Ok, Uncle here I come. But before I go back to look at “the ideas” shared with gentleman Rene, I will first have to commend him.
Rene is a true democrat. A real gentleman extra ordinaire. He came in when UDP-Daffeh intentionally changed the subject matter to venture into fringes away from the subject matter. Rene did not call Ousianou Darboe names as the confused and desperate Daffeh went gaga against Halifa. But I have this to tell my dear Rene. Rene, don’t make the mistake to think that you are engaged in a debate and sharing of ideas with decent compatriots. Nay brother, THESE ARE HATERS who prefer to dwell on trivial issues. Out of all the important things Halifa had said they are dwelling on issues that they have no evidence to refute. Rene you know very well how Fox news foxes on everything essential that does not come from their favoured
side of the political divide. Don’t make any mistake, you can see how my uncle is squealing for his gang members.
Now uncle, I will come with another one to look at the ideas you shared here. I have cancelled my planned trip down south to Atlanta but is now willing to arrange with your other nephews to get you to Kambia for Re-orientation. Maybe you will eve like the APRC for making the word their own.
Nyang
--- On Fri, 7/2/10, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS To: [log in to unmask] Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 12:49 PM
Rene,
Thank you for your considered notes. I think you're one of the sober PDOISards witness your temporary release permits out of the Big Dinko. I like your attitude. I think the only reason where there exists mirages of conflict is that in your collective efforts to defend Halifa's reasonings, you inadvertently miss facts that are spectacular to other Gambians. You are not to be faulted for that. If I grew up in the vortex of PDOIS propaganda (some of which are sound by the way), I would be tempted to close my mind on analyses in the 20th or 21st century based on those sound foundations. What happens is that as the world evolves, basic foundations take on a more expanded meaning as cultures evolve. This is how we grow in this world. Our parents give us a strong foundation of morals, ethics, and discipline so we can use those to negotiate our way through life on earth after they are long gone. They cannot generally predict the future but from their life
experiences, they have come to recognize certain global foundations that can almost always address our future life considerations. WHat I see may be happening is that Halifa has not appreciated the dynamism of life or the capacity of new-borns to synthesize their foundational education to thrive. If we didn't have the freedoms of expression and association for worship and religion, Halifa may not have the requisite checks and balances on his extremities variously.
I am sad at the moment because Braseeeeeeel just lost to Dutch. Even though I remained conflicted as to who to support during the match itself, I am disappointed a bit because Dutch did not feature in my prediction for the semifinal. But such is life. It doesn't take anything away from the Dutch discipline and ferocity in that match. You will agree with me that if I were required to register that prediction with any higher authority, I'd be dead by now. Gone with Braseeeeeel. Even though I was right 3 out of four times. Now then I will update my prediction but instead of cheat and replace Braseeeeeel by Dutch, I will remain with the 3 that are still with my prediction. The idea is to predict the motherlode winner at the end. Here is my updated prediction in alphabetical order again as I look forward to the Ghana match later today:
Argentina
Germany
Ghana.
Because I have taken you on this "detour", I will address your notes under separate cover in order that I may maintain focus on the relevant. I love you Rene and I pray for your continued good health and strength. DaarManso will accord me that wish.
Later. Haruna. Don't get mushy on me yet. I think you know better right? Right.
-----Original Message-----
From: rebadjan < [log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L < [log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, Jul 1, 2010 6:59 pm
Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
Haruna, I am doing good. Good to hear from you too. I have read the ideas that you share with me, and I find them useful. Find below my response to some of yours.
-----Original Message----- From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 7:34 pm Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
Rene, how are you? Good to hear you again. At least you have a
temporary release permit from the Big Dinko. From me. Haruna. Before your permit expires, Let me share some ideas with you:
[--------Original Message----- From: rebadjan [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 6:24 pm Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS -----Original Message----- From: UDP United Kingdom <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] Sent: Tue, Jun 29, 2010 10:01 pm Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS "But hey! did you spot Ayatollah Sallah's gaffe? He said [ I am paraphrasing] there is no party in the Gambia with more than 20,000 members. Does anyone seriously believe that?"] Rene, Paraphrasing Daffeh.
