Thanks Sariang, and I still celebrate Nyang's unprecedented courage in dealing with the uncomfortable question of Raleigh as far as PDOIS' absence from that exploratory unity meeting.
If Halifa's posture is to be believed, he confirmed our reservation about Nyang venturing into unsolvable contentious territory, i.e., the issue of failed attempts at coalition building over the years, and how in his considered estimation the UDP bears responsibility on that front. However, I must say I am suspicious of Halifa's true intentions in the manner he reacted to Nyang's perspective on Raleigh.
According to Halifa, "the opposition leadership on the ground has been showing tremendous respect for each other since the Presidential elections". In reality, what constitutes "the opposition .... on the ground", and who is the "leadership" of that "opposition"?
As far as active politics, the opposition on the ground, in order of electoral strength comprises the UDP, NRP, and PDOIS. And the leadership of that opposition is Ousainou Darboe, Hamat Bah, and Halifa Sallah. This must be the first realistic starting point. Any attempt to place the defunct PPP, and the clearly non-existent GPDP, in the same category is a complete nonsense. Similarly, any attempt to place OJ, and Henry Gomez, on the same footing with Ousainou, Hamat, and Halifa ought to be seen as foolhardiness. It exemplifies the Gambian farce of maslahah and must be rejected.
Among those with electoral following, and therefore the bona fide opposition, it is not accurate for Halifa to claim that "the opposition leadership on the ground has been showing tremendous respect for each other since the Presidential elections". Halifa's recent combative letter to Hamat challenging him to a "debate" or "joint press conference" cannot be regarded as "tremendous respect" under any sensible construction of that phrase. In the immediate post-election period, Halfa also launched a scathing attack on OJ. Notwithstanding my view that OJ is not a bona fide opposition leader, where was the respect in that attack by Halifa?
If Halifa's "tremendous respect" is in doubt, his implicit defence of Ousainou, and the UDP must be in doubt. I am obviously unpersuaded by Halifa's ostensible reason for coming after Modou Nyang. In his own way, Daffeh is holding the UDP corner quite well, and if Halifa is sincere in his overall reaction to Nyang, the proper course of conduct would have been to engage him privately.
I have no interest in milking this unfortunate dispute, but as the matter is in squarely in the public space, I am very suspicious of the real driver behind Halifa's public pursuit of Nyan but I am confident the course of time would provide sensible guidance on the point.
LJDarbo
Courtesy of Maafanta. Please take it away folks.
Halipha Sallah warns Modou Nyang - maafanta.com (via @Fatou Jaw Manneh)
Re: PDOIS must not have missed Raleigh
Dear Modou Nyang,
After reading the brilliant interviews conducted by Maafanta, the Central Committee of PDOIS has resolved to issue a statement of the Raleigh Conference which we still consider to be a brilliant initiative even though people like you have misconceived the direction it should have taken. This was a conference aimed at bringing people together and not to knock heads against each other. It was a conference for the humble and purposeful and not for the conceited and self-righteous.
It was a conference to search together for answers and not to direct angry invectives against each other. It should have been a unifying conference not a divisive one. It is unfortunate that you have used the language you did to interrogate what Mr Ousianou Darbo said. We would not use such a language against a person who has not given us any cause to do so. You as a Gambian citizen are entitled to the way you view things and make use of the English language. Prudence dictates that you weigh your words before putting them down. What are you really trying to gain for making the remark you made in the public space? How will this enhance the integrity of what you stand for or the cause of the Gambian people?
What you have succeeded in doing is not the defence of principles but the pitting of PDOIS against everyone in opposition. I do not know how such a positioning of PDOIS on the political landscape of the Gambia could ever earn it the confidence of any one. What the Gambian people need at this stage is not endless bickering or the depicting of the opposition as a force in disarray. What the Gambian people need is a message of hope and solidarity to promote their liberation.
The opposition leadership on the ground has been showing tremendous respect for each other since the Presidential elections. This is reflected at the grassroots level. The Diaspora should be reinforcing this instead of putting iodine on healed wounds.
We hope you will take your time and read the statement issued by the Central Committee which you would be able to interrogate in your own Committee meetings abroad and at any Congress. Internal party Democracy is the way forward for the future. Clarity however is indispensable if it is to breed a consensus based on truth, good faith and the National interest.
Halifa Sallah
Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of people, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure. (Admiral Arleigh A. Burke).
Modou Nyang's commentary is lucid, I hope the Central Commitee in Banjul listen. Gambians are bored of the same rigmarole...I hope Halifa goes easy on Modou Nyang..he is not an enemy.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at:
http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at:
http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: