Cherno,

You are too much invested into politics of personality. UDP is not supposed to be about Darboe and he made it clear neither should the APRC or Gambia be about Jammeh.

Until we rid ourselves of this narrow vision we will never figure out a solution to our problems.

Thanks

Demba

On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 7:33 AM, C. Omar Kebbeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

As rumors circulate that he may hand over power to Mai Fatty, Darbo has made it clear that he would rather have the constitution amended so that he could continue to run. As a lawyer, he should be the first to defend the constitution. If I may add - the constitution was ratified way before party politics started. And, it is the choice of Gambians to put a 65 years age limit.

One thing is clear, we are beginning to see UDP crumble into pieces. Iagree with him that there are a number of competent folks at UDP. I can name two - Shyngle Nyassi and Femi Peters.

S HE TURNS 64 DARBOE TALKS OF HIS FUTURE,SUCCESSOR

07/08/2012 13:39:00Sainey MK Marenah

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The leader of the United Democratic Party will turn 64 on Wednesday and in a year tomorrow, he will be automatically barred from seeking the presidency in any subsequent election according to the provision of the Constitution of The Gambia.

But the main opposition UDP leader and veteran lawyer rubbished claims that he will be quitting politics when he blows his 65th birthday candles.

“Why should I quit politics, for what reasons? Because of my age? No! People are in their seventies, eighties, and even nineties and they are actively involved in politics. Look across the border, the current president of the Senegalese parliament [Moustapha Niasse] and the former president of Senegal, Wade were aging but still actively engaged in politics, so why not Ousainou Darboe who is just 64? I will not quit politics and in fact it is only the grave that will separate me from politics. I will be part of UDP and on the center stage of politics. I will be out there to give my support to whoever is elected to give him or her support and canvass votes for the UDP.”

Speaking in an interview with The Standard yesterday afternoon at his Kotu Residence, Mr Darboe dispelled rumours that he might be opting for 'early retirement' in his political struggles.

“I will be turning 64 and the constitutional limit is 65 years so I have not yet exceeded the age limit. But before [the next presidential election in] 2016, I would have scored 65 years. I am praying to God to live beyond 2016. These are human arrangements that individuals of a certain age will not be qualified constitutionally to contest election but… well that is what we have and I believe it is a constitutional impediment; a very unfair one because we have seen people in their seventies contesting elections. The older you are the wiser you are and more mature. The way you handle the affairs of the state with maturity, you don't do that in youthful age,” the man from Dobo stated.

Darboe who lost to Jammeh several times told The Standard: “The UDP has more competent and probably more capable people than myself and if the present administration thinks that it's over with Darboe's age, then they are making the greatest mistake. Someone [will come who is] more tenacious and critical than Darboe; someone who will really make sure this country is rescued from the clutches of dictatorship. I also want to say the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, was in death row awaiting execution and he walked out of jail to become the president. So anything can happen. We are asking for both constitutional and electoral reforms so we can have electoral reforms and that provision which set age limit could be changed. And certainly if this government believes in democracy; believes that everyone has right to contest for presidency and it is the programmes not the age that matter, then they should lift that constitutional ban. Let us contest on ideas than age. If you are eighty with better ideas than someone who is 35 then Gambian people should be allowed to vote and see.

“UDP has lots of people who can take the leadership in the United Democratic Party well educated, people of character, people who are principled and committed, patriotic and people with vision and focus among women and men,” he expostulated.

On the prospects of a UDP-GMC amalgamation with GMC's Mai Fatty in the lead, the UDP leader said: “I have good relationship with all political parties and Mai is one of those people. My relationship with Mai Fatty is based on mutual respect and trust.”

He described as baseless and unfounded that Mai Fatty may succeed him at the helm of affairs at UDP saying: “I don't know who is spreading such rumours. In fact I am hearing this from you. I don't know the source of these rumours and I do want to comment on them.”

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