Electoral Dilemma!



The Independent (Banjul)

EDITORIAL
August 17, 2001
Posted to the web August 17, 2001

Banjul, the Gambia

This is not the best time for the Gambian opposition. It is its own worst
enemy as the threat of a rift in the proposed coalition becomes more real
than imagined.

This setback is no doubt sweet music in the ears of the ruling APRC who are
naturally the only political organization to benefit from the oppositions'
misfortune. Sheriff Dibba and his NCP are deciding to go it alone in the
poll battle with the APRC. In the wake of Decree 89 President Jammeh and his
colleagues had always hoped for a situation that would make it impossible
for all the opposition parties to come together in a single bloc to
challenge the APRC.

The reported decision by Sheriff Mustapha Dibbba, the erstwhile leader of
the National Convention Party not to endorse Ousainou Darboe, the leader of
the United Democratic Party as the presidential candidate for the proposed
coalition has no doubt dealt a heavy blow to any hopes of a united
opposition for the presidential elections in October. It is therefore not
surprising that since the rift became public knowledge the rumour mill has
been churning out suggestions as to the cause of the rift. While some people
simply attributed it to some historical personality differences between Mr.
Dibba and some members of the opposition, others seem to see the hidden
manipulative hand of the APRC in trying to drive a wedge within the
opposition camp. There are even unsubstantiated rumours that a lot of money
may have exchanged hands in order to make the rift a reality.

Who stands to benefit from any rift within the opposition camp? The obvious
answer is of course President Jammeh and the APRC. If the opposition, for
any reason should allow individual greed for power to stand in their way of
coming together as a single bloc, when their most important common objective
is to get rid of the APRC regime, then the opposition should reckon defeat
before polling day. They should not lose sight of the fact that they are
dealing with very powerful opponents who have a strong financial base, and
with an entire state machinery, including the security apparatus at their
disposal. They would not hesitate to use any of that to trample upon
anything that comes between them and retaining power. Therefore, it would be
foolhardy for the opposition to do anything that would make them vulnerable
to manipulation and usher in eventual weakness. As the opposition goes to
the polls with this as a major setback, the race for the presidency could
just be tilting in the APRC's favour. In such a situation of uncertainty,
betting on the opposition could be misinformed.


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