign manager since the party's birth". And Fofana is getting the UDP's position from the UDP's authoritative source.

 

[Without a delegates' conference in the near future, this will not happen anytime soon.] Foh-fana - BBC.

 

Why would reporter Foh-fana conjecture that when the UDP holds a delegates' congress, that the UDP will choose another spokesprson/manager or leader?? And if the UDP chooses another one of these, how does that relieve the UDP of democratic and transparency's burdens?

 

[Mr Darboe himself was out of the country on vacation during my visit and refused to comment via email.] Foh-fana - BBC

 

Foh-fana left Ouainou overseas and flew to visit Gambia. Unless Fofana has not done his homewo rk to schedu le his interviews properly he would have known Ousainou was out=2 0of Gambia when FOfana visited the country. And Fofana spoke with Femi Peters, the UDP official spokesperson and campaign manager. What does Fofana need to bother Ousainou with by sending e-mail questions to the party leader? How can Ousainou establish the veracity of what the UDP party spokesperson shares with Fofana as the party's position? This is highly unprofessional and indicates Fofana is pursuing the foolhardy prospect of festering the petty squabbles he alluded to earlier. Moreover, subsequent e-mail conversations between Foh-fana and Ousainou reveal Foh-fana admitting that Ousainou's response was "too tardy" for Foh-fana's report but no where did Ousainou express REFUSAL to respond to Foh-fana's e-mail questions. This is a clear case of Foh-fana lying to slander the good name of Ousainou. It is most unfortunate. And after the BBC published Foh-fana's report and Foh-fana now recognizing his errors and omissions, It will be proper for Foh-fana to apologise to Ousainou and the UDP.

 

[Reacting to all this, a journalist I met who is not a supporter of President Jammeh simply shook his head. It seems The Gambia does not follow the precedent of its near-neighbour.] Foh-fana - BBC.

 

I presume by near-neighbour, Foh-fana alludes to Senegal. How does what obtains in Senegal become precedent for Gambia in matters of party management???? This is unfortunate. And how does a journ alist's20cluelessness translate to the ordinary person's deficiencies??? Enquiring20minds want to know.

 

[In Sierra Leone the tendency is that anyone who leads a party to a defeat at the polls immediately ceases to be its leader. In contrast, in The Gambia there seems to be no such limit imposed either by a party's internal constitution or its electoral fate.] Foh-fana - BBC

 

I suppose Foh-fana is from Sierra Leone then given his familiarity with that country's party politics. Therefore he should be comforted that Gambia is well within reason NOT to use Freetown as guide for party management. We are still living the nightmare that is SierraLeone, hopefully never to repeat anything SierraLeone again. I am shocked Foh-fana uses SierraLeone as guide for Gambia. WHat happened to the mysterious plane at Lungi by the way? And the rescue efforts in the recent boat accident at Freetown bay? For lack of time now and because Tiger is at East Lake for the Fedex championship, I shall return to my comprehensive complaint of Umaru Fofana's report on BBC. Allez. Haruna. I advise the BBC to reject the temptation for Tabloidery.

 

[Halifa Sallah, once the most vocal and courageous critic of the current regime, is sadly another case in point. He is probably as right as he is complicit when he says Gambians have lost hope in all their politicians. Mr Sallah has been secretary-general of the opposition People's Democratic Orga nisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) since its establishment=2 0in 1987. When asked about internal democracy - or the lack of it - within his party, he deviates into a history lesson, and then gets all philosophical.] Foh-fana BBC.

 

My complaint regards the last opinion of Foh-fana. Halifa attempted to answer FOh-fana's question regarding PDOIS' internal democracy by sharing some history of PDOIS with Foh-fana. A history that will reveal much about PDOIS' internal democracy. A history that Foh-fana is scarcely aware of. Unless Foh-fana thinks a party's internal democracy can be adequately reviewed without the party's history, he ought to allow himself t be educated on such. So a history lesson was in order to answer questions of democratic ware properly. Foh-fana characerizes Halifa's history lesson as DEVIATION. Deviation from what? This is a poor choice of words if Foh-fana is not pre-disposed to judge PDOIS' internal democracy as non-existent as he insinuated at the top. His query of Halifa therefore seems to be designed to affirm Foh-fana's preconceived notion of a paucity of democracy within opposition parties. This is unfortunate passioned reporting. And I wish to share something with Foh-fana; Opposition party internal democracy is insignificant to democracy for Gambia. Democracy pre-supposes access to the tools of governance for a nation. In that regard, the opposition parties of Gambia are associations of Gambians and therefore can only operate according to the dictates of their20charters and ambiances. In the hazardous conditions of the Gambias, it=2 0will have been perfidious to pre-judge how an opposition party will govern by how the party is managed. The atmosphere is so totally different between opposition management and governance that barring crime and stark grafignette, any comparative analysis is foolhardy. Besides, governments of coup d'etats never spring from organised political parties. And why would Foh-fana, a man reporting on philosophies (politics and political administration) be averse to philosophy and prophecies? And is Foh-fana's disquiet about philosophy significant to his readers and listeners if objectivity and dispassionate rendition is his ware????

