LJD, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Every person has his or
her own opinion hence it is not worthwhile to argue with opinions.] Modou.
It is opinions that characterized the infamous meeting between Hons. Sidia and Ousainou. They gave each other their opinions and were supposed to GET BACK TO EACH OTHER. That is the disposition of folk trained toward a common ALLIANCE I think. [The best is to respect them and recognise the wisdom in them if any.] Modou. It is the opinions of the Honorables. It is for them to respect those opinions. We, on the other hand are not beholden to those opinions nor hold a particular regard for them if any. [If I may want to follow the pattern of your argument and try to respond to all that you raised it would mean reducing this whole exercise to a mere exchange of words.] Modou. COnversation is a mere exchange of words until either party acts on those words. [Needless to say, if you are left wondering what “speculations” Sidia is talking about, me Modou Nynag, I am not. Since Sidia’s meeting with Darboe rumours were spreading in the country regarding the meeting and it’s possible outcome, hence the need to clear the air.] Modou. I see you find need now to argue speculations (opinions). It is a tricky proposition Modou to discount exchange of words and opinions as mere chatter. [I would want detail of every meeting be made public for everyone to know what transpired because we have nothing to hide.] Modou. I wish you to consider that if you pour your heart and soul out to me today, I still wouldn't know if you have something or nothing to hide Modou. Think about it. What we intend to hide, we store in irretrievable memory. WHat we intend to share we store in random memory. [We are faced with a similar situation regarding the NADD situation.] Modou. You appear to be re-litigating NADD Modou. Tell me it ain't so. Could it be that Hon. Halifa transferred negotiating powers to Sidia (NADD) because NADD was to be relitigated ad-infinitum? [Even a meeting between Sidia and Darboe after Darboe pulled out of NADD was rumoured as Sidia joining UDP.] Modou. The ides of NADD!!! Imagine what would happen when you hold a primary among opposition politicians Modou. Under AGENDA 2020. [So LJD, you have a right to your opinion, but don’t think that will also stop us from acting the way we feel is right and appropriate.] Modou. The problem then comes alive when each of us ACT on our unique opinions. Because we all think we're right and our opinions are appropriate. This is the idea behind conversations and negotiations for commoner relief. [“It is the "primary" question that stands in the
way of a united front in the sense that its architecture appears to rig the
outcome in favour of Halifa”.
LJD, this is the second time you have said that the primary
aspect of Agenda 2011 is designed to favour Halifa. What makes you say so? Are
you saying that when Halifa is in a ballot to select a single candidate to
represent the opposition against others including Darboe it will go his way?
Why and How? You have to answer these questions.] Modou of JDAM.
I will yield for JDAM to share his OPINIONS with your OPINIONS Modou. Albeit couched in inquiry. Besides, I have no comment on AGENDA 2020 and caucuses and primaries. In a country where the battle is to remove one idiot from office. Never will have. A sheer waste of time and resources to me. [And to say that it is the primary question “that stands in
the way of a united front”, is an utter statement to say the least. How is the
primary question standing in the way of a united front? It is interesting that
your option for a way forward for a united front is “UDP leading a united front
under an ironclad agreement constraining its ability to misbehave
once in government.”] Modou.
There is no other way you can control the behavior or misbehavior of your fellow in a democratic society. You must rely on their better wisdom....Binding constraint. CHeck with Putin and Medvedev for more ideas. [LJD, may I inform you that your favoured option for a united
front is a deterrent to opposition unity to me as well as many others.] Modou.
It very well may be Modou and you are entitled to share that opinion with us just as JDAM shared his with us. Either of you or both of you sharing that does not the deterrent make for the sober and reflective among us. When a people is confronted with momentous considerations as Gambians are at this time, frivolous schemes will not paly a large role in their calculus. Trust me. {And by the way what do you consider an “ironclad agreement” that will be able to constrain the “ability [of the UDP] to misbehave once in government.” LJD, I really want to know. Being the legal person that you are your input in such an agreement will be worthwhile.} Modou. Ironclad agreement in law means an agreement signed by the parties to a negotiation. Nothing more nothing less. It does not mean clad in steel or any of iron's alloys. [Personally, I share wholly Sidia’s view that he is "not
sure which political leader in the opposition could take voters away from the
ruling party and motivate those who abstained in 2006 to cast their vote”, to
help the opposition win the election.] Modou.
