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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 23:59:01
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http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Home/tabid/36/mid/367/newsid367/896/Halifa-Sallah-should-apologise-to-Gambians-for-the-mess-he-put-us--Commentary/Default.aspx
Rebuttal to Pa Saikou Kujabi; RE: Halifa Sallah should apologize to Gambians for the mess he put us
(Another desperate commentary on Halifa Sallah)
By Demba Baldeh Seattle WA
It is disgusting to read Pa Saikou Kujabi’s article on Halifa Sallah featured on Freedom newspaper on Wednesday August 16, 2006. The article is another indication of how ill informed and desperate some of these sedo-UDP/NRP old hand supporters are with current political events in the Gambia.
Pa saikou’s article is so revealing of his political immaturity and ignorance about political events in the Gambia. It is embarrassing that he seemed to live in another world when Yahya Jammeh and others took over the country in 1994.
I first of all want to say that Kujabi has no credibility whatsoever to allege that Halifa had and continue to help Yahya Jammeh stay in power. Where and how can you justify your allegations about Halifa when every Gambian knew what role Halifa played during the transition period and continue to play in our political history?
Where were you Mr. Kujabi when Halifa and Sedia Jatta were arrested by the Jammeh regime early 1995 and put to trial for publishing the Foroyaa newspaper and continuing to engage in party politics?
Where were you when Halifa was offered a ministerial position by the Jammeh regime and he openly refused base on the fact that Jammeh did not seek the mandate of the people before taken over power?
Where were you when Halifa wrote numerous open letters to young lieutenant Jammeh defying him for constitutionally overthrowing a government that was elected and urged him to hand over power to a transitional civilian government?
Where were you kujabi, when openly Halifa was so instrumental in advocating peace, stability, and educating Gambians the need to control their own destiny to avoid a future military overthrow of an elected government?
Most recently Mr. Kujabi, who wrote an open letter and challenge Jammeh when he alleged that the opposition was working with the Senegalese government to destabilize the Gambia government? What do you think Mr. Kujabi, led to the arrest and detention of the opposition leaders early this year? Was it not Halifa who wrote and challenge Jammeh on his assertions? Do you call that helping Jammeh to stay in power? You better not…
Did you mean to tell your readers Mr. Kujabi that when you read what Halifa writes you don’t understand his English? Or are you one of those people who are so old schooled you cannot understand between modern politics and the old way of doing politics by appealing to your ethnic base? Your article reminded me a similar lack of understanding, when one of the audience during one of NADD’s meetings ask Halifa if his politics was not above Gambian standard. I refer you to search for the response Halifa gave by watching the NADD Seattle Meeting video.
The only thing your commentary revealed is you and your like’s frustration on your inability to rally Halifa and others behind an empty program to replace the Jammeh regime with another status quo regime. You have also managed to highlight the fact that Gambians across the globe embraced the NADD idea because it is the only unifying political platform that will not only change the Jammeh regime, but also replace it with a system that will accord all Gambians of a level political playing field.
Some of your allegations and analysis are so ill conceived that even your own party supporters would want to distance themselves from your writings. You absolutely failed flat when you mentioned without any quotation from Halifa’s analysis of the kombo east by-elections that Halifa alleged someone sent money from the U.S to the electorates to not vote for NADD. This allegation is absolutely false and it only fits in the politics of tribalism and nepotism to which, Halifa can never be associated.
Furthermore Mr. Kujabi, you have succeeded once again in proving that people like you are the many supporters of the UDP who are leading your party into political suicide. You have failed like many others to acknowledge that your party made blunders by being all over the map on the issue of opposition unity. First, they lack trust, second they made a mistake; third, I may add, they are the biggest and most disorganized as they cannot even represent what they stand for.
Finally, without a question, Halifa remained the most principle and consistent politician Gambia has ever witnessed. He is one of the best hopes we have to restore sanity and lead our people to the promise land of political and economic emancipation. He commands respect and carries himself with utmost dignity in whatever he does. If I may add, even without being President or holding a cabinet position, he remains one of the most effective politicians in educating Gambians of their rights to command their own destiny.