[Is there a difference between a member of a party and a supporter of a party? Most of the people who vote in Gambian elections are supporters of the party they vote for, and may not necessarily be members of those parties.] Rene.
(Rene, in Gambia, there is no difference between members of a party and supporters of that party. Among diasporan Gambians that distinction is more apparent. In effect, you are right that some people who vote for a party in Gambia may not necessarily be members
of the party or even open supporters of that party for good spectacular reason. These are semantics for Gambia. What Daffeh is alluding to is that Halifa cannot know which party if any has 20,000, 30,000, 50,000, 10,000, or 100,000 members. To rely on such inutile analysis is sophomoric. Your statement about voters for a party in Gambia, can be applied to voters in any nation.)Haruna.
Haruna, a political party must have clear aims and objectives of what it hopes to achieve. The members of the party are to articulate such aims and objectives, so as to give the party a political direction. The level of conviction and commitment to the ultimate aims and objectives of the party, may be more robust for a member than for a supporter. So there may be a little distinction in terms of responsibility and obligation.
Moreover, the point I want to make is that if membership to a political party is
determine by criteria; those who willingly accept to meet those criteria can therefore be said to members of that party. This is different from supporters, who may not have the same inclination to register (appy) for membership to those parties; pay the membership fee and abide by the rules and regulations that govern the party. It is the number to such registered (apply) members of such political parties that the 20,000 figure infers.
You contend that Halifa cannot know which party, if any, has 20,000, 30,000 or so members. I would only say that Halifa is very deliberate, and I will not be surprised if he comes up with an explanation of how he arrives at that conclusion.
[In the US, for instance, people register their affiliation to a political party by being either a democrat, republican or an independent.] Rene. (NO. That is inaccurate. In some parts of the US, folk
register their party affiliation. In other parts, folk do not register their party affiliation. And if the US were a dictatorship where party registration determines whether you are accorded your human rights, you will see no one registering their party affiliation. The same is true for Canada, Russia, Mali, Australia, Ghana, Senegal, and Kenya.)Haruna.
I concur. I went back and review the literature on the political system in the US, particularly with respect to the Democractic party and the Republican party, and learn that "the political parties in the US are more loosely organized than in other countries." That the Democractic party and the Republican party, have "no formal organization at the national level that controls membership, actvities, or policy positions. But there are states that do." "One can become a member of either of the political parties by merely stating that
fact."
So my statement with respect to political party affiliation in the US is ill- conceived; the idea is far more elaborate than my statement presume. I will go back and understand the literature more. [In the Gambia people do not register their affiliations to a poltical party.] Rene. (And for good reason. Whatever the case, it is individual decision to register affiliation or not to register affiliation. It is not decreed by law of any nation that citizens must register their party affiliation. If you were in Gambia, would you register your membership to PDOIS? That is if you are not a member of the Central Committee or Politburo. Just an ordinary member. I think Halifa is confusing executive and other committee membership with general membership. He needs to make that clear. And you need to adjust your postulations about the folk of US.)Haruna.
Only, if I have to
run for political office would party affiliation become somewhat formal. I would register my membership to PDOIS if I want to run for political office in the name of PDOIS. I have reconsidered my earlier remark about party affiliation in the US given what I know now. [They register to obtain a voters card. And may or may not be members of a political party.] Rene. This is what happens in all nations which hold elections for one reason or the other. And the reason is you register so you can be issued a voter's card. The registration itself is conducted to ascertain your eligibility to vote and to reduce electoral fraud. It is not to determine which party you are affiliated with. I think requiring registration for party affiliation is a communist idea. Why would you not acknowledge that someone can change his or her mind on the day of election. Why would you jail them to vote
for a party? There is no point in registering one's party affiliation. if that is so, you do not need to conduct elections. Why waste the resources when you can simply count those registrations for the appropriate party on election day??????????"Haruna.
Point well taken. Since I made the postulation based on a faulty reasoning. "In some states, a voter can register as a member of one or another party, and vote in the primary elections of one or another party. Such participation does not restrict one's choices in any way."
