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Re - PDOIS/UDP discussion
Tuesday, 07 December 2010 00:13
Press releaseDECEMBER 5, 2010 Having been waiting for Mr. Ousainou Darboe to come back to me as promised after meeting his Executive Committee, I was invited to a meeting by the PDOIS Executive Committee to brief them on whether the UDP leader had spoken to me about any Alliance that they wanted PDOIS to join which aims to discuss the future of the country and the modalities of creating a united front without any conditionality. It has been brought
to my notice that the GMC leader, Mr. Mai Fatty, has called on PDOIS to join an Alliance but has not sent any document to indicate that an Alliance exists which PDOIS should join. After my discussion with the PDOIS Central Committee, I have seen the need to make my discussion with the UDP leader public so that all speculations would come to an end. Gambians should bear in mind what has happened in Guinea Conakry and what is happening in Cote D’Ivoire at this very moment. Some leaders are not interested in historical legacies. They are only interested in having their way whether for the better or for the worse. Finally, it is the ordinary people who pay for the follies of their leaders. I do not want any body to link me to any dragging of feet regarding the creation of a united front by the opposition. My discussion with UDP leader was direct, frank, short and without any ambiguity.
We discussed four main items, that is, his concept of what constitutes the international standard of forming opposition alliances; the NADD experience, Agenda 2011 and the need for opposition collaboration to monitor the registration of voters.
Mr. Darboe told me that the international standard of establishing opposition Alliances is for the party with the majority to lead and the others to follow.
I observed that it is unfortunate that in the Gambian context there is no second round of voting which would have made it possible for the people to select the two candidates who could participate in the final round. I added that if he wants, he as UDP leader to be supported as a candidate, on the basis of the principle he mentioned, he should go ahead and start a campaign to sell his candidature to the Gambian voters.
I emphasised that on my part, I am not sure which political leader in the opposition could take voters away from the ruling party and motivate those who abstained in 2006 to cast their vote. Hence I subscribe to the idea of holding a primary for the people to select the candidate of their choice in line with Agenda 2011. I told him that this is why I endorse Agenda 2011.
We then discussed the NADD experience. I made it very clear that even though other options were put on the table, all parties agreed to create NADD. I showed its successes and possibilities as a viable opposition Alliance . He maintained that NADD was destroyed by others.
He expressed his view that Agenda 2011 is very good on paper but that he fears that it is not workable. He said that if different opposition leaders go on a political platform to campaign to be the Candidate of the opposition, they may engage in character assassination just to win votes. I told him that his fear should be laid to rest since Agenda 2011 is calling for each party or Independent personality to promote the Agenda on one’s own platform and seek a mandate of the people across the board. I emphasised that the mere fact that all voters who support the Agenda would be called upon to vote for the single candidate makes it essential for no candidate to be subjected to character assassination, since he or she may very well become the people’s choice of candidate. At that point he said that he was reassured.
Finally, he questioned whether it was not possible for the opposition to collaborate to monitor the registration of voters. I told him that this was a necessity and every effort should be done to do so.
He assured me that he would hold an extraordinary meeting with his committee and come back to me. Since then I have been waiting to know what their stand is on Agenda 2011 or selling his candidature to the Gambian voters. These are the ways forward that are before the UDP leader and they need to take a stand and move on instead of giving the impression that Sidia is dragging his feet on the issue of a united front.
I have made it abundantly clear to the PDOIS Central Committee that there is no political vacuum for the creation of a United Front in the Gambia . The UDP leader has the option to start his campaign for the people to accept his candidature and extend invitation to others who are yet to be confident that he alone could put an end to voter apathy
Agenda 2011 calls for each party to go on its own platform and campaign for its own candidate to be the single candidate of the opposition through a primary,
NADD is still legally registered and all political parties could embrace it and then come together to select a single candidate. As far as I know PDOIS still subscribes to the NADD idea but PPP under OJ has also not pulled out of NADD.
Those who want to support the opposition should take their sides and promote dialogue while not undermining each other’s positions. This is the way forward. I am willing to meet any representative from the GMC or any other party that aims to discuss Gambia ’s future. Issuing comments in cyber space without knowing the concrete realities on the ground is not enough.
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Comments
Once again, thanks for your insults. I know you are inept and therefore expects you to offer nothing but insults.
Cheers
If you cannot accept that it was samba who first mention the tribal issue in one of the topics where he acused UDP of tribalism and making reference to one Bamba Mass, that tells me that you and samba are birds of the same feathers. And do you even know which tribe I belong? Who told you I am part of UDP? you see; you are exactly like samba. you have a delusional perception about anybody you think is a mandinka who supports UDP. You will never be allowed to stifle this debate with such henious venoms.
I am not telling you my tribe but i can state that i am not for UDP per se but a UDP led all inclusive opposition alliance, and i have stated my reasons for that.
