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Momodou

Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 01:13:49
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NADD FLAG BEARER ON NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2007
The IEC has spoken. National Assembly elections are to take place on 25th January 2007. Nomination of candidates is fixed for 4th – 6th January 2007. The campaign period is fixed for 10th - 23rd January 2007. I am not sure whether the IEC is adhering to the letter of the Constitution in establishing the date for the elections. The amendment to the constitution states that “The person declared elected as President shall take the prescribed oaths and assume office on the day the term of office of the incumbent President expires.”
Presidential election took place on the 22nd September 2006. Four months after the date of the election of a new President should be 23rd January 2006. We will not belabour the point. We simply wish to reiterate that NADD stands for the rule of law and shall forever weigh all actions of our public institutions against the dictates of the law. Those who manage them are free to act according to the dictates of their own judgments and conscience. History shall be the final judge. The question now arises: What is NADD’s position on the National Assembly elections, 2007.
The answer is simple. If NADD is to be relevant it must develop strategies and tactics that are in line with the aims and aspirations of The Gambian people. What do the Gambian people want? What are NADD’s strategies and tactics for the 2007 National Assembly elections? Clarity on these questions are absolutely essential if the people are to have a sense of direction on what issue to base their votes on.
First and foremost, NADD must remind the Gambian people that they have absolute power to determine how their country is governed. This is clearly stipulated in section 1 sub section (2) of the Constitution which states that “The Sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of the Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of government are to be exercised in accordance with this Constitution.”
Dear Compatriots, sovereignty resides in each of us. Collectively, we are the rulers of the country. The President and the National Assembly members are our servants. They are supposed to do what we want otherwise we can remove them from office and select those who can better render us the services we want. Principal among their tasks is to eradicate poverty and tyranny and promote liberty and prosperity.
The people therefore want a President and National Assembly members who will promote their liberty and prosperity by enacting good laws and formulating good politics.
The people have already elected a President. The President appoints a cabinet of secretaries of state or ministers who formulate policies and utilise natural resources to implement programmes. They can also prepare bills on specific areas where they need laws to implement policies and bring them to the National Assembly for approval.
The National Assembly is created to enable an independent and powerful body to scrutinise and restrain the executive by criticizing bills, policies and programmes that are not likely to promote the liberty and prosperity of the people.
Hence a genuine National Assembly is one that can effectively monitor all bills, international conventions, policies and programmes from the various secretaries of state or ministers and oppose any legal instrument, policy or programme that is not in the interest of the people or the Nation.
This is why section 112 of the Constitution states categorically that “all members shall regard themselves as servants of the people of The Gambia, desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people, and shall discharge their duties and functions in the interest of the nation as a whole and in doing so shall be influenced by the dictate of conscience and the national interest.”
One may now ask: What is NADD’s strategy and tactics in ensuring that a genuine National Assembly emerges in 2007.
Learning from hindsight, if a genuine National Assembly is to emerge it should not be dominated by the party of the President. Strategically, power to make decision in the National Assembly is determined by numbers.
Currently, there are 48 elected seats and five nominated seats in the National Assembly. When one of the nominated members takes the place of Speaker, National Assembly members who have power to make decisions reduces to 52 members.
According to the Constitution, to amend it would require ¾ of the votes of the members of the National Assembly. This is equivalent to the 39 members of the National Assembly. Hence if the non APRC members occupy even 14 seats the APRC government and its National Assembly members would not be able to amend the Constitution without the consent of the non APRC members. Hence the first strategic objective of NADD is to have sufficient non APRC members of the National Assembly elected to deprive of the members in the National Assembly to amend the Constitution as the executive wishes. This is the first point. Secondly, certain decisions of the National Assembly require a 2/3 majority. This would require 35 seats. This means that if non APRC members occupy 18 seats those decisions cannot be made by the APRC group without the consent of the non APRC group.
To have enough seats so that the APRC group will not be able to have 2/3 majority to make decision without the consent of the non APRC group is our second strategic objective.
Finally, the passing of most bills and other decisions of the National Assembly are done on the basis of simple majority. The simple majority for 52 seats is 27. Hence, if the non APRC members occupy 26 seats and the APRC occupy the other 26 it will not be possible for the APRC executive to do what it wants without consultation with the non APRC members. Needless to say, if the non APRC members have 27 they should be able to scrutinise.