[That is why it is difficult to quantify the support base of a political party in the Gambia.] Rene. (NO no no no no. There you go again. You erroneously establish registration for party affiliation as a standard, then you draw conclusions based on that standard. I know there will be nothing PDOIS would want more than to compel folk to register their party
affiliation. You can probably do it when I leave you here to play with folk's lives. It ain't gonna happen as long as I'm alive. On my dead body.)
Ok, Haruna. Don't prosecute PDOIS for what is clearly my own ill conceived notion. Nobody is going to force anybody to do what they don't want to do.
[Whereas affilation to a political party is govern by principles in places like the US;] Rene. You PDOISards are so funny. What principles is party affiliation governed by the US RENE??????????????????????????????? Voting and party support in the US is based on the same principles and values as it is everywhere in the world. I think these temporary permits out of the Big Dinko is good for you. Talk to Americans around you. They'll let you know. [in the Gambia affiliation to a political party is more nuanced.] Rene. All principles are nuanced Rene.
This is because they are individual principles. There is not a set set of principles in the US or anywhere in the world upon which any voter is mandated to base their electoral calculus. You don't understand do you? What state in the US do you live in Rene? [It could be motivated by any given factor.] Rene. YES. For anyone anywhere in the world. It is based on conditions on the ground. Just like our pulling out of Afghanistan. [This is the reason why some political analyst give reference to patronage, inducement, ethnicity and other shared common linkages as factors that can influence the support base for a political party.] Rene. (And do you see anyone paying those idiots for their analysis? You get what you pay for. Analysts are a dime a dozen. And let me share a secret with you Rene. Don't pay any analyst who tells you folk vote for or support parties in
Gambia based on patronnage, inducement, ethnicity, and other shared common linkages. You know why? Its because these are reasons folk cast their votes everywhere and besides, you cannot force anyone to change their electoral calculus and have it free and fair. Men. You PDOISards have a warped sense of the world in which you live. No wonder you're in a Big Dinko.)Haruna.
Haruna, what then is the basis of supporting a political party in the Gambia? Do people support political parties base on their programs? Do they support political parties base on their policies? Do they support political parties base on their ideas?
We have to recognize that our societies are continually in a state of conflict. More so, when it is govern by diverse interest. This is the reason we have different political parties. This is the reason we have groups that emerge and compete against each other. We all want to
promote and sustain the interest of whatever we represent. However, with a democractic system organized around a sound constitutional arrangement, with checks and balances, institutions and structures that promote the health and welfare of the people, all these conflicts can be managed to the betterment of everyone.
I completely agree with you about whatever electoral calculus people have in winning an election, but I do hope that it will be under an environment that promotes the rule of law; that respects the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human being. And environment that celebrates freedom of expression, and all the other freedoms, as long as it is not injurious to the state and other people.
[It is therefore not outside the realm of possibilties, that you will find a political party that does not have 20,000 registered members, who are bind by the constitution and the
rules and regulations that govern the party.] Rene. Realm of possibilities???? Duh!!!! Registered members???????? I don't see the word Registered in Mr. Daffeh's quote. And even if that is what Halifa meant, which other party requires all citizens who would vote for them to register as members???????????? I don't understand. I encourage PDOIS to dispense with the idea of requiring their supporters and past voters to register as members of the party. You are effectively imprisoning the mind? How do you know the voter will not want to change his/her mind a minute after such registration. Please don't hold our people hostage to dictatorship and communism. What????? This is why I advised Daffeh Gambians should leave PDOISards in their Big Dinko for a while longer. Because even when we go near the Dinko to give them a hand up, they want to pull us in with them. What????????????
Haruna, you
have to understand that political parties are formed by individuals who want to represent their interest, as well as the interest of others. Everyone has the right to represent and to be represented by others. But we all have the choice either to accept that representation or to seek it elsewhere. This is why we have choices. And we can choose among the political parties that come before us and look at their programs and policies and make inform choices. Or even bad choices. But then every five years when we have elections we can correct whatever bad choices we made the last time. We just have to work on having a conducive environement and a political temperament that accepts dissenting views. How I long to see in the street corners of Banjul and other metropolitan capitals in the Gambia, what I see in the street corners of Manhattan and elsewhere, of people venting their anger and frustration with
loud speakers for all to hear. At the end of the day they will pack all their paraphernalia and head quietly home.
