Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="--------MailBlocks_8C87E0EF3700615_A34_BC1_FWM-M29.sysops.aol.com" MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [log in to unmask] X-AOL-IP: 64.12.193.231 X-Spam-Flag: NO ----------MailBlocks_8C87E0EF3700615_A34_BC1_FWM-M29.sysops.aol.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH ON HAMAT BAH=E2=80=99S COMMENTS IN THE STATES =20 PART ONE FOROYAA: HAMAT BAH Claims that negotiation is going on between NADD and the=20= UDP/NRP Alliance and that within a short period of time one candidate will b= e selected by the Opposition to contest the forth coming presidential electi= ons? HALIFA: At the moment no arrangement is in place for the two sides to meet.=20= When Hamat left a consultative process had started between Mr. Darboe and m= yself to explore whether any basis could be developed to serve as a foundati= on for any negotiation. Confidentiality was requested and agreed upon. Hama= t=E2=80=99s comments in fact derailed the whole process. FOROYAA: Why? HALIFA : He created the impression that he had access to information regardi= ng negotiation which had not even commenced and further remarked that NADD w= as just interested in position which completely misconstrued and trivialise= d the far reaching analysis and exchanges that I had with Mr. Darboe. The N= ADD executive gave me the exclusive mandate to discuss with Mr. Darboe witho= ut informing them of any details until agreement is reached for initiating n= egotiations. When Hamat made his remarks curiosity and uncertainty set in a= nd the whole process had to come to a stop pending further clarification on=20= what he was propagating in the US.=20 =20 =20 =20 PART TWO In this edition we continue with the interview with Halifa Sallah, NADD=E2= =80=99s flag bearer, on comments made in the United States by Mr Hamat Bah o= f the UDP/NRP Alliance. =20 FOROYAA: Why the need for Confidentiality when your own supporters were dema= nding to know what was going on in the midst of the widespread notion that a= n agreement has been reached HALIFA: It is true that many NADD supporters at home and abroad felt disarme= d. They contacted me to ask about developments and I could not explain anyth= ing to them. The reason for this is simple. None of the sides requested for=20= the talks. Interlocutors having sympathy for either side respectively interv= ened in good faith to promote Consultation between Mr. Darboe and myself wit= hout any conditionality or agenda. We had the option to chat and depart or c= reate an agenda for further consultation. The only request made by the inter= locator from the other side is confidentiality. I had to respect that wish=20= and requested for a mandate from the NADD Executive to enter into talks with= out having to report to them until something conclusive is reached. I respec= ted the request for confidentiality because of the fact that this was the fi= rst opportunity to build trust between the two sides. I am sure all keen obs= ervers of Gambian polities would notice that during the period of the talks=20= no derogatory remarks against the UDP/NRP Alliance and its leaders could be=20= attributed to the NADD leadership. FOROYAA: What axe do you have to grind with Mr. Hamat Bah? HALIFA: I have no axe to grind with Mr. Bah. He simply put me in a tight cor= ner and compelled me to explain what was happening to every one and thus nul= lified the very confidentiality sought by the other side for the two sides t= o engage in a consultation exercise. FOROYAA: How?=20 HALIFA: Mr. Hamat Bah said that there were people in NADD who wanted to use=20= others as their ladder, some who never launched their parties some whose par= ty never had a single meeting and others who had been in politics for 20 yea= rs but never got more than 2% of the votes. He then went on to state that th= ese are the people who wanted equal share with those who had 36% and 8%. He=20= was emphatic in saying that this was not possible. He said that they (UDP an= d NRP) made a serious mistake in accepting the principle of sovereign equali= ty of parties in NADD.He emphasized that they should not have accepted equal= representation, noting that it was this mistake that led to the fall out of= NADD Mr. Bah then went further to deal a blow on our consultative process by asse= rting that he will not disclose the discussions going on at the moment betwe= en the two alliances that we will agree on a flag bearer. He added that what= complicated the negotiation is that NADD wanted positions; they wanted the=20= cake that is not yet baked. He concluded that they are not going to make any= agreement as to who will occupy which position. The president will do that.= This is what Mr. Bah said in the U.S.=20 FOROYAA: What do you have to say? HALIFA: Mr. Bah=E2=80=99s claim that negotiations were on between the two al= liances could only be attributed to two things. He was either referring to m= y talks with Mr. Darboe which had nothing to do with the sharing of position= s or that he was referring to negotiation that did not exist. In either case= the statements were at least inaccurate and at best misleading. The people=20= in the Diaspora still have access to Mr. Bah. Could he be asked to explain w= hich talks were on where NADD was asking for position? I repeat NO such talk= s are taking place. My consultative exercise with Mr. Darboe had no agenda.=20= Nothing about position was discussed. It was also being done under a climate= of perfect equality. This is the first point.