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Solution
29 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 20:27:57
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Can somebody help me?
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darboesanka
5 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 23:33:37
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| I asked the same question. what is NADD trying to achieve without UDP/NRP?. Unfortunately, gambians vote for names and I can assure you that Halifa Sallah is more popular in America and Serrekunda. The rural folks don't know him and he will not win the upcoming elections. In fact, Halifa only won in serrekunda after UDP boycotted the parliamentary election in 2001. Let us stop daydreaming and be very realistic. UDP/NRP will get more votes than any other opposition party. That's a fact. So, I hope those of us in the diaspora will come our senses. |
Edited by - darboesanka on 13 Aug 2006 23:55:38 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 13:21:00
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I do no think so. Darboe, i ask you this elections in 6weeks time, what can the diaspora do now, that they could not have done before.
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Solution
29 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 20:49:47
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
I do no think so. Darboe, i ask you this elections in 6weeks time, what can the diaspora do now, that they could not have done before.
Nobody is suggesting that the gambians should elect Halifa. The point is, why can't Ousainou Darboe embrace this simple comprehensive and practical plan drafted to handle the transitional period should Jammeh loose the upcoming election to NADD.It is not a matter of who can pull the most votes within opposition but rather who can win. Ousainou himself signed the MOU knowing that individually, he can't win the election. And the last held elections manifested to that.
These irresponsible behavior by these so called politicians who have no sense of direction but an absolute greed for power, represents a lesson for the Gambians to distinguish from those who are here just to make noise and those who come to achieve realistic goals. During Darboe's last meeting in Atlanta, he clearly stated that whoever is selected as candidate for NADD would get his support for the simple reason that he had his singnature on the MOU. The same Darboe turn his back to the NADD he pleadged to support.
For those against Halifa,it is too bad. This dedicated, patriotic,honest, and sincere guy had proven his love and loyalty to our home land beyond reasonable doubt. In 1994 when APRC just came into power and when the Gambia was govern by nothing but decrees imposed by the soldiers, not a single voice was heard but Halifa's. And well before 1994, Halifa was consistently enlightening the Gambian people.
We all witnessed how he turn down ministerial offers by the government.
For the course of advancement, let us put tribal issues aside and be realistic.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 23:35:32
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quote:
Originally posted by darboesanka
I asked the same question. what is NADD trying to achieve without UDP/NRP?. Unfortunately, gambians vote for names and I can assure you that Halifa Sallah is more popular in America and Serrekunda. The rural folks don't know him and he will not win the upcoming elections. In fact, Halifa only won in serrekunda after UDP boycotted the parliamentary election in 2001. Let us stop daydreaming and be very realistic. UDP/NRP will get more votes than any other opposition party. That's a fact. So, I hope those of us in the diaspora will come our senses.
Darbosanka Halifa is wiling to ready for any deal including Darboe for Presidential candidate but the issue is about winning to salvage the political situation and not for ambition of being a president. Please review their recent communications and exchange of letters and inorder to appreciate the facts better. Its not about name or popularity but based on good visons and startegy in the spirit of national reconcilliation for emancipation of the masses. Halifa ia not ambitious and have been in politics with dynamism and patience. Aftermath of the elections Darboe and co. would regret and are the loosers. However he is a professional and continue with it but no chance in politics of tribalism. Thats why GOD put Jammeh and APRC to steer for that mission and better political orientation towrads the future. Leaders are born but not created and Darboe, Hamat cannot manipulate their way to rule Gambia in their selfish ways. APRC is properly institutioanlised and to counter them requires the opposition parties to re-think on their strategies which was already done to promote NADD. Those sdincere to the plight of the massess are still there and figfhting hard and the traitors backed out for selfish reasons or rather than fullfil national duty under the current political climate. |
Edited by - kobo on 14 Aug 2006 23:59:11 |
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Solution
29 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 04:20:59
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| Great points Kobo. |
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Bronx
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 05:24:54
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It always amaze me how NADD supporters always call on the UDP/NRP alliance to come back to NADD. The fact of the matter remains that the blame for the break up of the initial NADD project could go all around. It is amazing how intelligent folks keep harking back to something that will never happen. NADD as originally constituted was a union of convinience. Two of its larger consequents decided to call it quits. It is within their rights to do that. If NADD supporters believe in these people's right to association, why are they fuming so much?
kobo wrote:
"Darbosanka Halifa is wiling to ready for any deal including Darboe for Presidential candidate but the issue is about winning to salvage the political situation and not for ambition of being a president."