You make an interesting observation about party requirements for registration of membership. How is it going to work? To just declare your membership of a party and then wait patiently to vote.
Thanks for the good ideas. And thanks for the company too.
Rene
I encourage you guys to speak some more. We don't want to get surprised by your schemin'. Registered members!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wolla Allah!!!! Haruna.
I find that statement quite pathetic. May be that is just another typical PDOIS hyperbole. The guys now sounds like a complete tosser. No wonder the other parties are taking no notice. Regards Daffeh
On 30/06/2010, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote: Mr. Daffeh, to butress your point in PDOIS' arrogance and haughty disposition, and before Caesar get ahold of your notes, the reason why PDOIS is not naturally capable of negotiation or considering any other point of view can be traced to PDOIS' origins. PDOIS began as an instrument of "Re-education" for a people they view as savage, illiterate, and unconditioned. In other words instead of accepting that their fellow Gambians have a right to Free choice, expression, and association for industry and worship, PDOIS asserts that a sovereign must have a base level of consciousness and or "education" before these sacrosanct divine rights can be appreciated. So PDOIS has assigned itself the duty to conduct that re-education and conscience-building in order to make the Gambian people ready to receive their God-given rights. Well I want
PDOIS to know something: We are not fully edumacated yet. I should think we will be ready in 2050. Forget Agenda-2011. We want Agenda-2050. With Love from Haruna. And Badou I'm not paranoid or angry. I'm pissed.
-----Original Message----- From: UDP United Kingdom <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tue, Jun 29, 2010 6:28 pm Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
''In the spirit of compromise, will the UDP consider a united front led by your party leader on the above premise? With your party's numerical strength, I don't
see any down side to such an arrangement. Is there? At the end of the purported five years, you should cruise to victory in a free and fair elections. No? '' Ousman, thanks for your observation above.However, its looks like this is not even a starter as PDOIS would not even entertain any discussion that tend to suggest a UDP led allaince.In 2006, the UDP invited NADD's flag bearer for talks regarding the possible inclusion of NADD into the UDP led allaince but this was outrightly rejected. Halifa is on records saying any such thing will amount to helping somebody to become an elite. So it is clear these people's ego and arrogance will never allow them to reason with anybody. That is why when we talk about a coaliton of opposition parties, it is better we don't talk about PDOIS. I personally don't want them there and I certainly don't want them to be talked to. These people will never
entertain anything that is not their creation and unfortunately, theirs' are always alien to our planet. For Example, where on earth did you ever heard a coalition of independant soveriegn parties contesting a primary to choose a candidate? You tell them that; they would say oh no agenda 2011 is not partisan. If it is not partisan why calling on parties to endorse it? We all have Agenda 2011 in our own rights. They just happen to be different. My understanding from OJ's Freedom Newspaper Radio interview is that this Agenda 2011 being talked about by PDOIS is Halifa Sallah's agenda for the year 2011. So it must be left to him for he is entitled to have an agenda of his own. I will not talk about some of the grotesque statements made in the PDOIS Press Release for there is a lot in store for that but can I say one thing;other than reference to the constituent parties
of NADD, there is no single mention of the word 'party' in the MOU that establishes NADD. Kind regards Daffeh
On 29/06/2010, Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote: Suntou,Politics is the art of compromise. I understand the numerical strength of the UDP in comparison to their siblings in the opposition going by the results of past elections. However, reading through the Foroyaa editorial posted by Nyang, I am intrigued by the following: "Hence PDOIS favours the creation of a transitional administration after the APRC government that would last for a period of 2 to 5 years".
In the spirit of compromise, will the UDP consider a united front led by your party leader on the above premise? With your
party's numerical strength, I don't see any down side to such an arrangement. Is there? At the end of the purported five years, you should cruise to victory in a free and fair elections. No?
