Musa:
You have touched on one of, if not the most, important stumbling blocks to a united front of opposition parties in Gambia. I will first reiterate your call for clarification that no one is asking for public negotiations for a united front – a contention the UDPlings seem to be hanging for no reason.

UDP is no doubt the biggest opposition party in terms of votes cast in past elections. However, Ousainou and the UDP leadership have on several occasions, missed the opportunity to take up their deserved leadership position in setting the agenda for any talks towards a united front. They seem to wait for others to come and ask or beg them to join because ‘they have the biggest party.’ This is a fundamental breakdown in leadership that is proving to be the biggest problem right now.

UDP is dead stuck in front of the door and no one else can get through!

It is very disingenuous to blame Halifa and PDOIS for “taking advantage” of the situation of lack of leadership wherewithal in UDP and attempting to set the agenda for a united front. Something that should have been done by UDP the first time round. If Ousoinou is dragging his foot to take the lead and set the agenda, someone has to fill the void and this is where PDOIS stepped in. It is unfair to blame them for filling in where needed.

Even among siblings in a large family, a leader always emerges; it does not necessarily have to be the oldest. In a wolf pack, the natural leader will always emerge and take the lead. In 2006 when the NADD leadership issue was being debated, I made the observation that Halifa tends to be the natural leader among the pack because he is more likely to step in a fill the role when everyone else is hesitating or waiting to be accentuated. What is it about Gambian leaders that they love to say “the people asked me to lead?” Gambians naturally love to be seen as not usurping leadership when it is necessary and I think this is Ousainou’s problem. He is being too humble to be an aggressive leader. That is not what is needed at this time.

Another issue that I will probably come to is that of trust between these two – Ousainou and Halifa. And this has everything to do with the issue of leadership as well.

-Laye

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