So what is stopping Halifa from carrying out this feat that you claimed he is willing to do. I read his letters too and he sound as petulant as the other guy. Halifa is a brilliant guy, but the sooner someone tell him to stop playing lawyer the better. The man is a sociologist, but he never pass a chance to play an attorney. Reading the text of the law is a different task than been a lawyer. That takes training and experience.
At this point, the September elections is a three man race or four if you count the Gomez fella. The Gambian electorate will have the final say and if they choose the man from Kanilai after what he took them through...so be it. They will bear the brunt of that decision. That is what electoral politics is all about.May the best candidate win.
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Solution
29 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 08:49:37
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It is within their rights to do that. If NADD supporters believe in these people's right to association, why are they fuming so much?
You are absolutely right Bronx. They are within their rights to do so.But remember these people are not seeking to run their personal business organizations, but to govern our country.
We owe it to our nation as patriotic Gambians to criticize any inappropiate and unethical behavior. It is not about supporting NADD but rather putting together practical and realistic strategies for the advancement of our dear country. I think considering these constructive criricism "fuming" is less fortunate.
Just an opinion
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Rainbow
Gambia
114 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 11:48:41
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Kobo - how old are you?!
quote:
Originally posted by Solution
Great points Kobo.
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 15:20:27
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| When it comes to chosing whom any one wants to vote for it is clear that every body will have his or her own choice where they have the freedom to do so. At this point in time we tried to encourage the opposition to unite but we have seemingly failed . Can we now say that we have also failed to get our dream come true ; that is creating a strong opposition against jammeh ? I think the answer is yes;so move on to conclude that he has won the next elections . On my part I blame the NADD,UDP/NRP collectively and additionally blame some of their supporters who did not help the cause by fuelling topics that created a chasm or chasms that none of the parties could now cross. We now have ourselves to blame for this shortcoming and we have to endure the results . God save our country poor poor Gambia. But for those who believe in destiny there is hope that one day the tyranny that looms over our beloved land will be erased for good and that we shall regain our pride ,peacefull living conditions which we lost a long long time ago. When that time comes we shall remember Jammeh but also remember thgose who should have stood for us but failed because of petty personal reasons. I doubt that we can forgive any of them, i sure will not. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 22:34:43
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Bronx perhaps this might be interesting to understand the political facts under http://allafrica.com/stories/200608150443.html
and recapitulate on these letters as a political analyst or educated person to appreaciate that the future generation of politicians backed Halifa as a good political leader and more nationalist than anybody else in the political arena.
NADD AND UDP/NRP VIEWS ON UNITY
NADD Executive Secretary
Dear Colleague,
Your letter ref. NADD/FA/02/02/06 of 6th August 2006 refers.
The joint Executive Committee of the UDP/NRP respects NADD's decision to reject the proposals emanating from it.
The UDP/NRP Alliance wishes to draw NADD's attention to the fact that legally UDP/NRP cannot be part or members of NADD. The NADD Executive seems to be ignoring the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Sallah and others Vs. The Clerk of the National Assembly and others. The suggestion that UDP/NRP Alliance is to state categorically whether it is willing to join NADD is a suggestion that fails to recognize the legal position that parties cannot form or be members of political parties. Although Mr. Hamat Bah and Mr. Ousainu Darboe and indeed any other Gambian is free and entitle to join NADD the political party under whose umbrella you propose to sponsor candidates for any election the reality of the matter is that neither Mr. Bah nor Mr. Darboe is willing to resign their membership of their parties to rejoin NADD.
The leadership of the UDP/NRP Alliance is very conversant with the laws of The Gambia and in particular laws regulating and governing election matters. Probably if the views of some people who are part of the UDP/NRP Alliance were heeded the legal and constitutional mess created by the registration of NADD would have been averted. The UDP/NRP Alliance is not seeking and has never sought power for its sake. It is an Alliance that is genuinely committed to the amelioration of the worsening conditions in all aspects in The Gambia.
Finally I regard your rejection, without any discussion, of our proposal as a rejection of our invitation to meet and discuss and this we accept in good faith.
Yours in the service of the truth.
A.N.M. OUSAINU DARBOE
(For UDP/NR.P Alliance)
NADD'S RESPONSE
Dear Mr. Darboe,
ON THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES RAISED IN YOUR LETTER
Your memorandum of 7th July has been received.