The only sticking point in the editorial is the issue of primaries. Intra-party primaries are prevalent, but inter party primary isn't going to wash. However, I think PDOIS is pragmatic enough to let that slide if the transition government arrangement is agreed to by the UDP. How about giving it a try guys? Hon. Sidia Jatta is the liaison for PDOIS outreach. Who is the liaison for the UDP, NRP? Intransigence and ideological purity will not win at the end of the day, but pragmatism will.
http://gambian.blogspot.com
From: suntou touray <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] Sent: Tue, June 29, 2010 7:18:28 AM Subject: Re: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
Indeed Haruna, no change there. Unbelievable stuff. Unity, what unity? Blame the big fish...It will work No comments... Suntou
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 4:40 AM, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> wrote: Oh brother. Haruna.
-----Original Message----- From: Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]> Sent: Mon, Jun 28, 2010 10:59 pm Subject: Foroyaa News:PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
PDOIS PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE UDP CONGRESS
By Mamadou Dem on 28-06-10 (127 reads) News by the same author
We publish below the full text of the press release of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) which was read by its Secretary General, Halifa Sallah, at a press conference held at the People’s Centre on Saturday, 26 June 2010:
The people of the Gambia are facing the most decisive period of our history. They are at a cross roads. The moment of decision is just around the corner. In 2011 they will
have the power to determine who will manage the affairs of the country. They have the option to give a fresh mandate to the person in office or elect an alternative leader from the ranks of the opposition. The voter’s card is an instrument for putting, maintaining or removing a representative in office. What the voter thinks should be the concern of those who wish to seek their votes to become public trustees. What the political parties and personalities think should be the concern of every voter. Winning or losing an election could be determined by the vote of a single voter. Hence each vote is significant enough to determine who or who will not be the president of a country or a representative at a particular level. Each voter is as significant as the person who is elected through the combined votes to preside over the affairs of a Nation. The begotten leader cannot be more important than the voter who
makes him or her a leader. Power therefore belongs to the voters. It is only entrusted to leaders to serve the interest of the people. Once that power is abused trust is broken and the people have the authority to demand for or take back their power and entrust it to any one who could earn their trust. The challenge of political leadership is how to earn the trust and confidence of the voters. This is the challenge that all political parties and leaders must face. They cannot survive without being equal to the challenge.
This is why political parties hold congresses and issue Press Releases for people to have the information they need to decide which party and leaders could best serve their interest.2010 is the year of Congresses and demand by the grass roots for Internal Party Democracy in the Gambia. Two Opposition parties, PDOIS and the UDP have held their Congresses. The rest are expected to hold
their own in due course. What does the future hold for the electorate is of fundamental importance? This is why PDOIS sees the need to clear some doubts and help the voter to know where we are to go from here.
PDOIS aims to reiterate again that it could function as a normal party within a multi party system that seeks the mandate of the people on the basis of its principles, policies, programmes and practices. Few people would disagree that PDOIS has a leadership that has the knowledge and honesty and is capable of making the supreme sacrifice necessary to promote the liberty and prosperity of the Gambian people. PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices.
PDOIS is also conscious that the creation of a genuine multi party system that
allows free flow of divergent views on the media will enable PDOIS to participate in battle to win the hearts and minds of the people and contest for votes on the basis of its principles policies and programmes. PDOIS has always been convinced that if coup makers could concede to a two year time table in order to restore a constitutional and electoral system which promotes self perpetuating rule the opposition forces could also agree to a transition programme to build a genuine multi party system founded on a Genuine Republican Constitution and a free and fair voting system that would give rise to the undiluted choice of the people.
Hence PDOIS favours the creation of a transitional administration after the APRC government that would last for a period of 2 to 5 years.
The PDOIS Congress has mandated the Central Committee to mandate Sidia Jatta, NADD National Assembly Member, to be responsible for
inter party relations. All those who wish to discuss relation between political parties should contact Sidia Jatta. PDOIS is interested in ensuring that the sovereign Gambian people take full charge of their destiny by 2011.