Unlike you Kujabi, and your party, NADD and its supporters believe that the goal is to move Gambia from its present predicament to a sustainable democratic and strong economic future. Unlike you and your party, NADD stands for a government of National unity led by an able and humble leader. Unlike you and your party, NADD originated from a representative of all sectors of Gambian political spectrum. Unlike you and your party, NADD clearly advocates a transitional government that will put in place viable and sustainable institutions of democracy that will eradicate absolute Presidential powers and restore civility in our government. Unlike you and your party Mr. old school, NADD counts on all Gambian voters regardless of ethnic origin and tribal lines. Unlike you and your desperate camp of losers, NADD believe the fight for political freedom will not end with this September elections. NADD is for those who believe in planting the seeds together, nurturing them together, and finally harvesting them together for all Gambians to enjoy the fruits of their years of sacrifice. If you belong to a camp of political opportunist, who signs secret contracts without the peoples’ mandate, who hide when the sun sets in fear of their lives, then Gambians don’t deserve you and your agenda. History will be the ultimate judge.
Peace
“Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandhi
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 00:17:18
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good piece Demba. The truth will never be defeated. The truth must always be supported, and the truth will be never die.
In pieces like these, look for our uncle-the Mathews kalis.
Long live the Gambia!! |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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ylowe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 01:27:58
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| I think Kujabi is insane and needs some medication. laugh |
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BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 04:48:19
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| Kujabi's hallucinatory dillerium has unfortunately landed him on a key board. Baldeh, see what I said aboutr the heads stuck in sand...?? |
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Edited by - BambaLaye on 17 Aug 2006 04:49:11 |
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Bronx
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 05:46:22
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| What Kujabi failed to understand is that saint Halifa is always right. He is infallible in the eyes of his supporters and nothing is ever his fault. Like the fictional character Napoleone in George Orwells animal farm, he is always right. Better not speak ill of him. He is beyond all human infallibility. He is the leader of NADD, but you see he is not interested in positions. If you disagree with his position on anything, you must have your head buried in the sand. You are unpatriotic, you need psychiatric help or better yet need to be locked up in Campana for speaking ill of his highness Halifa Sallah. Pleeeaaseee...the man spent the past two decade trying to convince Gambians that he got the right way forward. Either he is a bad communicator or his leadership skills suck. |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 06:30:56
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Bronx, Halifa is human and we will criticize him when he go against the interest of the Gambian people. So far we have not seen a level headed politician like him in our current political leadership.
Many of us writing and contributing to the political debate right now are a product of Halifa's relentless campaign to educate Gambian youths of their rights. Those of you who say he has been in politics for years without success are so blinded by your biases. He has never stood for Presidential candidate has he? He contested as a member of parliament and won twice. Is that success or failure regardless of how you look at it?
What about his current role as a member of the Pan african congress? How about his role in Darfur?. Did you ever read his report? When Jawara engineered ECOMOC peace keeping force in Liberia, what did Halifa predict about it? Come on, hate the man all you want but give him his respect. We will indict him equally if he stands for Gambia's down fall.
All I know about the man is that he is respected by even his opponents. If you guys think that is a weakness and not a strength, then the assertion about our people cannot be more right. We as Gambians/Africans have been acused of giving more value to others than our own. The samething with our music, local products, and human capital. No wonder the lack of identity of our own people. We are lost in the universe and have no identity whatsoever. Until we value the tallent we have, no one can value us sadly. This is the reality no matter how you look at it period. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Bronx
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 17:03:48
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Baldeh,
I am not disputing that Halifa is a brilliant guy. I am not in the Halifa is infallible camp either. I agreed that some of what Kujabi wrote in that piece is irresponsible, but some of the allegation he made vis-a-vis Halifa's role in promulgating the draft constituttion in 1996 were right. Instead of debating him on this sort of issues, you guys just assume he is crazy and belongs in an asylum because he has the temerity to criticize your idol. If you guys think Halifa is never wrong, that is your right, but by golly let the rest of the folks who don't care for him voice their objections too. Thousands of Gambians will never vote for Halifa in any given election... I guess they are crazy too. You guys are the only sane people, the rest of us are just gullible. Go figure. |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 20:20:51
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Bronx, it looks like you are missing our point in defending Halifa. The likes of Pa Saikou criticising Halifa are doing it maliciously. You know from reading their criticism that they are not after the truth instead they are castigating him for their selfish reasons.
