LETTER WRITER WANTS FREEDOM EDITOR TO RUN FOR GAMBIAN PRESIDENCY!

After This Election, Halifa Sallah Should Be relegated To History

By A Sarr-Johnson

I write with bitter taste of seeing my one time Idol and opinion leader self-destruct. Today, I would rather prefer Pa Nderry Mbaye of Freedom Newspaper to run for President than Halifa Sallah.

Is this really a pact against any Mandinka opposition leader by Hassan Martin, Hamat, Gomez and Halifa? As a non-Mandinka, I find the pact troubling and scary, because hearing Yahya Jammeh’s frequent jibes at Mandingos, and seeing a collection of non-Mandingos surround a lesser challenger to the incumbent, I am wondering, are our prejudices greater than we make it out? The pact has shown lack of sensitivity and a hand of reconciliation like it has happen in Tunisia, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya where larger opposition party leads with the backing of smaller ones. But sadly, UDP may have committed a crime by allowing a Mandingo to lead instead of non-Mandingo. OJ Jallow is a quiet hero by doing what is right.

As an keen PDOIS supporter, using my lunch money to buy the Foroyaa all throughout high School, I can safely say, I was overwhelmed by the message and conduct of the Senior Executives. Since after the 2006 election, it became necessary to look at the Senior Executives with a more sober and independent, detached mind and scrutiny.

Uncle Sam Sarr became invincible; Sedia too inconsistent and subservient to Halifa, Adama Bah took a backseat and Suwaibu, a partial behind the scene follower. PDOIS became the voice and opinion of Halifa. This led to seeing many boring commentaries, frequent monotonous interviews of Halifa by Foroyaa.

The spirit that pushed some of us to PDOIS was the hope that, they were for diversity and honest politics. This was not the case, so far as it became hard for them to attract followers and contributors to the party’s cause. The senior Executive, mainly Halifa took it upon himself to be unreasonable and inculcate some tolerance to his fellow opposition leaders.

What end it for me is the fact that, Sedia never acts to bring calmness and intelligible alternative to the PDOIS directives. Sam Sarr simply disappeared to the Foroyaa publishing. This leaves Halifa a free hand to do as he like. And for me, that is dictatorial, rigid and un-reconciliatory.

Why wouldn’t PDOIS, or Halifa be reconciliatory to the larger Opposition party? Mr. Samba Jow and some others wanted to write sidetracking readers, but in God's name, can we be honest and respect that, Gambians are not children. Halifa singular insistence on his ideas cause disunity and empty rethorics.

Even the much respected Prof Abdoulie Saine had it with on Freedom Radio. But Halifa is too caught up in the 70's thinking to change.

After a recent trip to the Gambia with my European husband, I spend some time speaking to people and seeing what is happening. In fact, you hardly hear anything about PDOIS, NRP or Gomez. The two people arguments and debates are composed around is President Yahya and Lawyer Ousainou. In fact, APRC members wouldn’t even be drawn into discussing PDOIS, because we are not a threat and have never been neither is there any indication that we will in the near future.

The politics in Africa is never perfect just like the rest of the world. However, to accept the dominance of a particular opposition party is the height of maturity, tolerance and lack of bitterness. I am not a UDP member or supporter, but I will vote for them if that will bring change on the 24 of November.

Hamat Bah is now given a sweet, with the title, opposition united leader, Halifa may come and present himself to us in another five years time as someone who sacrificed to let Hamat lead. If that contention is true, why then didn’t he allow a party with the support base, connection, funding and wherewithal to lead instead of insisting on his instrument of convention? By the way, Mr. Lamin Darbo did well by angering us PDOIS supporters, but he stated the facts. I thank you Mr. Mbaye in advance for publishing my contribution. Please continue on the good work. You are an asset for the Gambia.

Unless, the old guards in PDOIS move on, I am withholding my support for the party.

Editors note:  Thanks reader for the confidence bestowed on our esteemed Editor Pa Nderry M’Bai, as your favorite future candidate for Gambia’s President.

Well, in view of Mr. M'Bai's  recent naturalization as a United States Citizen,  Pa Nderry,  cannot run for the position of Presidency in The Gambia.  He is a US subject, and M'Bai harbors no political ambition.  

Notwithstanding, Mr. M’Bai, will continue to inform, educate, and entertain his growing audience here at Freedom about political events in The Gambia, and around the continent.  We can serve in different ways towards nation building without becoming a President, or person of authority.

In regards to your criticism of Halifa Sallah, Uncle Sam, Pa Samba Jow, and others, we must say that we trust the expertise of the folks mentioned herein;  in providing a fitting response to your piece.  We hope they will respect your right to free speech, and expression. We also appreciate your move in speaking out. It’s healthy to agree  and disagree on issues of national interest. Thanks for your attention.