PDOIS is conscious of the fact that during all the nominations for Presidential elections since 1997, no Presidential Candidate has ever had one’s nomination forms signed by more than 20,000 people. This confirms that no party in the Gambia has more than 20,000 card carrying members. This means that most of the 670,336 registered voters are not members of political parties. This is why they shift their political loyalties from one political party to another with relative ease. There are no ideological blocs among the electorate. The country has never had the opportunity to have a citizenry who vote on the basis of the principles, policies, programmes and practices of parties. This is
why the country needs a new start that will enable all political parties to have a level ground to contest free and fair elections. At the moment the ground is not level or plain and each opposition party will have an uphill battle to wage to win an elections. This is why PDOIS is of the view that a platform should be created that will enable the Gambian electorate to come together to vote for the change we want and need, in order to build the genuine democratic system, that ensures that their consent will determine their manner of government.
This is why the PDOIS Congress of 24th April 2010 has passed a resolution which imposes on the PDOIS leadership the decision to promote the selection of an opposition Presidential Candidate through a primary. In short, all those who wish to stand against the APRC candidate, be they members of political parties or independent personalities, would accept to face each
other at a primary and would mutually vow to support the single candidature of the winner. The winner will also agree to administer a transitional Cabinet for a period of two to five years and build the instruments, institutions and culture of democracy, rights and justice that would culminate in the creation of an open and free society that would allow a genuine multi party system to thrive. The winner will not carry out any witch hunting of members of the past and present administration but would allow the courts to function and grievances be pursued through the courts or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. All institutions, private or public which are legally established will be protected throughout the transition. Cabinet would be constituted through consultation with all stakeholders This is what Agenda 2011 is all about.
PDOIS’ Congress called on all parties to hold Congresses and
consider what is offered by agenda 2011 so that all parties will utilise their own platform to promote the determination of an opposition Candidate through a primary and prepare themselves for future multiparty contest after the transition.
The Central Committee of PDOIS takes this opportunity to reiterate PDOIS’ stand. It wants its supporters in particular and all those Gambian people who value their sovereignty to know that the only transformation that is possible in 2011 is one that could attract the support of the 405,932000 voters who did not vote for President Jammeh in 2006.and the 542,o55 voters who did not vote for the opposition Most of these people are likely to become involved if they know that they are going to be mandated to select a candidate who will accept to serve for one term to put a genuine multiparty system in place and leave office like Nelson Mandela. As far as PDOIS is
concerned, this transitional Candidate will not have to be a PDOIS leader. He or she could originate from another party or civil society. He or She could be any body selected by the people through a primary.
Secondly, the PDOIS Congress resolves that PDOIS maintains its relation with NADD until the next Presidential and National Assembly elections. Sidia Jatta has started consultation with our other partner in NADD. They had agreed to wait for the outcome of the UDP Congress to complete their discussion. PDOIS anticipates that its partner in NADD would hold a Congress and embrace Agenda 2011 so that NADD would also embrace Agenda 2011. Notwithstanding the Central Committee has resolved to hold a PDOIS rally in support of Agenda 2011 on the 31st of July 2010 at LatriKunda Yerri Nganya, adjacent to the mosque where PDOIS held its first rally in 1986.
PDOIS DISAGREMENT WITH UDP AND NRP PDOIS
wrote to UDP before its Congress to indicate to them that the party was waiting for the resolution of the UDP Congress on inter party unity in order to know what form of Alliance could be forged for 2011.
The UDP leader, in his address to the Congress indicated that the registration of NADD was a disaster. PDOIS would want its supporters in particular and all those interested in Gambian politics in general to know that the registration of NADD was Constitutional requirement. No candidate could contest under NADD without its registration as a political party. PDOIS advances a challenge to any leader who disagrees with this view. Hence those who did not support the registration of NADD should not have signed the Memorandum of Understanding establishing NADD.
In short , under the strategic objectives of the Memorandum, Parties “agreed to put together resources within the framework of
the Alliance to contest the forthcoming Presidential, National Assembly and Council elections” It adds that “The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for the Presidential, National Assembly and Council elections shall be done by consensus, provided that in the event of an impasse selection shall be done by primary election restricted to party delegates, on the basis of equal number of delegates, comprising the Chairman, Chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each village or ward in a constituency”
In terms of the tenure of office, the memorandum states that “The interim President of the Republic under the Alliance shall serve for one five year term of office only. He/she shall vacate his or her seat at the end of his or her term of office and shall neither seek nor support the candidature of any other person for the ensuing presidential elections. A constitutional
provision shall be put in place under the Alliance that would limit the number of terms a person could occupy the office of president of the Republic to two.” Hence all parties which signed the Memorandum agreed to put up Candidates under a NADD ticket. This is incontrovertible. Now one may ask: Could a candidate stand on a NADD ticket without NADD being registered as a Party? The answer is in the negative. It is obvious to any one who has read section 60 of the Constitution that we could not put up Candidates under NADD until NADD was registered as a party. It reads “ No association , other than a political party registered under or pursuant of an Act of the National Assembly, shall sponsor Candidates in public elections” NADD had to be registered. Did we have to lose National Assembly seats because of the Registration? The answer is in the Negative.