 

Defending his long stay at the top echelon of the PDOIS, the former presidential candidate told me that his party was "in transition" from 1987 to 1994 when the military coup happened which banned all political parties.

 

Halifa did not have to defend his stay, long or short, at PDOIS' helm, by the historical facts that Foh-fana was lacking. This was the extant fact. It is automatic defense for the subdued state of the opposition parties. Foh-fana himself asserted that Yahya continues to spare no effort in muzzling the opposition. SO even where the bans have been lifted, it were mere cosmetics. WHy would Foh-fana conjecture that Halifa was defending his "long stay" at the PDOIS helm by reminding FOh-fana of what FOh-fana already admits to???? Foh-fana meddles much and guides his report more. UNCONV INCING. Haruna. More to come later. Does Foh-fana have an editor at the BBC to vet his reports prior to publication???? Is Foh-fana's editor sleeping on the job????

 

[THE GAMBIA AT-A-GLANCE
Politics: Gambia has been relatively st able under the iron-fisted rule of Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1994

Economy: One of Africa's smallest countries has few natural resources and is highly dependent on peanut exports

International: Gambia separates northern Senegal from the southern Casamance province; a dispute over ferry tariffs led to a border blockade in 2005

 

Once the ban was lifted in 1996, he said his PDOIS functioned up to 2001 when they formed an alliance with four other political parties under the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) - but this was an alliance that collapsed pretty much before it started.] Foh-Fana BBC.

 

What does an Alliance of PDOIS collapsing pretty much before it started have to do with PDOIS' internal democracy and transparency???? An Alliance is formed with other parties on agreement. The success or failure of such an alliance does not say much if anything about any single party's democratic dispensation.

 

[But Mr Sallah is still the PDOIS secretary-general 22 years on. He concede s the point but is quick to add that his party "operates on [the system of] collective leadership. Individuals who are in authority do not have individual powers [because] there is no individual-centred leadership in the party," he said, sounding as unconvinced as he looks embarrassed.] Foh-fana BBC.

 

How can Foh-fana qualify Halifa as UNCONVINCED and EMBARASSED by the mere FACT that PDOIS chose Halifa to lead the party for 50 years??? And what an awful choice of words for a reporter of an interviewee and for an objective Investigative report. Is it not clear that Foh-fana aims to purvey his own views and sentiments in what he calls a report for a platform such as te BBC? I find it highly passionate and unbecoming.

 

[With a governing party respected only by its die-hard supporters, Gambians and most diplomats in the country believe that opposition parties should show a greater level of democracy within to send a strong message to those in power.] Foh-fana BBC

 

I would ask those two Gambians and those diplomats in the country to share with us what demcracy they are envisaging for opposition parties. And why they would wait for such democracy to acknowledge criminal behaviour from other. They can't advise Yahya on propriety if their jobs depended on it, why would they grasp at straws of democracy? It demonstrates their own delinquencies.

 

[But perhaps Gambians are all -too-familiar with a statement by their first leader, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who after nearly 30 years in power, announced he was stepping down. This did not stop him returning to the fray shortly thereafter saying that his People's Progressive Party had been prevailed upon by the people to let him stay.] Foh-fana BBC.

 

"His Peoples Proressive Party had been prevailed upon by the people to let him stay". He was sharing with you the internal management of the PPP. WHat does that have to do with opposition party democracy or transparency??????????? That is the $64,000.00 question for you Foh-fana. And how does that translate into the current opposition parties' shortcomings in democracy and transparency. If the people (their party supporters) prevail upon PDOIS or UDP to let Halifa or Ousinou stay at the helm of their parties respectively, what's it to you or anyone else who is not part of that management? Better yet, if the supporters of APRC prevail upon APRC to let Yahya stay at the helm of APRC, a party that Yahya created and developped, what's itto you and me Foh-fana, or the BBC????????

 

[Not long afterwards he was overthrown in Mr Jammeh's bloodless and initially popular coup.] Foh-fana BBC.

 

You will remmember that the PPP was an incumbent party that had governed Gambia for 20 odd years prior without much to show for it. UDP and PDOIS have not governed Gambia yet. An how does a gover ning party delinquency inure a COUP D'ETAT by a band of criminals???? A change of government yes, but a criminal President???? It is like saying Foh-fana is a bad head of household so a criminal ought to impound on his home and take over the running of his home and family. And what does that have to do with PDOIS or UDP's internal democracy and or transparency when you have no evidence or rumour of rights violations or information suppression therein????? Is that how the SierraLeone civil war began???? By allowing criminals to pounce on governance because they had lost hope in the existing opposition political parties?? Is not the sum-total of incumbent supporters, opposition supporters, and Independent persons, the total population ofa nation????????

Haruna. 

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