HALIFA’S REPLY TO LAMIN NJIE
Lamin,
I have read your comments with interest. You concluded that no matter who leads the Coalition there is surely going to be discontent and possible break for selfish reasons. You also mentioned that the modalities are being worked out for a formidable alternative force in the event that the Coalition fails. This is a very fatalist vision for a person for a person who appears to be calling for self-abnegation in the struggle to bring about change. For your information, the Alliance is still open to any opposition party which wishes to be a part of it. It is also open to associations which wish to be affiliated to it. The leadership is also not confined to the persons you mentioned. May be the shortest route is to give suggestion of possible presidential candidate for the Alliance.
The position of the Alliance on leadership is very simple. We have all agreed that the Alliance should select a candidate who stands a chance of being elected in the eyes of the reasonable persons. Secondly, the person should see himself or herself as a transitional candidate whose duty it is to preside over a rectification programme which should culminate in the establishment of a democratic foundation for genuine multi-party contest. Hence two characteristics are very important in the leadership of the Alliance; that is, one must be reasonably electable and one must be trusted to carry out the mandate.
It is therefore a mistaken view that the Coordinator is focused on a programme and not leadership. Each has its merit and is dictated by priority.
The first priority was to found the Alliance. This was inconceivable without discussing the basis of unity. This took a long debate but we eventually agree on the core principles, policies, programmes and practices that should govern the Alliance. These are enshrined in the MOU, the Code of Conduct and the Constitution which shall be sent to the post as soon as we finalize the registration of NADD. The Manifesto is also being subjected to hammer and nail. We shall publish the final outcome.
Since the leaders have finally established the basis of the Alliance the second priority is to subject their agreement to validation by the people. This is why we are planning to circulate the basis of the agreement and launch the Alliance. This is going hand in hand with the building of the structure of a Secretariat and its branches to coordinate all the activities of the Alliance. We have prepared and approved an organogram for the Secretariat. It will have a Finance Administration Unit; an Information, Civic and Political Education and Logistics Unit and a Programme Unit. This will be run by three staff plus a Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator.
Each unit shall have a technical committee comprising one member from each member party of the Alliance to serve as an oversight to guide the development and operation of the units. The Secretariat will have branches in each administrative area. We have already identified the headquarters of the Secretariat. We have March 31st as our deadline for the establishing of the Secretariat.
We have also adopted the principle of programme budgeting so that those who support the Alliance will review the programmes and the costs and give donations on the basis of concrete targets. I am sure you would agree that these preliminary steps are as pertinent as the selection of a flag bearer.
You predict a leadership crisis. Let me alert you that the agreement has provisions for a primary if the leadership fails to agree on a candidate. Article of the MOU states:
“The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for the presidential, National Assembly and council elections shall be done by consensus; provided that in the event of an impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election restricted to party delegates on the basis of equal number of delegates, comprising the chairman, chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each village/ward in a constituency.”
This is why it is all the more necessary to sensitise the people before we consider a flag bearer. Needless to say, if the people accept the principle they will accept any candidate selected on a unanimous basis by the leadership. On the other hand, if there is an impasse the leadership is bound to accept any person selected by the people. Whoever fails to agree is likely to be isolated. The exercise which you deem to be an ideological one is very practical and is designed to avert the very prediction you have made.
Of course, human beings are not infallible. They always have their strategic objectives and plans to achieve them. Only time will tell whether they are sound. We cannot claim that we have created an invincible Alliance. However, I can say that it is close to being invincible because it is based on the principle of unanimity. Every element was negotiated with vigour.
To conclude, you claim that I have high-jacked the Alliance by dragging it into ideology. Let me recall a paragraph from the Preamble of the MOU:
“Firmly convinced that an alliance transcending ideological and other differences in principle, policies and programmes could augur well for the country by ensuring the adherence to a common code of conduct and thus consolidate a culture of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, democratic participation, tolerance of diversity that can serve as a launching pad for genuine multi-party electoral contest based on diverse principles, policies programmes and practices;”
We needed the basis to unify and we have found the principles, policies and programmes we can agree in common. Let me assure you that each leader has the interest of its party and none can be dragged to sacrifice their interest before the altar of ideology promoted by Halifa Sallah. You may disagree with the policies of some but do not underrate their intelligence and capacity for independent and sound decision.
