Like most other vortices, sustenance comes from within in-situ entropy. Tempers will flare, erstwhile scheming is neutralized, and garden variety crimes from within the vortex proper are suctioned out through the bottom.

 

I have reviewed some of the ideas purveyed as panacea for Gambia's salvation or at least for Yahya's removal. I will review these ideas here and offer some guidance.

 

The Problem.

 

Gambia finds itself with a criminal President in Yahya. One murder after another, one abduction after another, profuse theft of treasure and communal land, drug-peddling to finance largesse and our neighbour Senegal's secession conflict and turning his government into a criminal syndicate to immunize himself, albeit temporarily, from prosecution. A criminal overlord.

 

Solutions.

 

By far, Gambians have been focusing on one manner of solution. That is a united opposition which would remove Yahya through elections. This, in my opinion, undue focus on an ill-considered solution, mainly by diaspora Gambians has helped to divert attention from the problem proper and indeed commute the problem's attributes to the solution's varaible. Numerous permutations of this solution are then peddled as new ideas often by spectators and journeymen.

 

One iteration offered by Hakilo on the freedomnews is that the existing opposition party leaders who have been toiling at union of fortunes, are exactly the same as Yahya but for Yahya's murders, abductions, theft, and other miscellaneous crimes. And therefore, the opposition needs to unite to look for a presidential candidate outside of their parties to contest the 2011 elections with guidelines to boot. This iteration (the solution touted is still an opposition union) is severely flawed and unconscionable. Primarily, without the murders, abductions, etc., which Hakilo seems to so casually discount, all Gambians will be voting for Yahya and there would be no need for an opposition party. Verily, the opposition will be urging their supporters to vote for Yahya at each turn. Secondarily, Hakilo seems to be confused, in the vortex mind you, by the fact that it IS because of the murders, abductions, etc., that we need to appreciate the existing opposition leaders and strengthen them, union or no union, rather than look elsewhere for a leader who has not committed those crimes. We already have the leaders Hakilo wishes we go in search for. To twist the knife inside the existing leaders, Hakilo wishes them to unite and lead us to that phantom knight in shining armo(u)r. If there ever is an ungrateful human being, we're looking at him. DaarManso forbid we end up with him in our quest for the saviour. After the insulted opposition leaders UNITE.

 

Another iteration, this one by my friend Jeggan on the gambiaecho and Ellen, is that because "the sure sign of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result" the opposition party leaders, selfish as they are (contrary to spectacular evidence of their selflessness), ought not repeat SPLINTERING for that would certify their insanities variously and disqualify them constitutionally from seeking the presidency of Gambia. I believe my friend Jeggan used this adage in error but I will not bore you with the panache. What I will do is that I will explain to you why this iteration is patently incongruous. Firstly, and for a decade now, the existing opposition leaders have been toiling to unite their fortunes and to contest succeeding elections as one. They began with UDP(subsuming PPP), PDOIS, NRP, NCP, and GDP. The nature of the vortex Gambians find themselves in has by default yielded some discernments. Not only was union unachievable, NCP's leader joined Yahya's APRC because he identified his interests to be with Yahya. Further, PPP splintered into two factions perhaps to position themselves ideologically for future elections. We ended up with UDP, NRP, PDOIS, GDP, and ppp. This is hardly splintering. It is the requisite discernments in union-building if there were to be any. As talk of another effort at union-making spread, UDP's propaganda Secretary Waa Juwara, resigned to form his own party NDAM at the urging of diaspora Gambians, perhaps again identifying greater yield of their interests in NDAM and positioning themselves to maximize those yields were a union to be successful. During that union-making conversation, and having gone in with UDP/ppp, NRP, PDOIS, GDP, NDAM, and ppp, we yielded UDP/NRP/ppp and NADD. Further reducing the number and engendering more union. Still ideological. NDAM, would later resign from NADD and disintegrate their personal-interest-ridden fraternity NDAM. This decapitated NADD into nadd. Still progress at union-making for further discernments were yielded. Waa has long since joined APRC where his fortunes reside. The remainder of the NDAM quintuplet retired discretely.

 

From the foregoing, it would appear that the existing opposition leaders therefore will not be engaging in splintering because they have never engaged in it, and each of their efforts at union-making has yielded a more streamlined ideological union. These resultant alliances I declare, are strong and sound. And they can be further streamlined. Therefore I disagree with Jeggan's postulation that by not forming a singular union, the opposition leaders will be splintering. The facts of their demarche does not bear that out. It is also ill-advised to insult the leaders and ascribe dishonourable motive to their efforts while brow-beating them into completing our desires for us, i.e. a united opposition to contest yet another 2011 election to remove Yahya. It is not apparent that Yahya can be removed by election but that is no reason not to contest an election. To contest an election you need a bonafide registered political party. You do not necessarily need a totally united opposition. Buit if you need one, you do not achieve it via arrogance, insult, and gratuitous disdain. You acknowledge the efforts of those those who toil for it, you support them where you can, financially and morally, and you encourage your friends and family to vote for them. You do not brow-beat them into marriages of convenience and against their own will.

 

By far the most cogent appeal I have seen is from my friend Chongan at Gainako. The tone of Chongan's notes were measured, graceful, and grateful. His notes appreciate earlier efforts while soliciting newer resolve by discouraging witch-huntings and vengeful retributions. This attitude recognizes the corrupting nature of Yahya the criminal and that inside of our vortex, are unwilling accessories to Yahya's crimes to include a regimented military, captive in their own minds' consciences. Police, adjective.

 

Under separate cover, and having advised humility and grace here, I shall present contours for a successful roadmap and I will enjoin coleagues and friends to begin good work in earnest to stabilize our vortex.

 

Thank you one and all and stay tuned for Part II

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