=20 FOROYAA: Would NADD agree to the view that treating all parties as equals le= d to the fall out of NADD? HALIFA: That is the second misleading notion that Mr. Bah sold in the U.S. O= f course if one relies on common sense logic what he said would appear to be= true. However if one analyses the reality one would consider his state to b= e unfortunate since others would also exercise their right to reply. FOROYAA: What do you mean? HALIFA: First and foremost, an alliance is not a ladder for just one party b= ut for all parties constituting it. He can be equally accused of using an al= liance as a ladder. Such negative way of looking at things will not take us=20= any where. Secondly if flag bearers of alliances are determined by records o= f previous election then Mr. Darboe would have never been the presidential c= andidate in 1996. Prior to that he never participated as a candidate in elec= tions. Thirdly, the leader of one of the parties he mentioned had won an election a= s an independent candidate during the first Republic and was unseated only b= y a coup d=E2=80=99etat.=20 Suffice it to say that the PDOIS that he was trying to trivialise by referri= ng to 2% had put up five candidates in the 2002 parliamentary elections and=20= earned two seats while having over 20% in all the other three constituencies= while NRP put up 15 candidates only to earn one seat, which he Mr. Bah had=20= lost in a by election. It is therefore difficult for me to understand Mr. Ba= h=E2=80=99s logic. What he has conveyed is that there in no spirit of negoti= ation in the UDP/NRP camp and that they are coming up with a sprit of imposi= ng their will. This is at least haughty in approach=20 =20 to negotiation which can never succeed. FOROYAA: Mr Bah said that the policy of treating parties as equals was a mis= take. What is your view on this? HALIFA: It is unfortunate that I am being dragged into such a discussion at=20= the moment when we should be engaged in the process of dislodging the APRC r= egime. Leadership requires hindsight. Let me ask every Gambian this simple q= uestion. When we met in the US after delivering our speeches in Atlanta in 2= 003 and were asked whether any party could dislodge the APRC why didn=E2=80= =99t the UDP assert then that it had the potential to do so and simply calle= d on the other political parties to give it solidarity? Of course, if this w= as said there would not have been any need to select a Coordinator. The UDP=20= would have been asked to send envoys to the various political parties to see= k their support .The parties which felt that UDP could lead them to victory=20= would have joined them. In retrospect, when we met in the US the UDP had boycotted the parliamentary= elections and had no seat in the National Assembly. NRP had lost one seat a= nd had only one seat. Only PDOIS had two parliamentary seats. The case of th= e UDP leader was still in court. There was immense hostility in the camp of=20= the opposition.=20 In my view, the parties were right to state at the time that none of them co= uld present itself as the leader of the fold. No party could take the postur= e of being superior to the other to the point of playing a big brother role=20= on the basis of its individual strength and credibility. I am one hundred percent sure that if the UDP had taken the posture that Mr=20= Bah is asking it to take now when we first met, all the representatives of t= he other parties would have left the hall to go about their business. I stan= d to be corrected. We therefore created NADD as an umbrella party to create unity in the midst=20= of diversity among the opposition parties because no single party had the st= rength and credibility to serve as a rallying ground for other parties. This= is the simple and elementary truth. This umbrella party was designed to add= ress the individual weaknesses of the member parties and further galvanize t= heir collective strength and integrity. In order to ensure that the equality of the parties is reserved as a tactica= l instrument to consolidate the strength of the opposition in order to ensur= e victory the existence of NADD was limited to five years after the assumpti= on of office by the flag bearer. During the five years all political parties= will be able to retain their individual political support and still claim o= wnership of their collective achievements under NADD. The restriction of the= mandate of the flag bearer to one term was to eradicate the advantages of i= ncumbency so that any political leader who failed to contest in 2006 would h= ave equal opportunity to seek the mandate of the people in the next followin= g election by relying on a party=E2=80=99s numerical strength. The principle= of creating an umbrella party under which collective leadership is exercise= d was designed not only to harness the numerical strength of the parties but= to build up the potential to harness voters who are either non committed to= individual parties or are supporters of the ruling party. The collective le= adership also serve as an insurance against any allegation of tribalism or s= ectionalism. Equality and collective leadership in NADD offered each voter t= he personality one could love and trust to justify one=E2=80=99s trust for t= he opposition. Herein lies the viability of NADD. Mr Bah says this was a mistake what he is= offering is imposition of dominance by the UDP. Clearly his proposition wou= ld not have created unity among the opposition from the very beginning. FOROYAA: But has an alliance like NADD ever happened? HALIFA: NADD is a united front. In some cases countries are fortunate to hav= e an opposition party which is capable of winning an election on the basis o= f its own numerical strength but can better do so by co-opting other opposit= ion parties in an alliance which it leads. On the other hand, countries may=20= be faced with a situation where the people are not sentimental about parties= and are very willing to put party affiliation aside to form a united front=20= to achieve an aim.