Lastly, you have dismissed many personalities. Let me remind you that the democratic thing is that each Gambian has a right to elect or be elected according to the ground rules. No one should be called an opportunist for seeking the mandate of the people to be their leader of The Gambia according to the ground rules. The Alliance has not stopped anyone from aspiring to lead The Gambia. What it has done is to set the ground rules for doing so, so that the end product will serve the cause of democracy and greater empowerment of the people.
Sincerely,
Halifa Sallah.
>From: lamin njie <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [>-<] Pertinent issues facing the Coalition
>Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:48:31 -0800 (PST)
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>Not everything that glitters is gold, and so is the case with NADD, better known as the "Coalition". Forget about the covenant namely the MOU, the leadership issue is the main sticking point. This issue among other things will make or break the coalition. Many people have expressed frustration with the delay in selecting a standard bearer. Initially, i was tempted to think that the coming election is more about effecting a change than any thing else, in the same vein i believe that choosing a leader now will help build the much needed momentum and also quiet some skeptics. Why is the coalition taking much time to select a leader? Here are some of the facts pulled from under the rug.
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>First, some members of the UDP hierarchy are insisting that Ousainou Darboe should, without question be the standard bearer of the Coalition. They believe he has a better chance (with the help of a united force) to remove Jammeh from office through the ballot box. Clearly they have an ulterior motive. They see this as an opportunity more to satisfy their own selfish ambitions than achieving the common goal. These are the opportunistic political vultures, not merely hovering in the air. The UDP leader has found himself placed between a hard place and a rock. Deep down in his heart, he is more interested in seeing Jammeh out of office no matter who leads, but he cannot afford to (supposedly) pervert from the desires of these hawks within the ranks.
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>Second, what perturbs me the most, is the fact that the coalition has been ideologically hijacked by non other than the coordinator, Halifa Sallah. I believe that a politician without an ideology is also a rascal. But, should ideology be a hindrance to forward movement? So is the case with the coalition. You would recall that Halifa is an ideologue of a system that defies personal politics. However, that also defies convention as far as Gambian politics is concern. People vote for an individual rather than his/her ideas or program. In any case, i believe that it is more important to syncretize differing idoelogical elements for the sake of the Gambian people. Behind closed doors there are some who express frustration with the fact that Halifa is indulging the Coalition too much into ideoligical stuff.
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>Third, Hamat Bah, and his party are not a force to reckon with as far as the Coalition goes. It is clear that Mr Bah is more interested in what politics can bring for him rather than what he can bring to the people through politics. Being a member of the Coalition may be a hinderance to his side ventures. He just doesn't show much needed enthusiam. It would serve him better if the coalition fails.
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>Fourth, the debate over the choice of a leader has raised some questions about the fact that there are still vestiges of tribalism in Gambian politics. There is no doubt that the tribe of the chosen leader has been an issue. That has not been manifested in the open, but it is one of those pesky little things that is hindering progress towards having a more united force.
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>Fifth, some members of the hierachy believe that Lamin Waa Juwara should be the leader of the coalition for the simple reason that he will not be affraid to counter any negative force from Jammeh. Equally, some have, and quiet understandably expressed concern and opposition to that idea. They believe that his leadership will harm more than help the coalition for a number of reasons. His fiery nature may alienate some voters. Members of his former party (UDP) may be forced to give up support for the coalition in exchange for a unilateral stance by the UDP. Such a breakup will immensely diminish the chance for the opposition to make gains against the Jammeh led APRC. These opposing forces are affecting the progress towards selecting a leader.
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>No matter who leads, there is surely going to be discontent and possible break-up of the coalition for selfish reasons. However, that would be political suicide for all those involved. There certainly be a formidable alternative force in the event the coalition fails. Some modalities are in the works to that effect. The sole intent is to remove Jammeh from office. By any means necessary? You bet!!!!
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>Redeem yourselves!! Redeem yourselves my brothers and sisters. The price of freedom is ethernal vigilance.
>wa-salam
>Lamin Njie
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