Hence, NADD’s final strategic objective is to ensure that the non APRC members of the National Assembly occupy at least 14, 18 or 26 or 27 seats to be able to pose an effective check over the powers of the executive. Now that our strategic objectives are clear. What tactics are we going to employ to attain them? The first tactic we should have employed is for the opposition to negotiate and put one candidate in each constituency. Now that the UDP led alliance has declared its stand to put up candidates in all constituencies. NADD shall aim to attain its strategic objective by identifying individual candidates it can support irrespective of whether they stand as independent candidate or under the ticket of other parties.
What is significant is to identify between 14 and 27 genuine candidates as our minimum programmes require and then give them the fullest support. Each candidate identified will be named and given approval in public. In this regard, all independent candidates who wish to stand for NADD or for other parties but would not appreciate NADD’s support should address letters to NADD before 14th December 2006 when nomination papers are to be distributed by the IEC.
The Address is as follows: NADD Executive, Papa Sarr Street, Churchill’s Town Other contact numbers are: NADD Executive, P.O. 2306, Serrekunda Phone: 4373138 Mobile: 9902864 Email; nadd@yahoo.com
The battle to take full charge of our destiny has just begun. The Presidential election is now history. Another opportunity exists for people to entrust their power to representatives who can ensure that the executive operates in an accountable and transparent manner so that impunity is checked and governance to promote prosperity and liberty prevailed. This is the demand of all just and sensible Gambians and should be respected.
NADD will do its part to answer to the call of destiny. We therefore call for the material, financial, verbal and moral support of everyone who wants decency to characterize the manner of governance of this country until the desired change can be effected by the people.
Power to all sober Gambians Long live the solidarity of all those who want genuine representatives Long live NADD Long live transparency, accountability, truth and justice
Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No. 108/2006, 4-5 December, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 12:11:04
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Now that the UDP led alliance has declared its stand to put up candidates in all constituencies. NADD shall aim to attain its strategic objective by identifying individual candidates it can support irrespective of whether they stand as independent candidate or under the ticket of other parties.
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 12:37:31
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Now that the UDP led alliance has declared its stand to put up candidates in all constituencies. NADD shall aim to attain its strategic objective by identifying individual candidates it can support irrespective of whether they stand as independent candidate or under the ticket of other parties.
Since the Ayatollah is too arrogant and disrespectful to divergent views, no wonder he no longer have anybody at the table to negotiate with, hence this unilateral decision. If he had done this in the past presidential election, NADD's principal purpose, as enshrined in the MOU, would not have been defeated. But no! He rather sees that purpose being made obsolete, and a 30yrs of President Jammeh than a democratic oriented UDP led government.
I hope everybody would now realised how remote the prospect of unity is [at least for now], and stop talking about it so that the politicians can get on with their individual party/alliance programmes unrestrained by a disingenuous Media sabotage.
Every man for himself and God for us all.
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 13:30:30
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Are NADD not still flipping they own page of agreement /programs since then, Which they still doesn’t know where to begging?
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kobo

United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2006 : 15:20:24
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quote: Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
Now that the UDP led alliance has declared its stand to put up candidates in all constituencies. NADD shall aim to attain its strategic objective by identifying individual candidates it can support irrespective of whether they stand as independent candidate or under the ticket of other parties.
Since the Ayatollah is too arrogant and disrespectful to divergent views, no wonder he no longer have anybody at the table to negotiate with, hence this unilateral decision. If he had done this in the past presidential election, NADD's principal purpose, as enshrined in the MOU, would not have been defeated. But no! He rather sees that purpose being made obsolete, and a 30yrs of President Jammeh than a democratic oriented UDP led government.
I hope everybody would now realised how remote the prospect of unity is [at least for now], and stop talking about it so that the politicians can get on with their individual party/alliance programmes unrestrained by a disingenuous Media sabotage.
Every man for himself and God for us all.
"Every man for himself and God for us all!" Including APRC and Presisent Yaya Jammeh.
When the rain falls it showers on every roof; when the sunshine it radiates on every face; when the sun, moon and stars are around we all share its wonders! Thats the GOD FOR EVERYBODY!
Back to square one and the status-quo of presidential elections.
PEACE! |
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