=20 A clear example of this is Gambia in 1996 and 2001 when the UDP operated as=20= an umbrella party for the parties which were banned. I have also pointed out= the cases of Tumani Toure and in Mali and even Nino Vieira in Guinea Bissau= , where the people disregarded both the ruling party and the opposition . NA= DD could have been another example. FOROYAA: What is the way forward? HALIFA: I have said that people are calling for an alliance. We should expla= in what the two alliances are offering the people and ask them to make their= choice as to which form of alliance should be the basis of unity. As far as= I am concerned, I have made it clear that I have accepted to be flag bearer= because of my conviction that I could be accepted by all political constitu= encies in The Gambia. However, I am also willing to hand over to anyone who=20= can be better promoted among all political constituencies in the country. FOROYAA: Some are asking why you accepted to be flag bearer. HALIFA: Let me also ask why did, I accept to be Coordinator when I was Secre= tary General of PDOIS? It is duty that called and I had to answer. I would=20= like to remind people that I did not apply to be a Coordinator nor did I wa= nt to be one. When I appeared in Atlanta I was the Minority Leader of the Na= tional Assembly of The Gambia and I accepted to be Coordinator not to become= an apolitical civil servant but to facilitate a process. My mandate ended w= ith the signing of the MOU. However all the parties agreed to elect me as Co= ordinator again? That is trust. Needless to say, I did not apply to be flag bearer. Just I was unanimously s= elected as Coordinator I was again unanimously selected as flag bearer of NA= DD. I accepted because duty called on me to do so. If duty again calls on me= to hand over the responsibility to someone who can better lead us to succes= s I am again willing to do so. I am willing to do whatever duty is imposed o= n me. FOROYAA: Mr Bah alluded to a party which for twenty years could only get two= percent of the votes. HALIFA: I am the flag bearer of NADD. Since NRP and UDP cam into being I sto= od in three elections. In 1997 I stood with a UDP candidate in Serrekunda Ea= st. I had 8500 votes. He had 8000 votes. The APRC candidate had 9500 votes.=20= This is not what is called 2% of the votes. In 2002 those who boycotted elec= tions campaigned against me but I won. In 2005 I stood for NADD and won. The= picture Mr Bah has been insinuating regarding the flag bearer has no affini= ty to what is on the ground. This is the chapter and verse of the whole stor= y. FOROYAA: What is NADD doing at the moment?=20 HALIFA: We are not convinced that a one party led alliance can be promoted s= uccessfully. Hence Sidia and his team are in the URD; Waa and his team have=20= covered LRD and they are now in CRD and will come down to Baddibu. Landing J= allow Sonko and his team will cover Nuimi, Jokadu and CRD North. As flag bea= rer we will engage in debriefing when they come back to know the way forward= . FOROYAA: You must have a lot of money. HALIFA: That is what we do not have. We have changed our strategy. We used t= o rely on established organisations like Movement for the Restoration of Dem= ocracy in the Gambia in UK or Save The Gambia Democracy Project in the USA.=20= Now we have opened up new strategies to receive solidarity from any individu= al Gambian who wishes to give cash or kind. Our partners can continue to do=20= their best while we explore new avenues for funding. We need paper, ink, cas= settes, T-shirts, caps, etc. The response is encouraging. We can only be as=20= effective as Gambians want us to be. FOROYAA: Any last words? HALIFA: I hear some people saying that if the opposition is not united they=20= will not provide funds or vote. My view is that whether one casts one=E2=80= =99s vote or not others will vote for the APRC. What Gambians should do is t= o give their maximum, be ready to vote and then encourage the opposition to=20= be united. The hands-off policy is a fatalist policy. It will only lead to the retentio= n of the status quo. In our view people should insist that the two alliances= come together. However if that fails people must learn to judge where the f= ault lies. I can assure every one that I will be able to explain my point of= view with clarity and history will never indict me for not taking the right= decision at the right time to defeat impunity and poverty which are dual fa= ctors that fetter the liberty and prosperity of the Gambian people.. ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM= . All on demand. Always Free. ----------MailBlocks_8C87E0EF3700615_A34_BC1_FWM-M29.sysops.aol.com Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <HTML><BODY> <div> <SPAN lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FON= T> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab= -stops: 78.0pt" align=3Dcenter><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>= <SPAN lang=3DEN-GB style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Ti= mes New Roman">INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX =3D O /><O= :P></O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></U></B></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; tab= -stops: 78.0pt" align=3Dcenter><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U>= <SPAN lang=3DEN-GB style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Ti= mes New Roman">ON HAMAT BAH=E2=80=99S COMMENTS IN THE<SPAN style=3D"mso-spac= erun: yes"> </SPAN>STATES<O:P></O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></U></B></div= > <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B s= tyle=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB></SPAN></B><FONT fa= ce=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B s= tyle=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times= New Roman" size=3D3>PART ONE</FONT></SPAN></B></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> HAMAT BAH=20= Claims that negotiation is going on between NADD and the UDP/NRP Alliance an= d that within a short period of time one candidate will be selected by the O= pposition to contest the forth coming presidential elections?</SPAN></FONT><= /FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> At the mome= nt no arrangement is in place for the two sides to meet.<SPAN style=3D"mso-s= pacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When Hamat left a consultative process had start= ed between Mr. Darboe and myself to explore whether any basis could be devel= oped to serve as a foundation for any negotiation.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spaceru= n: yes"> </SPAN>Confidentiality was requested and agreed upon. Hamat= =E2=80=99s comments in fact derailed the whole process.</SPAN></FONT></FONT>= </div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Why?</SPAN= ></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA :</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> He created= the impression that he had access to information regarding negotiation whic= h had not even commenced and further remarked that NADD was just interested=20= in position which completely misconstrued<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&= nbsp; </SPAN>and trivialised the far reaching analysis and exchanges that I=20= had with Mr. Darboe.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The NADD= executive gave me the exclusive mandate to discuss with Mr. Darboe without=20= informing them of any details until agreement is reached for initiating nego= tiations.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When Hamat made his= remarks curiosity and uncertainty set in and the whole process had to come=20= to a stop pending further clarification on what he was propagating in the <?= XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX =3D ST1 /><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on"><ST1:PLACE w:= st=3D"on">US</ST1:PLACE></ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB><O:P= ><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></O:P></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"></SP= AN><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB></SPAN> </div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>PART TWO</FONT></SPAN= ></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>In this edition we co= ntinue with the interview with Halifa Sallah, NADD=E2=80=99s flag bearer, on= comments made in the <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on"= >United States</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> by Mr Hamat Bah of the UDP/N= RP Alliance.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><O:P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></O= :P></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Why the ne= ed for Confidentiality when your own supporters were demanding to know what=20= was going on in the midst of the widespread notion that an agreement has bee= n reached</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> It is true=20= that many NADD supporters at home and abroad felt disarmed. They contacted m= e to ask about developments and I could not explain anything to them. The re= ason for this is simple. None of the sides requested for the talks. Interloc= utors having sympathy for either side respectively intervened in good faith=20= to promote Consultation between Mr. Darboe and myself without any conditiona= lity or agenda. We had the option to chat and depart or create an agenda for= further consultation. The only request made by the inter locator from the o= ther side is confidentiality. I had to respect that wish and requested for a= mandate from the NADD Executive to enter into talks without having to repor= t to them until something conclusive is reached. I respected the request for= confidentiality because of the fact that this was the first opportunity to=20= build trust between the two sides. I am sure all keen observers of Gambian p= olities would notice that during the period of the talks no derogatory remar= ks against the UDP/NRP Alliance and its leaders could be attributed to the N= ADD leadership.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> What axe d= o you have to grind with Mr. Hamat Bah?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> I have no a= xe to grind with Mr. Bah. He simply put me in a tight corner and compelled m= e to explain what was happening to every one and thus nullified the very con= fidentiality sought by the other side for the two sides to engage in a consu= ltation exercise.