The Executive Committee of NADD respects your decision not to be part of the NADD compact. Of course NADD cannot be part of the expanded UDP/NRP Alliance since the two parties were part and parcel of NADD's political arrangement.
However, the Executive Committee of NADD was very much disappointed that you proceeded to indicate in no uncertain terms that the Supreme Court case Sallah vs the Clerk of the National Assembly and others has barred the UDP/NRP alliance from stating categorically its terms and conditions for re-engaging NADD. The Executive Committee will convey its rejection of your political interpretation of the Supreme Court decision and its immense revulsion for your description of the greatest demonstration of political will by the opposition by registering NADD as an umbrella party, as a legal and constitutional mess. I decided to seek authorization from the Executive Committee to address such issues with greater clarity since you claim that the registration of NADD was against your advice.
Mr. Darboe, even though I, Halifa Sallah, was not around when the NADD Executive Committee sent papers to IEC for registration of NADD, even though as Minority Leader in the National Assembly and member of the Pan-African parliament I had more to lose in terms of post than any member of NADD when our seats were declared vacant, even though there had not been the slightest indication that I will be made flag-bearer before the court decision, I did not hesitate to tell the whole world that the registration of NADD was a blessing in disguise. The reason for this is simple.
It is incontrovertible that once the MOU was signed by the representatives of all the political parties to establish NADD its registration became mandatory in order to give relevance to its letter and spirit. Let me refer you to the MOU to buttress my point.
Article 16 of the MOU states that "The Alliance shall have an emblem, colour, motto and symbol to be determined within one month of the coming into force of the agreement with the full participation of its supporters and sympathizers."
Suffice it to say that Article 8 also adds that "The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for presidential, National Assembly and council elections shall be done by consensus, provided that in the event of an impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election restricted to party delegates on the basis of equal number of delegates, comprising the chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each village/ward in the constituency."
Mr. Darboe, you have mastered the chapter and verse of your profession. I do not need to quote section 60 of the Constitution to prove that the registration of NADD was connected with, dependent on and determined by the letter and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that all parties signed in public knowing fully well what its contents were. NADD had to be registered in order for us to contest under its ticket. This is the requirement of the Constitution and the Elections Decree. Hence the attempt to register NADD was not a constitutional or legal blunder; on the contrary, it was a constitutional and legal necessity.
Hence anyone who sees the registration of NADD as a legal and constitutional mess must equally consider his/her signing of the memorandum of understanding as a historical blunder or folly. If signing the MOU is considered a blunder where lies the integrity of its signatories.
In short, before we agreed on the content of the MOU we set up a technical committee comprising the experts of all the political parties. Your party was represented by people of high intellectual calibre. Within the technical committee were former permanent secretaries and people with PhD. As far as I am concerned, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the registration of NADD were the highest demonstration of political will by the opposition to bring about democratic change in the Gambia. We proved that we were determined to unite for change regardless of the peril or the cost. I must admit that the UDP representatives earned my trust for the diligent way they participated in the work of the technical committee. We should not rewrite history because of the momentary convenience and rob such honourable intellectuals of due credit. The determination mustered by all to consolidate NADD was manifested after the court decision.
After our seats were declared vacant, we again had opportunity to dismantle NADD and return to contest the by-elections under our respective parties. We were given ample time to make our decisions. We concluded that our different parties will remain allies while we allow the Executive Members to remain in NADD so that it could serve as an umbrella party. This is why all Executive Members of the various parties symbolically resigned from their parties to remain Executive Committee Members of NADD. This again was the second most important demonstration of political will, by the opposition to ensure unity. It earned us the respect and admiration of the electorate for not being self seekers.
The sacrifice paid dividend. We did not only win our seats back, the APRC regime became so threatened that it had to arrest members of the NADD leadership which gave rise to its total national and international isolation. The coming of President Obasanjo, the signing of the memorandum of understanding and the massive solidarity NADD received nationally and internationally confirmed that it was the best instrument to utilize to contest the 2006 presidential election.
Mr. Darboe, the fact that Mr. Bah left NADD at a time when he was pursuing an election petition as a NADD candidate confirms where the political and strategic blunder originated from.
We first stood by NADD with an iron will. It became an invincible rock which was split by your withdrawal. This is why NADD has done everything to open its doors for re-engagement. It is therefore immensely amazing that you would conclude that you regard our rejection of your proposal as a rejection of all invitation to discuss. I will leave the NADD Executive to clarify its point.