Section 91 subsection 1 d of the
Constitution states that “a member of the National Assembly shall vacate his or her seat in the National Assembly-if he or she ceases to be a member of the political party of which he or she was a member at the time of his or her election; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall appy on a merger of political parties at the national level where such a merger is authorised by the Constitution of the parties concerned.” The simple and elementary truth is that all parties that had agreed to put up Candidates under NADD had merged into NADD. The IEC also conceived NADD as an Umbrella party, a merger. They argued their case in that regard and even told the court that they had drafted the rules governing Alliances. The disaster is that NADD’S Counsels did not use merger of parties as a defence to save National Assembly seats. The registration of NADD was not an error. The only legal advice that
was legitimate was to tell parties that they were creating a merger by signing the memorandum of understanding. Hence those who did not want a merger should not have signed. The error was to fail to get every party to sign to indicate in black and white that they conceived NADD as an umbrella Party or merger or resin from NADD before the court case. No room would have been left for historical excuses that are so evident after NADD’s disintegration.
Secondly, in his address to the UDP Congress the NRP leader claimed that he left NADD because other parties did not believe in his principle of allowing the party with the majority to lead. This claim is incorrect. The NRP signed a memorandum which indicated that the selection of Candidates would be done through a unanimous vote of executive members or a primary. It goes without saying that during the first attempt to select a candidate in accordance
with the principle of unanimity, it is Dulo Bah, the representative of the NRP who nominated a representative of the PPP and Pa Manneh , a representative of NDAM who seconded the nomination of the representative of the PPP. This compelled UDP and PDOIS representatives to make their own nominations and thereby created an impasse. It was the Coordinator who explained that the Executive Committee only had the power to select a candidate if their decision is unanimous, otherwise election would have to take place in the form of a primary to enable the people to select the flag bearer. At no time did the NRP leader denounce Dulo Bah and state a party position for the selection of the flagbearer.Infact when the delegates met to try to make a second attempt to reach unanimity by establishing some criteria to guide the nomination process the NRP leader never advocated for the selection a majority party
leader as a criterion. Through out the history of NADD, the NRP leader had never proposed for an Amendment of the memorandum to incorporate what he called his principle. Such attempts to rewrite history only undermine mutual trust between opposition leaders fans polemics and draws attention away from the ruling party and focus it on the squabbles among the opposition. PDOIS hopes that leaders would realise that any refusal to accept the facts will push us to propagate fiction which will not lead us to draw appropriate lessons to move forward.
Conclusion To conclude PDOIS would want the people to recall that Gambia has been led by 2 Heads of state for the past 45 years. In the next 15 years those who were born in 1965 will be 60 years.It is clear that unless we break the current trend of self perpetuating rule two heads of state will lead the Gambia for 60 years.
As we face another election cycle it is
the duty of every sovereign Gambian who is 18 years old and above to reflect on the state of the Gambia after 45 years of Nationhood and ask whether this is the same Gambia, with its growing poverty, redundancies, growth of drug lords and contraction of liberty that should continue to be up to the year 2020 and beyond. It is now time for each Gambian to sit and reflect on the type of Gambia one wants to be a citizen of and the role one is to play in shaping the destiny of one’s country and people. This is the challenge of 2011.Are we up to the challenge. History the keen recorder of events has its eyes and ears open. The future will tell the story. Our children and children’s children will be the judge.
The End
Issued by The Central Committee of PDOIS Delivered by Halifa Sallah – Spokesperson of
PDOIS
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