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> How? </SPA= N></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Mr. Hamat B= ah said that there were people in NADD who wanted to use others as their lad= der, some who never launched their parties some whose party never had a sing= le meeting and others who had been in politics for 20 years but never got mo= re than 2% of the votes. He then went on to state that these are the people=20= who wanted equal share with those who had 36% and 8%. He was emphatic in say= ing that this was not possible. He said that they (UDP and NRP) made a serio= us mistake in accepting the principle of sovereign equality of parties in NA= DD.He emphasized that they should not have accepted equal representation, no= ting that it was this mistake that led to the fall out of NADD</SPAN></FONT>= </FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Mr. Bah then went fur= ther to deal a blow on our consultative process by asserting that he will no= t disclose the discussions going on at the moment between the two alliances=20= that we will agree on a flag bearer. He added that what complicated the nego= tiation is that NADD wanted positions; they wanted the cake that is not yet=20= baked. He concluded that they are not going to make any agreement as to who=20= will occupy which position. The president will do that. This is what Mr. Bah= said in the <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">U.S.</ST= 1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> </FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA: </SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>What do yo= u have to say?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Mr. Bah=E2= =80=99s claim that negotiations were on between the two alliances could only= be attributed to two things. He was either referring to my talks with Mr. D= arboe which had nothing to do with the sharing of positions or that he was r= eferring to negotiation that did not exist. In either case the statements we= re at least inaccurate and at best misleading. The people in the Diaspora st= ill have access to Mr. Bah. Could he be asked to explain which talks were on= where NADD was asking for position? I repeat NO such talks are taking place= . My consultative exercise with Mr. Darboe had no agenda. Nothing about posi= tion was discussed. It was also being done under a climate of perfect equali= ty. This is the first point. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Would NADD= agree to the view that treating all parties as equals led to the fall out o= f NADD?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> That is the= second misleading notion that Mr. Bah sold in the <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><S= T1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">U.S.</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> Of cours= e if one relies on common sense logic what he said would appear to be true.=20= However if one analyses the reality one would consider his state to be unfor= tunate since others would also exercise their right to reply.</SPAN></FONT><= /FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> What do yo= u mean?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> First and f= oremost, an alliance is not a ladder for just one party but for all parties=20= constituting it. He can be equally accused of using an alliance as a ladder.= Such negative way of looking at things will not take us any where. Secondly= if flag bearers of alliances are determined by records of previous election= then Mr. Darboe would have never been the presidential candidate in 1996. P= rior to that he never participated as a candidate in elections.</SPAN></FONT= ></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Thirdly, the leader o= f one of the parties he mentioned had won an election as an independent cand= idate during the first Republic and was unseated only by a coup d=E2=80=99et= at. </FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Suffice it to say tha= t the PDOIS that he was trying to trivialise by referring to 2% had put up f= ive candidates in the 2002 parliamentary elections and earned two seats whil= e having over 20% in all the other three constituencies while NRP put up 15=20= candidates only to earn one seat, which he Mr. Bah had lost in a by election= . It is therefore difficult for me to understand Mr. Bah=E2=80=99s logic. Wh= at he has conveyed is that there in no spirit of negotiation in the UDP/NRP=20= camp and that they are coming up with a sprit of imposing their will. This i= s at least haughty in approach </FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><O:P><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></O= :P></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>to negotiation which=20= can never succeed.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Mr Bah sai= d that the policy of treating parties as equals was a mistake. What is your=20= view on this?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> It is unfor= tunate that I am being dragged into such a discussion at the moment when we=20= should be engaged in the process of dislodging the APRC regime. Leadership r= equires hindsight. Let me ask every Gambian this simple question. When we me= t in the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">US</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> after deliv= ering our speeches in <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:CITY w:st=3D"on">Atlanta</= ST1:CITY></ST1:PLACE> in 2003 and were asked whether any party could dislodg= e the APRC why didn=E2=80=99t the UDP assert then that it had the potential=20= to do so and simply called on the other political parties to give it solidar= ity? Of course, if this was said there would not have been any need to selec= t a Coordinator. The UDP would have been asked to send envoys to the various= political parties to seek their support .The parties which felt that UDP co= uld lead them to victory would have joined them.