Modou, I also recognize that Hon. Sidia may not be sure of the foregoing. I will add however that if Hon. Sidia wishes to be sure that the opposition takes votes away from Yahya and encourage those who abstained to come out in their good number, unafraid, to vote, is to combine the efforts and gravitas of all those opposition political leaders in an ALLIANCE. That is sure to cover all the ambiguities. And don't discount the symbolism inherent in an ALLIANCE-FRONT in the eyes of the vrai voters. In La-Guinea and Mali, folks were not sure which of the opposition political parties (incl. ATT) would win. But after hallmark ALLIANCES, any of the sober won. And Mali's government was a national unity government. La-Guinea's government promises to be that too. A National Unity government is actually a misnomer. What we call a National Unity government is actually a Government as democracy envisioned. [Your argument that “UDP has a far larger support base than any opposition party in the country” is not a good enough argument and guarantee for us to flock behind them.] Modou. Modou, consider that that opinon of JDAM is not good enough argument. Now consider UDP (whose support base is questionnable therefore) alloyed with NRP, PPP, GMC, and PDOIS. Or let's say PDOIS has the far larger support base than any opposition. Then consider PDOIS alloyed with UDP, NRP, GMC, and PPP. What do you think you're gonna git???? [Furthermore, I personally discourage PDOIS from ever
thinking of supporting a UDP led alliance. We are not part of UDP.] Modou.
Let's say PDOIS ascends to your advice Modou for fancy. Would you envisage UDP, NRP, PPP, or GMC or all to ever think of supporting a PDOIS-led alliance??? After all none of these parties are part of PDOIS. DO not mistake grace and consideration for obsolescence. You are basically constraining PDOIS' dynamism in the future should they heed to your advice. It is comforting to know that PDOIS is a more reflective party than that. [We are a party of our own with it’s holds different views on how to run the affairs of our country once mandated by the people.] Modou. The other parties are parties of their own which hold different views on how to run the affairs of our country once mandated by the people. At this time, we work on "being mandated by the people". PDOIS will not lose its identity and uniqueness by forming an electoral alliance with other democratic parties if PDOIS' interest is democracy. [However, conscious of the circumstances on the ground and the
position of the parties’ seeking to replace the APRC in government, we fully
subscribe to a pooling of resources and strengths to effect a change of the
system. This pooling of resources should not amount to helping one part of the whole
into becoming a lord over the rest of the others.] Modou.
I suppose you'd rather the other parts pool their resources to help PDOIS into becoming Lord over them. How can a party become Lord over her allied parties Modou????? I see you're in a defiant mood these days my friend. You cannot forge an alliance with this attitude. Imagine if Francois Lounceny Fall, Ousmane Bah, DIallo, Kouyate, Fofana, Kourouma, Bangoura, Toure, Baadiko, Barry, Kaba, or Camara had your frame of mind. We would not have had this new hope for La-Guinea. [Since it is the collective input of a group that helps to bring about such a change, it has to be transitional in order to finally give way for a level and multiparty contest by all on equal footing, nothing more nothing less.] Modou. I don't see anyone arguing with the concept of a transitional government. By its very definition in democracy, a government is inherently transitional. And the level and multiparty both should be accrued in that transition. Frankly I don't know what your anxieties are Modou. You seem to agree at the end of your notes that what an ALLIANCE would yield (change) is good. But in the beginning, you take exception at PDOIS even considering a party-led alliance on account of PDOIS' uniqueness. It is unique parties that form Alliances. I suppose if the other parties were to wake up on the wrong side of the bed one day and say "PDOIS, we would like to follow your lead in an alliance of our parties" you would reject it outright because they are different from you????????????????????? Allahu wakubaru!!! [A change for the better is what we are yearning for not the
elevation of others above the rest.] Modou.
In America, we were yearning for a change for the better. We thought we would elevate Obama above Hillary and the rest so he can be our Pall-bearer into that change. The scenario you envisage is that of a stalemate society with a whole bunch of chiefs and no injuns. [If any is so desperate let them go get it hence no one can accuse us of helping to put in office a bad government whenever it turns out to be so.] Modou. And if doesn't turn our to be so?????? You don't want to be accused of removing your persecutor for fear your brother might replace him. A brother who has never indicated to you in his history that he will persecute you. Eh Allah. [If PDOIS was only interested in changing governments, the PPP government would have been history long before 1994.] Modou. You're funny Modou. WHy do you think there was no PDOIS during the COLONIAL GOVERNMENT that preceded the PPP????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? That is the $64,000.00 question. I suppose PDOIS did not have the requisite consciousness then???? And what is PDOIS interested in besides replacing the government of the day????? Maybe we can point PDOIS in the right direction when we know what he's wantin. Men, I'll be late for my meeting. Later men. What a pain in the arse??? Haruna.
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