Gassa,
The remarks in this forwarded article remind me of arguments I advanced in the first part of my article The Fisherman's Tale 2.
UDP, interestingly is a party of which it can be claimed that both its coming into being and its pallid demise are important for the evolution of the Gambian polity.
The class of politicians whose parties were banned following the '94 coup could not simply wither away by decree. From PPP and NCP they all needed to oppose the APRC to justify their own identities as politicians in the first place. Even when the brutal facts of oppositional politics dawned on them, it felt legitimate to oppose for the sake of opposition.
That wobbly position could not possibly be maintained after the failure of the coalition and the subsequent victory of the APRC. Issue-oriented allegiance in politics, however bogus, must eventually dictate the composition of herds and flocks even such leanings are driven by instinct. It is simply impossible for former PPP and NCP members to remain faithful in a marriage of convenience forever.
On the other hand, NDAM's coming into being is of immediate importance. Waa Juwara, even if he had genuine reasons to scuttle from party to party for the best part of two decades, must settle down and grow roots for his own credibilty. To have struggled for so long in identifying genuine travelling companions, to be in a permanent state of flux, and to be seemingly beset with an unquenching desire to migrate within such an easy geography, betrays a strong streak of pathological restlessness. There are reasons to believe that Waa Juwara has finally reached home.
Sidibeh
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jungle Sunrise" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 1:33 PM
Subject: This is not a good sign for the opposition
> Folks,
>
> Now that both the presidential and National Assembly have come and gone, I
> believe that the opposition in The Gambia should now put their act together
> and provide Gambians a choice to look at. Frankly, what we have witnessed
> during the past few months leaves much to be desired.
>
> Just a few weeks back, we witnessed the acrimonious rancour from the midst
> of the main opposition UDP executive that finally led to the formation of
> NDAM. During the past two weeks, there has been a lot of unhealthy
> exchanges between the Kolior, a former member of the UDP who left for NDAM
> and is now back with the UDP, and the leader of NDAM, Lamin Waa Juwara.
>
> The NRP has not been saying much and nor is the PPP.
>
> In the recent past, at least two former executive members of the UDP who
> defected from their partner joined the ruling APRC rather than any other
> opposition party.
>
> Just a thought, Gassa
>
>
>
> UDP Faces Gloomy Future - Former UDP Bigwig in LRD
>
> The Daily Observer (Banjul)
> NEWS
> October 31, 2002
> Posted to the web October 31, 2002
>
> By Pa Malick Faye
> Banjul
>
> Majanko Samusa, a former executive member of the opposition United
> Democratic Party (UDP) has said "the UDP faces a gloomy future simply
> because of its unrealistic nature which makes it impossible to unseat the
> ruling APRC".
>
> Mr Samusa was speaking Tuesday at a mass political rally in Kiang Kaiaf in
> the ongoing tour of the Lower River Division by the APRC LRD Divisional
> Committee. He said: "the UDP is a party of misinformation for it alleged
> that the APRC bribed the NCP leader to a tune of D3million plus a Pajero
> vehicle to undermine the opposition. This shows how the UDP propaganda
> machinery went all out to misinform the electorate.
>
> "I was a senior member of the party when the NCP was banned from active
> party politics in 1996 and I have suffered more than the party leader
> himself as I was arrested, detained and taken to court, all because of the
> UDP. But when I realised that the party is not genuine and its future is
> uncertain, myself and other NCP politicians in the UDP decided to join the
> APRC. This was because we were against Jawara's 30-year rule and we paid
> the price. So for us to join hands with the same people we were opposing
> for 30 years against the APRC will indeed be ironical".
>
> He added that if the UDP bigwigs were deserting the party then "there is no
> credible reason for its supporters to remain in the party".
>
> "I know what is in the UDP and what the future holds for them. You have all
> heard that Juwara is no more with them. I, Majanko Samusa and many strong
> guys have all left. We join the APRC not because of personal benefits but
> for the development of the country," he said.
>
> The National Assembly member for Kiang East, Mahawa Cham, re-echoed Mr
> Samusa's remarks and expressed optimism that the opposition was "on the
> verge of dying in Kiang".
>
> Other speakers included the chief of the area, Ansumana Sanneh.
>
>
>
> UDP Kiang mobiliser defects to APRC
>
> by Pa Malick Faye
> in LRD
>
>
> Demba Saho, the UDP mobiliser for Kiang yesterday defected to the ruling
> APRC party at a mass political rally held by the APRC LRD Divisional
> Committee under the aegis of the majority leader of the National Assembly,
> Hon Baba Jobe.
> Explaining his reason for defecting, Mr Saho said the APRC "is the only
> party in the country that can bring development, peace and stability".
> "The UDP," he said, "is not here to stay simply because of its coalition
> with the PPP, a party which is already dead and buried.
> "Everyone in Kiang knows how I stood up and campaigned for the UDP
> especially in the LRD. But the party leader and other senior officials
> betrayed us by giving us information which is untrue."
> Mr Saho further stated that he had over 300 people behind him who have all
> defected to the APRC because of "President Jammeh's development record. I
> want to assure Honourable Jobe that opposition is dead in the whole of
> Kiang as we are no more listening to Bakary Darboe and his cohorts".
> For his part, the National Assembly member for Kiang, Mahawa Cham described
> Mr Saho as "a strong man in politics and that his defection to the APRC
> would act as a morale booster for the APRC in Kiang".
> Several other speakers included NAMs Kalifa Kambi and Foday Lang Sarr.
> The ceremony was attended by APRC supporters in the area.
>
>
> In Musa Suso, Ndeneh Faal bail
>
>
>
> --
> There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see,
> yet small enough to solve (Mike Leavitt)
>
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