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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Nov 2006 : 18:23:44
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Have you watched and heard the bodytalk of Dr. Mo Ibrahim in that Hardtalk programme ?
The beginning of good governance in my opinion starts with the necessary amendments to a weak constitution and a weak constitution is one that gives the possibility of extreme power and entrenchment or even indefinite prolongation of a corrupt, benevolent or any type of dictatorship.
This is surely the panacea of all political evils, the checks and balances provided by the Constitution, so that it doesn't matter what you say about some countries, it would be silly to call their presidents " dictators"
The Gambia, my probable future homeland has all the possibilities of being a model African country. Not too long ago someone in Cocorioko asked me to compose a prayer for Sierra Leone – and I suggested that president Kabbah lead the nation in national prayer because as for me, I don’t discriminate: well, everyday I pray for first and foremost Israel and the whole world that God created – that includes Nigeria, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, of course China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, Momodou Camara in Denmark, …. And most certainly and specifically Demba Conta and Family with all the brothers and sisters in the Gambia. I said the whole world, didn’t I?
Here’s an interesting editorial
http://www.idea.int/news/editorial_nov06.cfm
and other relevant items for us, including
http://www.idea.int/parties/pp_in_africa.cfm
http://www.idea.int/americas/linking_demo.cfm
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2006 : 21:34:08
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| the mo ebrahim initiative is a good one but i don't think it will be effective for the near future .power is every thing to our politicians .money is important but power is a different matter. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2006 : 15:58:22
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quote:
Originally posted by SANTANFARA
the mo ebrahim initiative is a good one but i don't think it will be effective for the near future .power is every thing to our politicians .money is important but power is a different matter.
“Festina Lente!” said our Latin Master, Henry Joko–Smart, but it’s so difficult to write slowly. I try, but it’s difficult. Even quicker by far with own shorthand, with pen and paper than on the keyboard. So bear with me or skip it. Skip the mistakes galore.
This morning, a little item in today’s Metro (Stockholm) headlined ”Mubarak vill dö på sin post" caught my attention and got me thinking about another African president: His Excellency Dr.Yahya Jammeh
A rough translation from the Swedish:
“Mubarak wants to die in his post (as president) >
“Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak promises or threatens to stay at his post for the rest of his life. That’s the interpretation given to the statement that he made yesterday, that he intends to continue his work “as long as there is a heart beating in my chest and as long as I am breathing”. At the same time he repeated his promise about democratic reforms.”
– A difference between him and the Gambian president being that Mubarak has been on the Pharaonic throne for 25 years – five years less than what the Gambian president proposes for himself to complete the job he started - with the full support of the Gambian
Constitution. And if the man (JJ) is doing well, why should it be necessary to change him – isn’t it said that the Messiah will reign for a thousand years?
Another difference between Hosni and Yahya – at this stage at least, is that whereas – to rephrase a quote (and I do sometimes quote the sayings of even people that I don’t agree with) “the king could have ordained that the Kanilai constitution is forever and ever, heavier chains for the dissenters, and to hell with what the world thinks about that” in Egypt the Pharaoh is at least negotiating with the opposition about an amendment to the clause in the constitution that could have paved the way for the royal succession of his crown prince Gamal Junior Mubarak, first in line of succession. There have been successions by genetic transmission, in Syria for example (at least Bush Junior won that Florida vote perhaps with Jeb's support, also won his case in the Supreme Court(one of the most exciting political-legal events I have ever witnessed) whilst Gore lost in his own Tennessee... and all that’s part of democracy, you see?
Whereas in the Gambia, the disgruntled still do not seem to grasp this essential/elementary fact:that even if Jammeh had won the election with 51% instead of 67% of the vote, the 49% who voted against him would still have to concede defeat!
Take a look here:
http://article.wn.com/view/2006/11/19/Mubarak_Amend_Criticized_Constitution_z/
Now it is the same brother’s extremity that I speak about here, the same august one that causes me to reconsider, because I have known him to be a sane and sensible one, and one who is usually fair in argument and in judgment.
Yet another of my august Gambian brother‘s attitude towards the last Gambian elections makes me re-consider the whole issue.
When I say Mr. Jammeh is the most likely, know that he is competing with some 52 other presidential contestants.....
Mauritania Polls
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?scope=all&edition=i&q=Mauritania+polls
Mubarak’s quarter of a century
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6045958.stm
Mubarak for ever?
http://ww.google.se/search?hl=sv&q=Mubarak+to+rule+forever%3F&btnG=Google-s%C3%B6kning&meta=
Mubarak loosening up
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6162762.stm
Let me put it this way: (and I know that Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel) and even Mauritania has good relations with the Holy Land, but I think that Yahya Jammeh is better qualified to get the Mo Ibrahim prize – even if we have to wait for another thirty years for him to get it!
Not that the money in question is chicken feed by the Gambia's bread and peanut butter standards.
Consider presidents that are worth so much that such a prize is no temptation at all – even for those who pray “ And lead us not into temptation”
Some presidents are so rich that additional money ( of the type with which Mo Ibrahim would like to induce/ bribe them, would be no temptation at all. Consider this item (the veracity of which is not beyond dispute) – yes, I know Lebanon is not in Africa:
“For those who don't know a lot about who the Grand (not really) Hariri was, here's a simplified introduction:
“Rafik Hariri’s economic record was mixed: his ambitious borrow-and-build schemes resulted in massive public debt and budget deficits, which pushed up interest rates and hampered economic growth. He was accused of ignoring the poor as a matter of public policy. By the 1980s, Hariri entered the Forbes top 100. In 2002 Hariri became the fourth-richest politician in the world. Forbes estimated his personal and family's fortune at $4.3 billion on its 2005 World's richest people. After his assassination, his family inherited a total of $16.7 billion in 2006, which drew some questions which haven't been explained by the Hariri family on how $4.3 billion became $16.7 billion in the course of the year after the assassination. All his family members appeared on the Forbes' list of billionaires in 2006.”
Fred | 11.17.06 - 9:49 am | #
( extracted from)
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
Santanfara, we can divorce money from power,in the next instalment. At least, in Africa, the one goes hand in hand with the other – that’s why some of those idlers and sycophants in Sierra Leone want to be rewarded for crying down Lawyer Charles Margai – a courageous man and one who if given a chance would also be seriously in the race for the PRIZE.
And if any one of them crosses the line, that BLOG will show what really CAN be done. Don’t doubt it John.....
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Edited by - Cornelius on 20 Nov 2006 20:46:08 |
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