As far as I am concerned, I have engaged you in a very honest and sincere discussion because of my conviction that an alliance is the best mechanism to contest the 2006 elections. An alliance on NADD's terms provides conditions that we have all signed to honour. An alliance on UDP/NRP terms is yet to be defined in form and content. This is the point. NADD gave you the option of making proposal on how one of your parties should declare its desire to lead an opposition alliance and then offer its terms to other opposition parties for consideration rather than hide behind the cloak of an expanded UDP/NRP alliance which can never be known to the law.
To show you that as a flagbearer of NADD I have always been opened to principled compromise, I would like to give an example of how to make our discussion relevant, realistic, and indispensable. In a word, would you agree to a proposal for NADD and the UDP/NRP Alliance to draw a list of possible candidates and then select a group of prominent Gambians to select one among their number to be a compromise candidate for the presidential elections. This candidate can be restricted to a term of 2 or 3 years to implement a rectification programme and prepare the country for free and fair elections.
Secondly, it gave you the option of revisiting the MOU establishing NADD.
Thirdly, it gave you the option of giving form and content to the UDP/NRP alliance to enable us to determine how it could be engaged without being an expanded part of it.
How you can interpret these positions as closing the doors for discussion beats my imagination.
Secondly, since the flag-bearer of your alliance wants no restriction to his term in office to a five year term, would you accept an arrangement where the NADD flag-bearer becomes the presidential candidate and sit for three or five years while a system embodying a prime minister is introduced to enable the flag-bearer of the UDP/NRP alliance to head a coalition government. The president will be barred from seeking a second term while the prime minister is allowed to seek the normal term of the presidency. These are the type of concrete proposals we expect from you as we race against time.
I would want your opinion on these proposals before Saturday 12th August 2006. In the meantime, we are going ahead with our preparations to put up a candidate. If you end up being found to have taken an irreversible decision to contest the election on your own terms, we will leave history to deliver its verdict.
If I fail to receive a positive response or a concrete proposal by Saturday I will issue a statement to call on the Gambian people to give full support to my candidature as the NADD flag-bearer.
To conclude allow me to say that history has record of the fact that we signed a Memorandum based on commitment. We registered NADD based on conviction. We lost our seats but still decided to stand under a NADD ticket based on conviction. NADD still exists because of that conviction to unite and bring about the minimum standard of democracy necessary to enable the people to take charge of their destiny and free themselves from impunity and self perpetuating rule in order to live in liberty and prosperity.
I hope we have reached a common understanding of what actually happened. If you disagree with my view I will be honoured if we meet at Father Farrell Hall to put our different positions to an audience in the interest of transparency and accountability, as we prepare the ground to challenge the APRC regime. We should clear the ground once and for all and restore the climate of respect that has always characterized our relationship.
Yours in the service of the Nation.
Halifa Sallah
Finally to proof my point that Halifa is willing to offer any sacrifice necessary to promote NADD for the oppostion to contest under one ticket from quotations below extracted from Halifa's interviews:
"Foroyaa: Would you be willing to step aside?
Halifa: I am a compromised candidate. My asset is my determination to serve. I accepted to serve NADD because I honestly thought that no party or individual in NADD had an axe to grind with me and that each of the leaders will not find it difficult to convince their membership that I will be a willing tool of the Executive in translating its objective of putting an end to self-perpetuating rule and empowering the people. However, I have come to see that my perception was not quite accurate as I served as coordinator. I am simply waiting for Gambians to tell me what role I Should play to serve them better. The options are many to me. In fact, as I address these questions I have received a call from the Pan African Parliament indicating that I should leave today as part of a mission to (have to deal with the crisis in that country. I have no special interest occupying any post in the Gambia. If it is recognition and respect I have enough of them; if it is money I would have accepted President Jammeh’s offer of Ministerial post 12 years ago. I am not competing with anybody for the presidency. Any day I am asked to call it a day, I will be glad to do so. I will dispatch my report on Darfur and my vision of the Pan African Parliament just to give an idea of what I am doing for African without hoping to be a President.
Foroyaa: What is your advice to NADD Militants?
