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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Nov 2006 : 13:17:16
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NADD FLAG BEARER ON THE ELECTION
PART 8
See Also:
In my view, NADD is not a party designed to promote the specific ideology, principles, policies, programmes and practices of a given political party. It is a united front, which embraces principles, programmes and practices that no one in the left or right of the political spectrum can object to. It is designed to give the country a democratic political gene from which a healthy democratic organism we call the Gambian state can emerge. In this respect, I cannot object to their resolution to retain NADD as a point of convergence for the opposition in the Gambia.
However, five years is a long period in politics. Many people can emerge who can best lead NADD to victory. Another alliance may emerge. Hence I can only accept to be a caretaker flag bearer to give it focus. I will be willing to stand back whenever the executive deems it necessary. The reason for my position is simple.
The developments since our July 4th and July 5th 2003 meetings in Atlanta are instructive.
I went to Atlanta in 2003 not to be part of an alliance but to promote PDOIS, which had won 2 seats out of five in the 2002 elections. My mandate was to win over the crowd and proceed on a tour of the US to raise funds and come back to the Gambia to build PDOIS branches all over the country. I still believe that if I had done this a PDOIS Presidential candidate after four years of consolidation would have had more votes than I now have. I still wonder how the UDP would have come out of its boycott to contest the Jarra West by election of 2004 if there was no discussion about an alliance.
The situation would have been more favourable to PDOIS’ Fadera who was already very popular in the area.
Fadera gave way to Kemeseng and we put all our finances to help him to win not because of any desire to promote PDOIS. In that regard 20,000 dalasis is still owed to my constituency development fund as a result of Kemeseng’s first By-election. We spent time, energy and resources not to promote any individual party but to ensure that we could have more opposition seats in the National Assembly to check the overwhelming power of the APRC, which was being abused in amending the constitution. We contributed immensely in resources for the launching of NADD, the Njau and Nianija by elections.
All these resources could have been utilized for my constituency projects and that of Sidia and for PDOIS if we wanted to promote a PDOIS agenda. Suffice it to say, the only trip I took on behalf of NADD led us to many states in the United States and when I came back I gave account of a sum of 2,165 dollars. 1,000 dollars came from the Movement for Democracy in New York. 565 came from the Raleigh group. In Seattle Mr. K gave me 300 dollars for personal use, which I put it in the NADD account. Mr. J of Seattle, and his brother plus Mr. M of New York gave me a combined sum of 300 dollars for personal use. I put it in the NADD account. The treasurer should have issued receipts to all such people but because of the split the treasurer left. Other than this no money had ever passed in my hands from abroad except 200 dollars, which was sent through somebody’s father by his son in Minnesota for the elections. All monies contributed locally or externally towards the by elections in 2005 did not finance my own campaign but went to benefit other campaigns. I financed my own campaign during the 2005 by election.
I have received no personal benefits because of my association with NADD. I have spent time, energy and resources that could have been devoted elsewhere. I am stating this without any regret just to confirm that we were moved by duty and not by any desire for power or personal gain.
Needless to say, up to the eve of nomination I was trying to put NADD together so that only one candidate would contest.
Finally, I took the decision that if there was no enthusiasm shown for my candidature after my nationwide tour as NADD’s flag bearer I will at least withdraw my candidature.
There is no doubt that if I withdrew my candidature after the rapturous reception I received everywhere in the country I could have been easily accused of being bribed to withdraw without any credible means to defend my integrity. History has therefore done its will. It is now left for posterity to judge. I am however very convinced that the worst political move I could have ever made is to encourage NADD to support a UDP or PDOIS or PPP or NRP or NDAM led alliance. The objective of NADD was not to put any particular person or party in power but to empower the Gambian people. I have always made it clear that I was ready to be an instrument for the empowerment of the people and not an instrument to help a person or party come to power for its sake. NADD was indeed the strategic instrument to liberate the country. We missed the opportunity.
The way forward is clear. As a caretaker flag bearer I have no option but to create a new foundation for opposition politics in the country. No one doubts that in my speech after my nomination I had shown my determination to confront the APRC regime with my bare hands and risk death if they wanted to intimidate my supporters not to vote for me. Now, no stretch of the imagination could enable me to win a presidential election with 23, 473 votes. In this regard, I have no moral authority to claim that I am mandated to liberate a people who had all the power to entrust their voices and authority for me to speak on their behalf but decided not to do so. Yes we have talked about many anomalies such as underage and foreign voters, suppression of voters’ cards through tricks by Yai Compins, intimidation, tribalism, inducement and some even coming to vote with voters’ cards without their names being found in the register or the counter foil but were rejected. However, this can only be of use for electoral reform.
In this respect, the only opposition that is permissible for me to be a flag bearer of is one that accepts to function under the MOU that all politicians signed under the auspices of President Obasanjo and the Commonwealth.
The preamble states that the parties do recognize that “ a peaceful and stable political environment underpinned by a transparent, plural and democratic political dispensation is vital for the future prosperity and for the happiness and well being of its people; that they do recognize, “the legitimacy of the present government and its right to govern, within the constitution and the laws of the land on the one hand and the rights of the political opposition to operate freely and to hold the government to account on the other hand.”
In this respect, NADD will move away from squabbles, monitor the policies and practices of the APRC government and the party. We will consult, give advice, scrutinize and criticize where necessary. We will do so by seeking audiences with members of the executive and the various officers of their party apparatus. We will issue letters, statements, press releases, cassettes so that an alternative voice of sanity will remain ever present in this country to help promote our collective awareness to guide our collective destiny. We will try to conduct ourselves in accordance with the standards of best practice so that we earn national and internal respect. We will try to have weight to put a stop to impunity and promote respect for fundamental rights and rule of law. We will serve as the conscience of the state by being involved in anything that a people who love their country and people should be involved in. we will provide examples by precepts and practice.
To conclude I wish to thank all those who have taken part in cash, kind or spirit to work day and night to promote our common aspiration to create a Gambia that we can call our dear motherland because of the protection it gives us to live in liberty and prosperity. Of course I am not satisfied with the way we were abandoned by The Gambian community abroad. We can all fold our hands. Who then will save our dear motherland? If 400 Gambians abroad were to contribute 200 dollars each we would have had all the T-shirts, flags, transports and mobilisers we need to conduct a successful campaign in addition to our resources. May be they will respond to the National Assembly elections. If not they should partly accept responsibility for any quasi one party state that may emerge. All this blame should not go to split, lack of support is another cause.
That all people must one day live in liberty and prosperity free from oppression and poverty is the verdict of the human conscience and will. This verdict is irrevocable. The just conscience and will are always outraged by injustice and degradation. Such conscience and will always yearn for dignity and self worth. This is why hope must never be lost. Hope will never be lost!! Hope never dies where the just are alive. Behind all the dark clouds the golden sunlight is waiting to shine. The future is bright.
Notwithstanding, we wish to express special appreciation to the 27 people who gave their support to NADD, especially the few members of the STGDP who kept their promises, the Minnesota Group.
Long live NADD!
Long live Democracy!
Long live the people!
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 94/2006, 1-2 November, 2006
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2006 : 12:49:01
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Ndasann. Masse! 23,000 votes, denka nyaka horom rek waagi.
Wow Serignbee, Gamobi baan bes la. Waa Dairabee waahatunyu daara sii waak bu baari bee.Aamal bobpa.
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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