Yero and Fankung, This was disappointing news for UDP and the opposition. However it was not a surprise to me. I am informed by a conversation I was a party to that included Rambo. His joining the APRC is the manifestation that the UDP will and can never satisfy Rambo's desires. It makes you wonder why Yahya inflicts so much harm on some folk. And I agree with you that it is folk like Waa and Rambo who afford Yahya the justification for wanton human rights abuses. Like Waa before him, people don't join opposition parties for the same reasons, especially in The Gambia, as I'm sure you already know. The event of switching parties is hardly news and it will continue. There will also be people to switch from the APRC to UDP, NRP, PDOIS, and GMC for various reasons. I share with you Yero that it is not the event of switching parties that we should worry ourselves with. It is the character that switches political parties and for what reasons that should concern us. Imagine switching political parties for the following reason: "If you cannot beat them, join them"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That should inform us about the mental state of the switcher. Beat them at what is the question! At abduction, torture, maiming, and killing???? I encourage the UDP to continue campaigning for the hearts and minds of Gambians. For every deserter, there are 10 more whose confidence is to be sought. This has nothing to do with whether or not the opposition ought to form an alliance. If it did, imagine an alliance of opposition parties with folk like Waa and Rambo???? That will have been a suicidal alliance and you will have efforted to replace Yahya with another Yahya. Rambo has made it clear that he joined Yahya because after trying to play Yahya's game and he could not beat him, Rambo now joins Yahya. The game then continues for Rambo. On the separate question of opposition alliance, I think if it can be done, it is far superior to each of the parties prosecuting the election independently. My friend Daffeh can recall the culprit conversation I alluded to. That was when I was surprised. Not now when Rambo finally switched to APRC. Rambo's attempt then, to cleanse that suggestion did not convince me. We must all resolve to be honest and true all the time. Not just some times when it suits our ware. Not when Rambo switched to APRC. Fankung, the decision of Rambo to switch to APRC is neither celebrative for APRC nor for UDP nor for any opposition party. Yahya's goals are temporary and person-specific. I generally think on the far side of all events. So I want to share with you the short-term "value" of Rambo's action: For self-interest. It doesn't matter how many of Gambia's youth Rambo will deceive into APRC with him. In his warped mind, he thinks he is doing the youth of Bakau a favor. Rambo will temporarily gain and Yahya has no choice but be fleeced by Rambo. Temporarily. Allah never sleeps you know. We will come back here to re-visit the Rambo affair. Haruna. In a message dated 1/18/2011 12:48:39 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: _http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2011/01/17/political-bombshell-udp-youth-l eader-ramba-jatta-defects-to-aprc-.html_ (http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2011/01/17/political-bombshell-udp-youth-leader-ramba-jatta-defects-to-aprc-. html) In as much the story on Rambo's defection is of bad taste, the reportage over his defection is true. Gainako was able to get in touch with members of the UDP party who confirmed the story reported by Freedom. Admittedly, this is another hard blow to the limping opposition fraternity. The source we spoke with hinted that Rambo will be positioned in the Tourism industry by the APRC. That said, it helps to add to Jammeh's plate as a way of justifying his habitual human rights abuses and iron-fist rule. I hope the latest bomb explosion at the opposition quarters serves as a lesson for all of them, that unity is the only way around. If they drag their feet in uniting, they will lose some of their folks to the APRC. One truly wonders over this recent dramatic turn. Rambo out of all people has finally decided to mortgage his pride and integrity, and defect to the APRC leadership, a party that humiliated him to the brink of death. Like the town crier would say upon delivering a message with bad taste, thus: “I am sorry for being the carrier of this message.” Yero. There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone! ____________________________________ Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:32:20 -0500 Subject: [>-<] UDP’S RAMBO DEFECTS TO THE APRC—UDP LEADER - THE END OF THE OPPOSITION From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Hello Fellows, I almost collapsed this evening when I saw this headline on Freedom. At first I thought it was a story that is made up by Pa Nderry, and to verify I called a few friends who confirmed that it was on GRTS. THE MIGHTY RAMBO, THE FOUNDATION OF UDP HAS TUMBLED!!!!. WHAT A DAY TO CELEBRATE!!!!. On a serious note, this is a reality check for the Gambian opposition. It must be a real shock for Darbo, just a few months before the elections. Sources indicated that Rambo is tired of Darbo's leadership and the decline of the opposition. WHERE IS SUNTU TOURAY, DAVE MANNEH, KARIM, SAINEY, and other DIE-HARD UDPs. At the same time, some of this did not come as a surprise as many here including Ansu, Joe, George Yerro, Ousman G, Oceanic Lad, Yus and others started distancing themselves from the opposition. Ansu, almost quit postuing here as he came to realize that there will be no opposition. Instead of addressing the problems of the opposition, Joe started threatening folks with deletion - sabotage. Ansu, Ousman G, Demba all ran away from the forum. Dave Manneh changed his tactics and started bombarding us with "educative" commentaries. Others, Yus still continue to blame professor jammeh for the opposition's problems.... Suntu and and Joe continue to fight over minor things.... What a day for the APRC and like I said MYDEAR LEADER will not step foot out of State House and he is Guaranteed 78%. Please, Please, my friends, Gambians LOVE PROFESSOR JAMMEH. HE IS A GLOBAL LEADER. HE IS HERE TO STAY AND DEVELOP OUT NATION. MANY IN THE OPPOSITION ARE BEGINING TO SEE IT. LET US ccept and ebrace his leadership...!!! Breaking News: Gambia: UDP’S RAMBO DEFECTS TO THE APRC—UDP LEADER UDP’S RAMBO DEFECTS TO THE APRC—UDP LEADERSHOCKED!! The leadership of Gambia’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) suffered a major political blow today, with one of its officials Bakau native Ousman Jatta, AKA Rambo defecting to the Ruling APRC ahead of the 2011 Presidential elections. Rambo, who is the UDP National Youth President, surprises the UDP leadership, and The Gambian nation, when he suddenly showed up at the Yahya Jammeh’s so called aids cure success story anniversary celebration Monday, where he announces his allegiance to the Gambian dictatator, and his administration. Rambo told APRC officials that “ If you cannot beat the system, one is expected to join the system,” signaling his parting company with the UDP, which is under the leadership of Human Rights Lawyer Ousainanou Darboe. He openly embraces the Jammeh leadership, and the developmental programs put in place by the regime at a well attended occasion. Like all other opposition defectors to the ruling party, Rambo was welcomed by President Jammeh to join him in nation building. He was told to feel at home after he (Rambo) assured the regime that he and his supporters were ready to rally behind the APRC. He spoke highly of President Jammeh’s desire to develop The Gambia. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe received the news of Rambo’s defection with shock, and dismay. This was Mr. Darboe’s most rude awakening news. Rambo never informed him about his desire to join the APRC, but his past conspicuous absences to party Executive meetings signaled that the former UDP National Youth President was up to something. Today, Rambo has openly pledged his loyalty to the APRC, and President Jammeh. Mr. Jatta suffered numerous arrests, abductions, and in some occasions torture from Gambia's security agents. He was feared death in one of his arrests, leading to an Amnesty International Fact Finding Mission to The Gambia, to investigate the whereabouts of the missing political figure. He was one of the most vocal, and fearless officials of the UDP. His departure from the party will no doubt affect the UDP's support base in Bakau, and elsewhere across the country. The Freedom Newspaper contacted Rambo on his cellular phone but he asked to be given time because he was busy with his APRC engagements. He told our reporter to call him back for a possible interview. The UDP leader Mr. Darboe had an interview appointment with the Freedom Radio JAMANO anchor Seedy Ceesay, on Monday, but Darboe was indisposed when contacted by our colleague. Perhaps, he was busy recovering from the shock he suffered from Rambo's departure from the UDP. Mr. Ceesay, then decided to contact Halifa Sallah to serve as a guest for his show. Mr. Ceesay's interview with Halifa is streaming live on Freedom Radio at this hour. UDP supporters within, and outside the country expressed shock about Rambo's defection. They said they couldn't believe what they saw on GTRS natio nal TV, as Rambo announces his defection to the APRC. It would be recalled the former UDP National Secretary, and Campaign Lamin Waa Juwara also left the UDP after he accuses Darboe of being a "CHICKEN HEARTED " politician, who runs the party as his family enterprise. Mr. Juwara also said Darboe was not accountable to the party, and its supporters. He claimed that Darboe's nomination was stalled due to back state taxes he owed to the Government in 2001 elections, a claimed strongly rejected by Mr. Darboe. Mr. Darboe accuses Juwara of misleading the party to boycott the National Assembly elections, a move Darboe deeply regretted. He said Juwara was bent on undermining the party. Besides the ruling APRC, the opposition UDP has the strongest following in terms of support base in this country. Buts the party's leader has been widely criticized for his timidness. His failure to take on the Jammeh regime, in the form of peaceful protest; is apparently frustrating dire hard UDP supporters, and officials. Since he was entrusted with the UDP leadership mantle Mr. Darboe , had not organized any peaceful assembly to denounce the maladministration taking place in The Gambia. He has been a strong advocate of the rule of law. Mr. Darboe has always prevailed on his supporters to be law abiding, and avoid activities that might undermine the nation's much relative cherished peace. -- ***** ************************************************************************ GOD BLESS SHEIKH PROFESSOR ALHAGIE YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH (PRESIDENT FOR LIFE.) GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA GOD BLESS APRC DOWN WITH THE FAILED OPPOSITION ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: _http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html_ (http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html) To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: _http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l_ (http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l) To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