Bailo
What do you mean by "belittling the efforts or doubting the
commitment of any politician on the frontline of Gambian politics"?
Where is the "frontline" in Gambian opposition politics?
I urge that you re-read this Foroyaa editorial for a
proper appreciation of its fundamental message. Coming on the heels
of the STGDP chat on GRTS international, the context is quite clear, and
the message is extremely disappointing in its broad generalisations
about matters Foroyaa could, in all likeliness, not be privy to. With
time, the broad contours of this emphatic editorial would become
clearer, and it is not going to be pretty.
Would UDP see Foroyaa as speaking for the Party in your
highlighted passage? Unlikely!
Would the NRP? Again, unlikely!
Foroyaa is affiliated with a political party, and in the
circumstances, it may be reasonable to assume it is speaking for
the leadership of that Party. Viewed in the round, the
implications of the editorial are explosive. If you want my
instinctive view on a very clear editorial, I am incline to the
conclusion that there is unlikely to be a united front against
His Excellency SHEPAD Yahya A J J Jammeh (the Professor) in 2011. I am
not crying about that possible outcome.
Foroyaa should be on notice that we will discuss Gambian affairs as
appropriate, acerbic, and clueless editorials
notwithstanding.
As in 2006, I urge Gambians to hold on to their purses and not
support anything other than a united front for 2011, assuming there
is a 2011 in electoral terms. No single party can challenge the
Professor's APRC in an unfair electoral contest, and the logic of a
united front is not limited to poll outcomes.
LJDarbo
From:
bailo jallow <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Foroyaa
Editorial: The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag of The Gambian
Diaspora
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, 21
April, 2010, 15:16
Foroyaa states:
"Foroyaa
would like to come to the defence of such parties by emphasizing
with all the emphasis it can command that those who criticize
such parties but are unwilling to contribute a dime to their
well being are sheer hypocrites."
Constructive
criticism or citicism in good faith of the strategy/manifesto of
any party to me is as important as giving a political party
money or funds. However I do not subscribe to attempts by a few
towards belittling the efforts or doubting the commitment of any
politician on the frontline of Gambian politics. I do not think
that resorting to such tactics is fair or of any potential good
for the opposition. Resorting to such methods would only
generate needless bickering and animousity within the opposition
instead of directing efforts and resources towards developing
genuine unity base on mutual respect between opposition
factions. The illegal incaceration of Femi Peters is a personal
sacrifice that Femi was personally prepared for and as a key
member of the UDP, it is also the price that his party is paying
towards the freedom of Gambians. The legalistic approach of the
UDP is therefore the best approach towards freeing him fom jail.
Anyone who thinks otherwise should try to implement what they
think is the only effective response.
The following
statement by Foroyaa is also a testimony of the immense
contribution of PDOIS to the quest for sanity in the governance
of the Gambia. It is applaudable.
Any body
who reads Foroyaa daily cannot fail to see that the Government
is being engaged in all areas. Detentions without trial are
being exposed, Seccos (ground nut buying centres) were monitored
during the trade season which yielded positive results by
engaging the marketing agencies, rural infrastructure and
services are being monitored, the economy is being analysed and
all civil, social, economic, political and cultural factors
impeding development are being exposed and
combated.
The same goes to the positive
contribitions the leaders of other parties especially Omar A
Jallow and Lawyer Mai Fatty. They are all playing their parts as
expected of them. We salute you all.
In conclusion, I
suggest that all opposition parties to respectively select a
negotiator on their behalf for the task of achieving agreement
for a united stance against the APRC in 2011.
Best
wishes to all!
Bailo
--- On Wed, 21/4/10, Modou Nyang
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From:
Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:
Foroyaa Editorial: The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag of
The Gambian Diaspora
To:
[log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, 21 April,
2010, 11:40
|
The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag of The
Gambian Diaspora
The Leaders of the APRC must wear a smile every day
as they read many on line and local papers on the state
of the opposition in the Gambia. Some claim that they
are toothless bulldogs. Others claim that they are
preparing for failure in 2011. Some argue that the
opposition is not worth following until they engage the
Government.
Foroyaa therefore consider it in the public
interest to do a review of the situation of the
opposition in the Gambia.
First and foremost, we have realized that a
political party is as powerful as its number of members
and supporters or its capacity to control state power.
Our evaluation of nominations of Presidential Candidates
reveals that none of the political parties ever had up
to 20000 persons endorsing their nomination papers. This
simply means that no political party in the Gambia has
up to 20000 members. In fact, discussion with some
informed executive members of parties confirm that many
members of parties expect something from the leaders
instead of paying membership fees. Hence, many political
parties depend on patrons instead of membership dues to
sustain their activities. Many of those in the Diaspora
who make contribution see it as helping individuals in
parties to achieve position of National leadership
instead of fulfilling a National duty. Many opposition
parties are therefore unable to build a base among the
people. Foroyaa would like to come to the defence of
such parties by emphasizing with all the emphasis it can
command that those who criticize such parties but are
unwilling to contribute a dime to their well being are
sheer hypocrites. They have transformed the opposition
parties into punching bags as a means of covering up
their own political impotency and apathy. We therefore
recommend that those who do not select to support a
political party or form one if they are dissatisfied
with all have no right to criticize those who are making
effort to make sure that the Nation is govern according
to the will of the people or offer themselves as
alternatives. Those who are not making any effort to be
on the ground to defend the interest of the people but
are just criticising citizens who have the same
obligation as they do are responsible for the current
predicament of the Gambia. They are in fact the problem
of the Gambia. They frustrate the little or big efforts
others are making and thus sow the seed of political
apathy.
Political parties may have few members but could
have many supporters. In short, more people turn out to
vote for a candidate than the number of the members of
his or her party. Foroyaa does not have to quote the
results of elections since the 2006 Presidential
elections to confirm that political apathy is not only
affecting the opposition but also the APRC. Hence, many
people are not coming out to vote for the parties. The
challenge is for existing parties to develop new ways to
win the hearts and minds of the people or new parties
which could do so to emerge. The task of Gambians who
are not helping political parties to find new ways or
create parties to replace them is to appreciate the
efforts of those who are at least putting their energies
and monies where their hearts are.
This is no time for opposition bashing. These are
times to find solutions to shortcomings.
Governments are not only engaged by political
parties. They are engaged by the whole citizenry who are
all stake holders. How many Gambians in the Diaspora
attend programmes organised by political parties? Very
few. However, they turn up by the hundreds to attend
social programmes. It is best to use such social
programmes to get them to discuss the future of their
country.
There is no doubt that the Government is being
engaged at all corners. Any body who reads Foroyaa daily
cannot fail to see that the Government is being engaged
in all areas. Detentions without trial are being
exposed, Seccos (ground nut buying centres) were
monitored during the trade season which yielded positive
results by engaging the marketing agencies, rural
infrastructure and services are being monitored, the
economy is being analysed and all civil, social,
economic, political and cultural factors impeding
development are being exposed and combated. What is
missing in the Diaspora, are objective patriots who are
willing to direct their energies and resources to
strengthen parties of their choice or help to set up
one. Opposition bashing will not lead us anywhere other
than the road to political apathy. Only those who do not
want a better Gambia would engage in such a trivial
affair.
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