Hamat Bah is United Front's Flagbearer

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Hamat Bah is United Front's Flagbearer

Friday, 04 November 2011 14:00

Hamat Bah

(JollofNews) – A Coalition of four opposition parties, called the United Front at one day convention on Thursday elected Hamat Bah of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) as its candidate for the country’s November 24.

Out of 212 delegates, Hamat Bah captured 118 votes of the votes, while his main contenders Henry Gomez of the Gambia-Party for Democracy and Progress (GPDP), and the independent candidate Assan Martins, a human rights lawyer, respectively managed to have 69 and 20 votes. Halifa Sallah of People's

Hamat Bah, Leader of the opposition United Front

Democratic Organisation and Socialism (PDOIS) had before hand made it clear he would not run for the presidency.

''We are all winners in the process. We are looking forward to a bigger win. It is not an easy task, but we can have a new Gambia come November 24,'' Bah told delegates soon after his election.

Considering that the Convention has strengthened the United Front political might, lawyer Martins told hundreds of delegates that the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) has made several unforgettable mistakes, and is still operating on
wrong policies and going into the wrong direction. ''We adore the President's herbal treatment. But this country needs a full-time president. A president cannot have a clinic or business to run and focus on national issues'.'

In a posture of strong vigilance, Hon. Sidia Jatta of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) made it clear that there has not been a competition. ''This election will seal the United Front. We must understand that the United Front is all inclusive, even APRC members can become part of it,'' he indicated.

The four-party coalition, which succeeded to seal an United Front against President Yahya Jammeh's 17 years rule, was unable to agree on a compromise with Gambia's main opposition party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), whose leader has categorically rejected the idea of holding a convention of all opposition political parties in order to choose a presidential candidate for a coalition. UDP's Ousainou Darboe is being backed in his move by the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) of the exiled Lawyer Mai Fatty.
Written by Abdoulie John

Comments

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0 #49 2011-11-15 10:31

Don't catch snake with certain people,they are not reliable!!

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0 #48 2011-11-07 20:31

"He went on: “In the Jarra West bye-election there was suggestion for independent candidate, but I said my party will not support a candidate on an independent ticket. After all, that is a UDP stronghold. We ended up fielding in a UDP candidate and he won."

"“That was the state of affairs until in April 2005 after signing MoU for the establishment of NADD; some insisted that NADD must be registered. I told them if you do, you will run into some constitutional problems because an individual cannot belong to two parties. The result of the registration, we all know,” Darboe explained."

"Of course, the results was catastrophic as UDP and NRP unceremoniously quit NADD and joined forces, leaving smaller parties such as PDOIS, PPP and NDAM after Darboe’s bid for a party led alliance did not have the support of others, save NRP."

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0 #47 2011-11-07 20:28

Quoting soope UDP:

Janjang, you don't even know the difference between programmes and isssues. No wonder you come across as a complete nuisance, AND that makes you unworthy of my engagement.
Thanks

THE ISSUES INCLUDED; FAILURE OF NADD, "MERGER", LEADERSHIP, COMMON GROUND, COMMON POLITICAL PLATFORM, REGISTRATION OF UNITED FRONT AS AN INDEPENDENT PARTY OR SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL PARTY CANDIDATES BY PARTY, BANNER, MOU & PACT, AMONGST OTHERS? NOTE THESE STATEMENTS FROM LATEST UDP LEADER;"“I cautioned against the formation of another political entity because individuals can come together to form a party, but registered political parties cannot form a political entity,” he said."
"“I suggested that the party that has the larger support should infact provide the candidate. When it comes to parliamentary, we look at the strength of various parties in various constituencies and support the party with bigger support in a particular constituency.”

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0 #46 2011-11-07 20:14

Quoting soope UDP:

The joint opposition statement acknowledged the comittment of all the opposition parties to unity and that is what laawyer Darboe buttressed yesterday. The difference centred around the issue of leadership and nothing else. That is an incontravateble fact.

Thanks

If NATIONAL UNITY spearheaded the united front; what is the essence of claiming/demanding all other opposition parties must rally on "UDP Party-Led"? A united front jointly agreed and UDP leader being leading contender; acknowledged that they can achieve all objectives on both proposals but maintained its stance on "Party-Led" to canvass from other opposition parties to be sidelined based on domination and hoodwinking? If there was sincerity on UDP when two proposals are tabled and voted; the one that is unanimous won! So why clamouring on a defeated resolution and still insisting you were right not to continue on the united front negotiations?

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0 #45 2011-11-07 09:14

The joint opposition statement acknowledged the comittment of all the opposition parties to unity and that is what laawyer Darboe buttressed yesterday. The difference centred around the issue of leadership and nothing else. That is an incontravateble fact.

Thanks

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0 #44 2011-11-07 09:00

Janjang, you don't even know the difference between programmes and isssues. No wonder you come across as a complete nuisance, AND that makes you unworthy of my engagement.

Thanks

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+1 #43 2011-11-07 06:30

PDOIS and its progressive front clearly are on track for solutions and effective mobilisation of opposition front UNDER ONE UMBRELLA WITH ITS THEME OF "ONE GAMBIA ONED NATION ONE DESTINY" AND MOU?

UDP SHOULD HAVE INTEGRATED AND NOT DEMONSTRATED EGO, DOMINATION AND MORE UNIQUE THAN OTHER GAMBIANS?

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+1 #42 2011-11-07 06:22

UDP sanctioned the talks at eleventh hour, dictated its agenda mainly to canvass from other opposition parties for them to rally behind UDP leader and its strategy/posture on UDP Party-led is undemocratic and awkward against UNITED FRONT IN SPIRIT OF COMPATRIOTS, NATIONAL UNITY, PARTNERSHIP, SOLIDARITY, COMMON GROUND AND COMMON STRATEGY/TACTIC/PROGRAM TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD?

ALL OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE LEGALLY REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES WITH POLITICAL PLATFORMS, CITIZENS ENFRANCHISED, CREDIBLE LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN NATIONAL CAKE FOR 2011?

Public outcry and demand is for NATIONAL UNITY and not UDP to undermine it; capitalizing and stealing credibility from other opposition parties on plight of ALL CITIZENS; affected by Jammeh/APRC mal-governance? UDP cannot seize power and control by imposing authority on other political leaders, attempting to sideline their political platforms and party voice; clearly undemocratic?

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+1 #41 2011-11-07 06:05

Quoting soope UDP:

Janjang, I have acknowledge difference on the leadership issue.

I think you need to use your brain before speaking.

Thank

This quote is what I challenged as deceptive and not true;Bax stated "'They wouldn't commit themselves to a common program of reforms because they want to do it their own way...'- And you reacted to BAX, ......The truth is; the difference between pdois and udp is not about programmes but how to select a flagbearer, period....."

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