You're right Suntou that it was not a level political/ field in the Wulli East By-election campaign. This was because state vehicles, funds, GRTS, are subsidizing APRC's campaigns and the opposition are further intimidated from holding mere rallies. Given all this, PDOIS contested the By-election Solo and arrogantly discounted the value of NADD's only sympathizer Hon. OJ.

If the only contestant to an election (no matter where in the world the election is held) does not file any complaints of an unfair and burdened elections, it will be pre-sumptuous of non-contestants and non-participants in that election to make such charges for they would indeed be unfounded. UDP abstained and encouraged her supporters to vote for PDOIS. GMC abstained but did not share with the voters why they abstained, NRP abstained but did not share with voters why they abstained, ppp abstained and did not share with the voters why they abstained. None of these parties lodged any complaint with the IEC prior to the By-Election.

The rest of us and Gambian voters must therefore accept the defeat of the PDOIS candidate as a victory of the greater value for the voter. That is what Hon. Fatty acknowledges and I concur with that spirit. It is not enough to share condolences with the loser, it is magnanimous and considerate to accord congratulations to the winner. Who is also Gambian, not related to Yahya, not even from Yahya's tribe. So no one can invoke tribalism or nepotism. He won fair and square.

In his congratulatory message, Hon. Fatty continues to urge APRC and Yahya to maintain this relative sobriety from here on in to the presidential election. If this is maintained and Yahya wins that election, regardless of the permutation of contesting parties, and if none boycotted or lodged complaints with the IEC prior to that election, we will be compelled to congratulate Yahya at that time.

Haruna. You would think Hon. Fatty would be working very hard to forge an Alliance (if not a merger) of Conscience with another 1, 2, or 3 opposition parties. I only do perspectives, not conscience. I am only responsible for my own conscience and integrity.

-----Original Message-----
From: suntou touray <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: Thu, May 5, 2011 6:21 am
Subject: Re: GMC congratulates APRC on Wuli East victory - INCHING TOWARDS JOINING BABILI MANSA

Haruna

In the spirit of fair play, the APRC should be congratulated, however, they don't play by the book and there is no indications that they will. Therefore, one serious question here is, do they deserve congratulating based on their one sided politicking? Brother Mai himself is aware of the imbalance political landscape, the thorn all over the place for the opposition, in my conclusion, Mai knew and may have suffered some of the end products of the unfairness the ruling regime perpetuated against the opposition and high spirited Gambians.

The new MP benefited from the one sided politics of the APRC. I can understand the spirit he did it, but I will beg to defer. Mai is a vocal politician and someone who gives the impression that, he is ready for battle, Yahya will never change is posture, hence should we try to assume he will?

Suntou

 

On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 10:19 PM, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thank you cousin Fakoo Fakoo for sharing the magnanimous Hon. Fatty of GMC. His congratulatory message to the APRC and Sabally demonstrates marked sobriety and generousity of spirit. I encourage all other political parties to follow Hon. Fatty's example. This still does not obviate good Alliance on the part of desiring opposition parties.

Haruna. If the playing field is level, the opposition parties will still need some level of coalescing of electoral fortunes.

-----Original Message-----
From: Fankung Fankung Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wed, May 4, 2011 11:23 am
Subject: GMC congratulates APRC on Wuli East victory - INCHING TOWARDS JOINING BABILI MANSA

GMC congratulates APRC on Wuli East victory Africa » Gambia Wednesday, May 04, 2011 The opposition Gambia Moral Congress has congratulated the ruling APRC for its recent victory in the Wuli East constituency bye-election. The ruling APRC, it would be recalled, won the contest with the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) in the bye-election, which followed the death in March 2011 of Hon. Bekai Camara, National Assembly Member for Wuli East. Saidou Sabally of the APRC polled 2,745 votes while Suwaibou Touray of NADD polled 1,849 votes. It would be recalled that Suwaibou also contested and lost to the APRC candidate in the 2007 legislative election. In a congratulatory message sent to this paper yesterday, the GMC expressed belief that while it shall continue to provide a viable alternative to APRC, and continue to engage the government on the fundamental challenges the nation and citizens confront, credit should be granted not only where it is due but also when it is due. What follows is the full text of the GMC statement: The Party Leader and entire membership of the GMC congratulates the Party Leader and membership of the APRC on the election of their candidate Saidou Sabally in the Wuli East. The GMC believes that while we shall continue to provide a viable alternative to the APRC, and continue to engage the government on the fundamental challenges our nation and citizens confront, credit should be granted not only where it is due, but also when it is due. Politics is a battle of ideas and not a journey of hostility. We congratulate the people of Wuli East for exercising their civic responsibility with maturity in such a manner that allows the peaceful co-existence among the indigenes to continue to prevail. We urge Mr. Sabally to extend a hand of friendship and understanding to the other side, realizing that he now represents all constituents equally, regardless of political inclinations. He must promote reconciliation, unite the people, and work tirelessly in the interests of all Gambians in the National Assembly. The GMC also congratulates the legendary patriotism of Mr. Swaebou Touray of the PDOIS. We wish him success in his endeavours. The IEC staff, security forces and local government officials must be commended for a transparent and well coordinated election in Wuli East. We view The Gambia as one family, one nation, one destiny, one dream. We should not allow politics and politicians to divide us. Say “No” to electoral malpractice, fraud, violence, and be vigilant. Wuli East is a litmus test for the APRC to demonstrate humility and maturity. The APRC has a stake in advocating for, and enforcing meaningful level playing field in the electoral and electioneering processes. These include, but not limited to, equal access to all information media, effective expression of dissent, the right to hold rallies without superfluous administrative hurdles, independent judiciary, and non intimidation or harassment of opposition supporters and sympathizers, while permitting the media to do their job unrestrained. The APRC would achieve significant political mileage in terms of credibility if the leadership subject itself to equal standards on a level playing field with the opposition. We differ in political philosophy, but at the end of the day, it remains a Gambian political conversation – the expression of different ideas among members of the same family. We believe that the result of an election should not be determined on what happens on polling day alone. If the electioneering and electoral processes of an election are not free and fair, the results of such an election shall not be considered free or fair, and would be automatically rejected outright. We urge the ruling Party to demonstrably commit itself to assuring enabling conditions for genuine level playing field and engender political concord. The APRC government should transparently adhere to best practices such as non-intimidation, harassment, and resisting the manipulative abuse of the judicial processes as a means to knock the opposition below the belt, or other actions that may provoke like reaction. As we enter the political season in earnest, all stakeholders should remain true to The Gambia´s reputation as a peaceful country. The GMC invites all Gambians to advert our minds to the relevance of the lyrics of the great Manding Griot Jaliba Kuyateh, in his song entitled “Politics”. Author: Picture: Mai Fatty

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GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.

LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY.
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