Honestly, I will embraced any constructive criticism of Halifa. If you had told me Halifa under estimated the commitment of some of these politicians during the NADD negotiation, I will admit it. If you had told me that Halifa has a weakness in taking people for who, or what they say, I will admit that. However, I doubt if we can blame him for accepting people for what they appear to stand for. No doubt Halifa is not perfect, and he make mistakes just like you and I.
I definitely, disagree with you that the constitution that Halifa advocated during the transition is the one in entirety that we have presently. The constitutional review committee was compose of decent well respected Gambians. We all stood by what they recommended and many Gambians participated in reviewing that constitution.
The reviewed constitution was a product of the Gambian people and we are proud of having the chance to review our national document.
What you fail over and over to mention, or deliberately leave it out, is the fact that the recommendations that Halifa backed were systematically removed from the constitution by the Jammeh regime before it was ratified. For example, the TERM LIMIT was removed. The AGE limit for the President was removed. The proposal for a system to have the President Nominate candidates and have the house comfirm the nominee was removed. The clause to limit Presidential powers were also removed. These are great laws that Halifa helped put in place in the propose contitutional amendment only for Yahya and his house to amend them to suit their desires. These are the things we want you to clarify when you speak about Halifa's role. Don't just put every allegation in a written piece without evidence. These are the facts and we will not let anybody twist them to suit their personal agenda. We can debate anybody on Halifa's role. When you debate give the facts and let the readers decide. This is where you and I agree to disagree. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Bronx
USA
159 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 23:41:32
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baldeh you wrote:
"What you fail over and over to mention, or deliberately leave it out, is the fact that the recommendations that Halifa backed were systematically removed from the constitution by the Jammeh regime before it was ratified."
Then why in God's name did Halifa campaign to get the flawed document ratified? He knew that the term limit and age limit provisions were removed by Jammeh but he went ahead and campaign for its ratification. He helped in the ratification of a document that enabled Jammeh to contest the election (remember that yaya was not 40yrs then) and keep running for election.That is a fact.
Halifaism will blind you to this issue but this issue is nothing new on Gambian forums. It has been discuss ad inifitum on Gambia L a while ago. Go and check some of the writeups that took Halifa to task for his role in aiding to ratify a flawed document and his flimsy excuse that Koro's death is more of an accident than foul play. Check the links below for some of the writeups:
http://www.listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?A2=ind9912&L=GAMBIA-L&P=R79213&I=-3
more of this can be found on the L. do a search.
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Edited by - Bronx on 17 Aug 2006 23:43:15 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 23:52:28
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| Well bronx, this piece is something. I just need to read it again. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 23:52:44
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Baldeh, you are right when you said some of the recommendations were removed by the junta but that never changed Halifa's position that The constitution is good. In the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court Ruling in Pasaikou Jabbi v. Kebba Fanta Comma, he was on the radio proclaiming victory for himself. His words were as follows: ' the fact that we are having declaration upon declaration shows that the constitution is working and those who said it is not a good one[in reference to UDP] are wrong.'
You know I respect him for his intellect but I believe he is deceitful and sometimes a complete nuisance. Some said I have a grudge against him. They are right and it is about his arrogance. As for whether I envy him, no thank you.
Thanks for your thoughts
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 00:01:57
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| Hello: lets not turn the tables now on each other. The opposition should unite for a common cause or is this one of those pieces of the jig-saw that led to the break up. have we seen all or are there any suprises? |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 00:51:54
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Bronx and Nyarikangbanna, thanks for the debate. I agree with some of your points, but that does not change my position for the simple reason that the WHOLE IS BETTER THAN THE PARTS. On balance would you fault and null the entire constitutional document that the Gambian people invested so much into simply because some parts were removed? I hope not.
The fact of the matter is that majority of Gambians were willing to give the junta a chance to honor their words and make a differece. It was equally true that part of the constitution that was removed never got publish and the public never got the chance to be scrutized. So may I ask again, would you void the constitution base on some unscrupulous things that we sneeked into the document? Would you agree that those sneeky actions led to the arrest and detention of Sana Sabally and Hydra?
The hard fact is that Gambia had an opportunity for a two year transition until Yahya and his group betrayed the people. I do not agree for a minute that Halifa should be held responsible for those sneeky betrayals. Halifa's arguement was as reasonable and responsible as he is today.