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>In retrospect, when w= e met in the <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">US</ST1:= COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> the UDP had boycotted the parliamentary election= s and had no seat in the National Assembly. NRP had lost one seat and had on= ly one seat. Only PDOIS had two parliamentary seats. The case of the UDP lea= der was still in court. There was immense hostility in the camp of the oppos= ition. </FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>In my view, the parti= es were right to state at the time that none of them could present itself as= the leader of the fold. No party could take the posture of being superior t= o the other to the point of playing a big brother role on the basis of its i= ndividual strength and credibility.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>I am one hundred perc= ent sure that if the UDP had taken the posture that Mr Bah is asking it to t= ake now when we first met, all the representatives of the other parties woul= d have left the hall to go about their business. I stand to be corrected.</F= ONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>We therefore created=20= NADD as an umbrella party to create unity in the midst of diversity among th= e opposition parties because no single party had the strength and credibilit= y to serve as a rallying ground for other parties. This is the simple and el= ementary truth. This umbrella party was designed to address the individual w= eaknesses of the member parties and further galvanize their collective stren= gth and integrity.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>In order to ensure th= at the equality of the parties is reserved as a tactical instrument to conso= lidate the strength of the opposition in order to ensure victory the existen= ce of NADD was limited to five years after the assumption of office by the f= lag bearer. During the five years all political parties will be able to reta= in their individual political support and still claim ownership of their col= lective achievements under NADD. The restriction of the mandate of the flag=20= bearer to one term was to eradicate the advantages of incumbency so that any= political leader who failed to contest in 2006 would have equal opportunity= to seek the mandate of the people in the next following election by relying= on a party=E2=80=99s numerical strength. The principle of creating an umbre= lla party under which collective leadership is exercised was designed not on= ly to harness the numerical strength of the parties but to build up the pote= ntial to harness voters who are either non committed to individual parties o= r are supporters of the ruling party. The collective leadership also serve a= s an insurance against any allegation of tribalism or sectionalism. Equality= and collective leadership in NADD offered each voter the personality one co= uld love and trust to justify one=E2=80=99s trust for the opposition.</FONT>= </SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Herein lies the viabi= lity of NADD. Mr Bah says this was a mistake what he is offering is impositi= on of dominance by the UDP. Clearly his proposition would not have created u= nity among the opposition from the very beginning.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> But has an= alliance like NADD ever happened?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> NADD is a u= nited front. In some cases countries are fortunate to have an opposition par= ty which is capable of winning an election on the basis of its own numerical= strength but can better do so by co-opting other opposition parties in an a= lliance which it leads. On the other hand, countries may be faced with a sit= uation where the people are not sentimental about parties and are very willi= ng to put party affiliation aside to form a united front to achieve an aim.=20= </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>A clear example of th= is is <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">Gambia</ST1:COU= NTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> in 1996 and 2001 when the UDP operated as an umbrel= la party for the parties which were banned. I have also pointed out the case= s of Tumani Toure and in <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"= on">Mali</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION></ST1:PLACE> and even Nino Vieira in Guinea Bis= sau, where the people disregarded both the ruling party and the opposition .= NADD could have been another example.</FONT></SPAN></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> What is th= e way forward?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> I have said= that people are calling for an alliance. We should explain what the two all= iances are offering the people and ask them to make their choice as to which= form of alliance should be the basis of unity. As far as I am concerned, I=20= have made it clear that I have accepted to be flag bearer because of my conv= iction that I could be accepted by all political constituencies in The Gambi= a. However, I am also willing to hand over to anyone who can be better promo= ted among all political constituencies in the country.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><= /div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Some are a= sking why you accepted to be flag bearer.