Mr Gassama
This article has to be clearfully scrutunised before
one jumps into conclusion.
(1) For my part, I doubt whether the Pa thinks of
making a political comeback. Giving the cirumstances,
which we are facing, his chances of re-election are
very very slim. Don't forget if he had to contest the
next election, he will be contesting as an Opposition
Candidate, with none of the patronage he enjoyed
during his 30 year rule-The Mafia, The State Vehicles
and the National Radio etc. In addition, the voting
age has been reduced to 18 and a good number of these
youths will vote for Yahya, notwithstanding the events
of April 9/10, 2000.
(2) From my observation of Gambian Elections, I am of
the view that President Jawara's support was
overrated. Had it not been the participation of the
Banjul Mafia together with other dubious character,
the political landscape would have shifted towards the
opposition as back as 1987. Since the Banjul Mafia are
no longer effective, how will the Pa capture the
hearts of the gambian majority?
(3) My final poiint is can Jawara make a comeback? If
this man is paraded as leader of the Opposition
Alliance, then Yahya Jammeh's second term is
guaranteed. Despite all the talk of human rights
abuses taking place in the Gambia, Yahya's so called
projects will be easy to waterdown the opposition
strength of gaining power.
It is on the basis that I believe that Jawara's lust
for power is a lost opportunity
Any thoughts, happy to discuss.
Have a wonderful day
Sanusi
--- Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >
Dampha, Hamjatta and co.
>
> Please take note of these developments. Do not say I
> did not warn you.
>
> Have a good day, Gassa.
>
> >From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing
> list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: FWD:Jawara's Lost Opportunity
> >Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:32:59 -0400
> >
> >Jawara's Lost Opportunity
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >The Independent (Banjul)
> >
> >EDITORIAL
> >August 6, 2001
> >Posted to the web August 6, 2001
> >
> >Banjul, the Gambia
> >
> >Sir Dawda's impending return has raised blinding
> dust in our political
> >landscape. The eddy of confusion that his
> proclamation to return has
> >propelled has drawn confusing and contradictory
> remarks from secretaries of
> >state Sedat Jobe and Yankuba Touray. Sedat says
> yes, he's welcome and free
> >to return. Yankuba says the ex-president should
> face a commission of
> >inquiry
> >for some past deeds.
> >
> >The Gambian people, who in reality should decide
> who takes control of their
> >political lives, are equally and naturally divided
> over the merits and
> >demerits of Sir Dawda's return. Some, like Sedat
> Jobe, say Sir Dawda should
> >indeed come back to The Gambia. Others, like
> Yankuba Touray, would have
> >none
> >of the ancient 'Jawara diko'. The Gambia, they
> argue, should and could move
> >forward without Jawara. As we had indicated before,
> the repeal of Decree 89
> >is a long overdue step in the right direction. We
> know that like all unjust
> >laws, the decree had always been a law of the iron
> grid, imposed not
> >because
> >of its moral and essential qualities, but to
> satisfy the whims and caprices
> >of a regime that came to power through
> unconstitutional means and that was
> >confidence-starved. We know also, that the decree
> was repealed not because
> >the president has suddenly seen the light and grew
> an angel's heart, but
> >because first, he was forced to; and second, he
> feels confident that he had
> >bought enough Gambians' favours that he had nothing
> to fear from an old and
> >spent guard of politicians.
> >
> >Certainly, Sir Dawda Jawara, apart from his
> nurturing of the democratic
> >spirit in The Gambia, which is by no means a mean
> achievement, has little
> >else to show for his thirty years in power. We know
> that he had allowed
> >himself to be mystified and almost worshipped by
> his cronies. We know that
> >he had nurtured the shameful and harmful mansa
> mentality that continues to
> >be a bane of our national politics. We know that he
> refused to put in place
> >the constitutional framework required to make
> possible smooth, peaceful and
> >periodic change of leadership with the result that
> the equally power-hungry
> >soldiers found an acceptable excuse to step in. We
> know that his extremely
> >sweet tooth for power rendered him blind to reality
> and believe in the
> >fatal
> >illusion that he could be president for life. We
> know, ultimately that Sir
> >Dawda had a chance, an excellent opportunity to set
> this country firmly on
> >the path to eternal bliss and he blew it.
> >
> >We certainly are dead opposed and shall remain
> opposed to the wanton
> >'powertics' of the Jammeh regime. But at the same
> time, we do not
> >sympathise
> >with the excesses of the Jawara regime. The fact
> that he told the BBC that
> >he had no alternative but to accept the invitation
> to lead the PPP shows
> >that the Pa had learnt little in exile. Why could
> he not say 'no, look we
> >need to revamp the party. Let's recruit a new young
> membership. Let's
> >inject
> >new blood into the party. We old guards should be
> active members and
> >advisers, but should not seek leadership roles or
> political office again.'
> >But no, Sir Dawda is still hungry for leadership.
> He still wants to be the
> >great leader who did us more harm than good. He
> still feels and is made to
> >feel indispensable. He is still out of touch with
> political realities.
> >
> >We truly wonder why our African politicians never
> learn.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>_________________________________________________________________
> >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
> http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
> >
>
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