Halifa: Leaders come and go but the people own the country. There duty is to enlighten, mobilize and organize the people for their political, economic, social and cultural emancipation. Let them continue with their cultural revolution to empower the people through songs, theatre, community meetings and so on so that they take ownership of their minds. This is the way they can decide who to put in position of leadership so that they can take charge of their collective destiny and ensure that it is a destiny fit to be claimed as their own, a destiny, of liberty, dignity and prosperity. QUOTE END"
Further details on: Interview with Halifa Sallah
Refer on details on “Bantaba” topic under
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1030 p1
Statement by NADD Flagbearer
Refer on details on “Bantaba” topic under
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=984
QUOTES EXTRACTED FROM ANOTHER TOPIC:
VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE AND A DEFEAT FOR OPPOSITION AND RULING PARTY
The Kombo East By election is now history. History indeed is the teacher of the wise. Our duty now is to draw the relevant lessons from the experience
First and foremost, the results of the election are instructive. The APRC has 3665 votes. The combined opposition has 3923 votes. This means that the opposition is ahead in the counting of the total votes cast in all the by-elections. This is the first point to note. Why should it be noted?
The answer is simple. When we met to review the basis for establishing an alliance we all took note of the fact that the executive worked for an amendment of the constitution to remove the provision providing for a second round of voting so that the APRC could benefit from the division of the opposition. In short, where there is second round of voting all the opposition candidates may struggle to ensure that they prevent the candidate of the ruling party from getting 50% of the votes to pin the person to a second round. However, where there is only one round the combined votes of the opposition may be more than that of the ruling party but the total vote of each may be less than that of the ruling party. In that case the ruling party will win because of the division of the opposition. It is this realisation, which compelled the executives of the various opposition parties to form NADD so that President Jammeh will not win an election only because of the division of the opposition. The results of the Kombo East by-election have again confirmed the lessons we had drawn before forming NADD.
All opposition parties should take note. Let us move to the next point.
QUOTE ENDS
Finally on points of law and legal interpretation Darboe failed NADD, backtracked on his legal advices when he joined them and contradicts himself in the above recent letter to re-negotiate a new deal for the way forward. He want to clinched on authority and dictates any alliance to favour his ultimate ambition or self proclaim previledged of becoming a Gambian President (according to narration from his so-called "jalibaas" or praise singersa; as a rightful hier blessed by the Great "moro" for his children and gran children). Don't rule out miracles also happening |
Edited by - kobo on 15 Aug 2006 22:51:29 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 09:37:11
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| Jammeh and APRC appear to be gaining ground in the Baddibus! I had the impression that it's not about Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, Majonko Samausa and NCP but about develpment projects, Kerewan bridge, North Bank highway development project from Barra to Janjagbureh ferry crossings, APRC hospital in Farafeni, Schools amongst others. The incumbent and APRC already did their homework and the opposition wasting their timed in power struggle and principles without any sense of direction; don't you think so |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 10:21:59
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Kobo I agree with you the greatest stumbling block for the opposition has been complete lack of focus. They need to go back to the drawing board and start again because it seems debates surrounding hypothetical opposition coalitions are something the electorate expect after an election has finished and not before an election has begun.
Surely Gambian people want to know that the ruling party has a sense of direction to make things happen for the progress of nation.
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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Bronx
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 20:28:28
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Kobo,
I am familiar with all those letters and sources you referenced.That doesn't change the dynamics of the race. It is a three/four man race. The original NADD initiative is a failed project. The sooner you guys understand that the better for you. UDP/NRP folks ain't coming back to NADD. You guys (NADD) are not negotiating from a position of strenght. And guess what? the same situation will prevail after the election. UDP/NRP will not join another alliance where their numerical size will not be recognized. Electoral Democracy is about numbers. PDOIS/NDAM don't have the numbers but want to call the shots. It ain't happening. Let get over our disappointments and support the parties of our choice. Apportioning blame for who is responsible for the NADD project can go all around. Everyone involved has been bloodied enough. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 22:19:19
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BRONX:
READING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT OF THE LAW ( THE CONSTITUTION ) IS A RIGHT AS WELL AS A DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN.THAT IS WHY IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE. I DO NOT THINK HALIFA EVER CLAIMED TO BE AN ATTORNEY ,AND HAS NEVER ATTEMPTED TO REPRESENT ANYBODY IN COURT WHICH NON-ATTORNEYS ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING.BUT HE HAS A RIGHT TO EVEN REPRESENT HIMSELF IN COURT IF HE CHOOSES TO AND HE DID THAT IN THE PAST. HE IS A SOCIOLOGIST AND A POLITICIAN WHO LIKES TO DRAW THE STRENGTH OF HIS ARGUMENTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS GOOD.
AS FAR AS THE NADD , UDP/NRP ALLIANCE IS CONCERN I AM TIRED OF ARGUING ABOUT IT , BUT I STILL THINK DARBOE'S SELFISHNESS AND GREED IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DISARRAY. |
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