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Let me also= ask why did, I accept to be Coordinator when I was Secretary General of PDO= IS?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is duty that called an= d I had to answer. I would like to remind people that I did not apply to be<= SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>a Coordinator nor did I want=20= to be one. When I appeared in <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:CITY w:st=3D"on">A= tlanta</ST1:CITY></ST1:PLACE> I was the Minority Leader of the National Asse= mbly of The Gambia and I accepted to be Coordinator not to become an apoliti= cal civil servant but to facilitate a process. My mandate ended with the sig= ning of the MOU. However all the parties agreed to elect me as Coordinator a= gain? That is trust.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>Needless to say, I di= d not apply to be flag bearer. Just I was unanimously selected as Coordinato= r I was again unanimously selected as flag bearer of NADD. I accepted becaus= e duty called on me to do so. If duty again calls on me to hand over the res= ponsibility to someone who can better lead us to success I am again willing=20= to do so. I am willing to do whatever duty is imposed on me.</FONT></SPAN></= div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Mr Bah all= uded to a party which for twenty years could only get two percent of the vot= es.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> I am the fl= ag bearer of NADD. Since NRP and UDP cam into being I stood in three electio= ns. In 1997 I stood with a UDP candidate in Serrekunda East. I had 8500 vote= s. He had 8000 votes. The APRC candidate had 9500 votes. This is not what is= called 2% of the votes. In 2002 those who boycotted elections campaigned ag= ainst me but I won. In 2005 I stood for NADD and won. The picture Mr Bah has= been insinuating regarding the flag bearer has no affinity to what is on th= e ground. This is the chapter and verse of the whole story.</SPAN></FONT></F= ONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> What is NA= DD doing at the moment? </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> We are not=20= convinced that a one party led alliance can be promoted successfully. Hence=20= Sidia and his team are in the URD; Waa and his team have covered LRD and the= y are now in CRD and will come down to Baddibu. Landing Jallow Sonko and his= team will cover Nuimi, Jokadu and CRD North. As flag bearer we will engage=20= in debriefing when they come back to know the way forward.</SPAN></FONT></FO= NT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> You must h= ave a lot of money.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> That is wha= t we do not have. We have changed our strategy. We used to rely on establish= ed organisations like Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in the <ST1:= COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">Gambia</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> in <ST1:COUNTRY-REGIO= N w:st=3D"on">UK</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> or Save The Gambia Democracy Project i= n the <ST1:PLACE w:st=3D"on"><ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st=3D"on">USA</ST1:COUNTR= Y-REGION></ST1:PLACE>. Now we have opened up new strategies to receive solid= arity from any individual Gambian who wishes to give cash or kind. Our partn= ers can continue to do their best while we explore new avenues for funding.=20= We need paper, ink, cassettes, T-shirts, caps, etc. The response is encourag= ing. We can only be as effective as Gambians want us to be.</SPAN></FONT></F= ONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>FOROYAA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> Any last w= ords?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FON= T size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight:=20= normal"><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB>HALIFA:</SPAN></B><SPAN lang=3DEN-GB> I hear some= people saying that if the opposition is not united they will not provide fu= nds or vote. My view is that whether one casts one=E2=80=99s vote or not oth= ers will vote for the APRC. What Gambians should do is to give their maximum= , be ready to vote and then encourage the opposition to be united.</SPAN></F= ONT></FONT></div> <div class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPA= N lang=3DEN-GB><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>The hands-off policy=20= is a fatalist policy. It will only lead to the retention of the status quo.=20= In our view people should insist that the two alliances come together. Howev= er if that fails people must learn to judge where the fault lies. I can assu= re every one that I will be able to explain my point of view with clarity an= d history will never indict me for not taking the right decision at the righ= t time to defeat impunity and poverty which are dual factors that fetter the= liberty and prosperity of the Gambian people..</FONT></SPAN></div> </div> <div class=3D"AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style=3D"margin-top:10px;" /> <a href=3D"http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/1615326657x4311227241x4298082137/ao= l?redir=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaol%2Ecom" target=3D"_blank"><b>Check out AOL.c= om today</b></a>. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All o= n demand. 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