As for all the feud on Gambia L about Halifamania, I can understand people like Baba Galleh trying to test their intellectuality by measuring themselves against prominent politicians like Halifa. It was bravery and political maturity they wanted to demonstrate by standing up to Halifa.
I will confess to you one thing, I stood against Halifa on the PDOIS's idea of not associating with the electorates when the first emerged into politics. I mentioned in one symposium at Gambia High School, that they must be able to relate to the people before they can convince them to vote PDOIS. There was a confrontation between me and Halifa and we finally agreed on a certain points. The point is that Halifa is not infallible as I already mentioned. His vision of our political reality is more realistic than what we have seen from others. He represents a better hope than what I have seen. I have not sense an iota of power greed in him unlike others.
So the bottom line is that if you have him as part of the whole, there is a better chance that things will be done with dignity and respect. This is why many power greedy people are skeptical to be in the same room with him. This is a fact we have to live with.
For Nyarikangbanna, you have to admit, when you live by the gun you die by the gun. When you deal with unhearty people like Yahya Jammeh you need to be aggresive and push for what you belief. May be this appears arrogance for you. Laim duck people who bark but don't bite cannot stand up to Jammeh. May be this is what makes Halifa arrogant. Do we need arrogance to boot out Jammeh? You bet we need political arrogance to claim back what was taken away from us unceremoniously. This is what we need in our current politics situation. What say you? |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 09:04:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Bronx
baldeh you wrote:
"What you fail over and over to mention, or deliberately leave it out, is the fact that the recommendations that Halifa backed were systematically removed from the constitution by the Jammeh regime before it was ratified."
Then why in God's name did Halifa campaign to get the flawed document ratified? He knew that the term limit and age limit provisions were removed by Jammeh but he went ahead and campaign for its ratification. He helped in the ratification of a document that enabled Jammeh to contest the election (remember that yaya was not 40yrs then) and keep running for election.That is a fact.
Halifaism will blind you to this issue but this issue is nothing new on Gambian forums. It has been discuss ad inifitum on Gambia L a while ago. Go and check some of the writeups that took Halifa to task for his role in aiding to ratify a flawed document and his flimsy excuse that Koro's death is more of an accident than foul play. Check the links below for some of the writeups:
http://www.listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?A2=ind9912&L=GAMBIA-L&P=R79213&I=-3
more of this can be found on the L. do a search.
Thats just an impressive piece of article and constructive opinions and does not necessary mean that all points are valid. Halifa would have defended himself if the article and those allegations came to his knowledge. We will leave that with Halifa and Foraya editorial to set the records straight. In my opinion those critisms are exclusively opinions by another Gambian intellectual politically aware.
No man is infallible or indispensable All of us have strenghts and weaknesses and if put under the microscope you dirty linens are prone to be seen clearly. |
Edited by - kobo on 18 Aug 2006 10:36:35 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 09:27:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Bronx
What Kujabi failed to understand is that saint Halifa is always right. He is infallible in the eyes of his supporters and nothing is ever his fault. Like the fictional character Napoleone in George Orwells animal farm, he is always right. Better not speak ill of him. He is beyond all human infallibility. He is the leader of NADD, but you see he is not interested in positions. If you disagree with his position on anything, you must have your head buried in the sand. You are unpatriotic, you need psychiatric help or better yet need to be locked up in Campana for speaking ill of his highness Halifa Sallah. Pleeeaaseee...the man spent the past two decade trying to convince Gambians that he got the right way forward. Either he is a bad communicator or his leadership skills suck.
Of course he is interested in positions that he is competent to handle. He does not resort to blackmail to acquire authority and wants the people to exercise their democratic rights to put him in position of trust, elect him and entrust him with responsibilities.
Coming on the man has spent decades in try to sell the way forward! Gambia is not an advance economy and political maturity is lacking and thats why eventually Darboe, Hamat Bah and co. easily sneaked into politics to capitalise on the situation. However Halifa deserve due respect for his untiring efforts in advocacy on civic rights, politics, democracy and making Gambians becoming more politically aware of roles of politicians, government and the constitution inter alias. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 12:23:35
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quote:
Originally posted by kobo Halifa would have defended himself if the article and those allegations came to his knowledge.
kobo, Halifa had indeed responded and the exchanges are there in the Gambia-L archives. Some responses should be in the archives of November 1999 and December 1999. You will find many other interesting discussions there but you have to search for them. |
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