Gambia is a nation of tribes but tribes that have co-existed for centuries.
Do you even know whether you and I are of the same tribe? You are terribly sick, bro.
Once again, thanks for the insults.
Samba have no hatred of any tribe from his postings but rather pointing out tribalism in UDP and in Gambia is not a news for anyone and that the sole reason why UDP will NOT win Election in Gambia by its own.
From what I read, I think it is you who is using tribe here and even naming which tribe. You are not a good person and try use Darboe tribe as sole reason to brush away his incompetency. Samba have no hatred of any tribe from his postings but rather pointing out tribalism in UDP and in Gambia is not a news for anyone and that the sole reason why UDP will win Election in Gambia by its own.
I totally agree with Samba and those tribal elements are people like you.
You correspond with Samba clearly shows you are the one that do and use TRIBALISM and IT IS CLEAR that the only reason you Supported UDP.
Darboe is held hostage to SUCH people LIKE YOU in UDP and that what Samba was TRying TO PUT INTO YOUR STUFFED BRAIN. Go and talk bull shit to others. You are HYPOCRITE or just a small KID trying to voice your parents opinions. Try and be a better person and no need to reply because you are immature to understand Gambia or Samba's worries.
With regards to Mr. Darboe seeking refuse in the Senegalese Embassy, I have no doubt that that was a matter of necessity for there was a credible threat to his person security. It is exactly the same thing Alassane ouattara of Ivory Coast is currently doing by seeking refuse in a UN occupaid hotel. Thatt means what Mr. Darboe has done is exactly the same thing any reasonable person in his position then would have done. If he had acted like a fool and got killed in the process, that could plung the country into choas as his supporters were likely to react. This is not what we need in the Gambia, and I applaud Darboe for his level-headed approach to issues.
Those who seek violence as a means for political change must not align themselves with the UDP because UDP aspires for peace, progress and justice.
Thanks
Well,the trouble my bro,is that we don't know where he stands on key issues like:
political reform,job creation,reduct ion of the trade deficit,etc,etc ,but it is my gut feeling that he won't fair any better.
However,I do believe that he will allow more freedom of expression,will not sanction witch hunting,will not tolerate human rights abuses,etc,etc.
Thus, an environment conducive for genuine national debate to happen would have been created. I believe that,unless Jammeh changes his leadership style,which is unlikely,this cannot take place in The Gambia.
If they fail to unite,neither UDP nor the coalition,will defeat Jammeh.
I hope I made myself clear. Once again,thank you all for your contributions.
Quote'My focus is how to build a UDP led coalition of all opposition parties...'
That is your political formular.Full stop.Any other formular is from planet Mars,according to you. Well that says it all. If that is not intransingence, I don't know what is.
My bro Abdurahman,I only mentioned Sir Dawda's departure to show that if faced with the same scenario,Jammeh would fight,rather than leave and avoid bloodshed.
Would Mr Darboe do the same. If he's done it once (at the Senegalese Embassy) he probably would do it again.
I reminded him that i have relatives in three tribes in the gambia, and therefore nothing he said would make me insult any tribe. However, I will be relentless in exposing his mandinkaphobic tendacies, which i think is dangerously abhorrent to be condone here. If he drop it, i won't call him out.
My focus is how to build a UDP led coalition of all opposition parties to flush-out Jammeh as per required by the rules of conventional politics. Samba's tribal jabs is simply sickening and it is about time he is called out on it so that progressive gambians can have a mature debate on this coalition issue.
Anyway, thanks for the insults.
SopeeUDP,I think your statement above contradict your name given.If anyone here have to say which party member you are, well I guess your "name" tells that. You are fake and a liar. You are a sick and obsessed of UDP and have tribal complex which you are always trying to bring with Samba. The sole reason is because you cannot explain why you support a party or leader as every normal person does e.g he fights for rights to dead, he will go to jail for rights, he is vocal and brave despite his life is threaten etc. This is lacking in Darboe. You can come with such argument instead of Majority or tribal defences. You are the one tribal here and a Jack ass. You are the sick and stupid fool here. You stick all these tribes strategy in your dirty ass, because we know where you coming from and why you support UDP instead of what Gambian want. Your screwed head is why we constantly have a dictator sprung in Africa.Twat
PDOIS has spoken about a coalition based on a formula imported from planet Mars but they have never consulted any party about it. Therefore, it would be irresponsible for anyone to take that one seriously. The meeting with Sidia Jatta was initiated by UDP.
I think people need to accept the facts and the true nature of politics if an all inclusive coalition is to be realised in 2011. There is no way that certain politicians can hide their dishonesty in this debate by putting forward ludicrous arguments against UDP. It is not gonna work. As far as know, that party is runned by smart people, and whoever thinks you can hoodwink them, I bet £10,000 on your luck.
Thanks
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