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Momodou
Denmark
11804 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 00:34:21
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HALIFA SALLAH ON KEMESENG’S RETURN TO THE UDP, HIS ELECTION RESULTS AND THE WAY FORWARD FOR NADD
Foroyaa: In the debate between the Clerk of the National Assembly and the IEC Chairman on who should have revealed that Kemeseng had written a resignation letter to the Executive Committee of NADD, it was mentioned that the NADD executive was better placed to inform the National Assembly. What is your view on this?
Halifa: Kemeseng was facing an election. We had indicated that we would not do anything to undermine his chances of victory. We were not legally obliged to reveal the content of his letter to any authority. To have done anything that would have brought controversy at the time would have put NADD in a negative light. There was nothing to be gained by publicising Kemeseng’s resignation. This is why we remained mute about it.
Foroyaa: What were the implications?
Halifa: Kemeseng must have sought legal advice to write his resignation letter. It is now elementary knowledge that once a person ceases to be a member of the party of which one was a member one equally ceases to be a member of the National Assembly. I guess Kemeseng waited until the last minute to resign from NADD and rejoin the UDP so as to have a smooth transition after the National Assembly election.
Foroyaa: It is claimed by SoS Yankuba Touray that he attended a meeting of the ECOWAS parliament after his resignation from NADD?
Halifa: Kemeseng and the clerk of the National Assembly are in a better position to explain such matters. NADD does not want to be dragged in this controversy.
Foroyaa: Serrekunda Central was seen as a secure seat for NADD, what happened?
Halifa: The drama during election eve when every Gambian should have been sleeping confirms the anxiety of the APRC regime. Never in my life could anyone have convinced me that there are Gambians, elderly women, who will leave their children at midnight to build sand mounds in the street and raise their clothes to expose their nakedness for the sake of an election. I underestimated the level that the APRC was willing to go to take the seat. When I heard that the youths were being dragged into a football tournament I felt that once they came to the voting booth they would decide wisely. I did not contemplate that they would not even appear to vote at all. If I did my homework well, I could have rescued the youths from their political malaise. I was misled by the emphasis of the youth and the reports of how tormented the APRC campaign team was during the campaign period. My supporters promised me a land slide victory. Well, the result is different. Many did not vote. Some tell me that the cards were bought. I do not want to use this as an excuse. In my view anybody who allows his/her card to be bought is not a sovereign Gambian who can be relied on by any political force as a supporter. I accept the result as I see it but I am still concerned that I have a strong political base in Serrekunda Central. The general reaction of shock after the results is a clear testimony that the outcome should not be interpreted as a rejection by the people.
Foroyaa: Some claim that the UDP and APRC conspired to get rid of you?
Halifa: Quite frankly, the UDP candidate was not visible throughout the campaign. My supporters assured me that he would not get his deposit. This proved to be true. He never posed as a threat. Infact, the UDP vote was split into four. Some voted for him. Some abstained, some voted for me and those who were really hungry for my down fall voted for Sainey. The facts on the ground however revealed that I did not get more votes because many Gambians prefer to vote by mouth than by ballot tokens. Praises every where but little action to back words with deeds.
Foroyaa: What do you mean?
Halifa: Just consider the statistics! The voter role for Serrekunda Central is 30,805 persons. Only 12,230 persons cast their votes. 6,386 persons voted for the APRC candidate and 4,302 persons voted for me, 1,548 persons voted for the UDP candidate. Over 18,000 people did not vote. This is the reason why there is no much uproar but bitterness because many of these people have now woken from their slumber and are now voting by mouth after the fact. They just cannot believe what has happened.
Foroyaa: So you are not blaming the UDP for your results?
Halifa: The spirit of multi party politics is that each party has a right to put up a candidate where it thinks it can win. May be the results of the presidential election gave the UDP the notion that it can win in a National Assembly election. It is not for me to judge the UDP. It is for the UDP members to decide whether their leaders had made the right decision to put up a candidate in Serrekunda Central or not. I am sure the results will provide lessons for all of us to learn from. The NADD leadership made the wise decision not to put up candidates or campaign against Kemeseng or Hamat Bah. In Niani, one of the candidates gave way to an independent candidate. In Sami, the NADD activists supported Lamin Ceesay, a former PDOIS supporter and in Niamina East Jokadu and Kombo South they supporter the Independent candidates.
Foroyaa: What about the claim that Juwara supported the APRC candidate in Niamina Dankunku?
Halifa: Lamin initially called for a tactical alliance so that he could stand as a candidate in Dankunku. However, when it became clear that the NRP would put up a candidate he gave up. I am not sure what role he has played in the constituency. He is in a better place to explain. I am sure he will accept to be engaged by the press to clear the air. The NADD executive will meet soon and will issue a press release on developments.
Foroyaa: What is the way forward for NADD?
Halifa: We will decide in the near future. I have already prepared my report on the way forward. Once it is discussed it will be published accordingly. It will address all the burning issues of the day regarding NADD.
The End
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 015/2007, 7-8 February, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 07:17:05
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| i applaud mr sallah's answers to the questions pose to him . the issue still remains our people don't know the value of their vote .18000 people did not vote in serrekunda central ,this is unsual for a third world country. people have time to go and vote . |
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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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 07:17:05
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| i applaud mr sallah's answers to the questions pose to him . the issue still remains our people don't know the value of their vote .18000 people did not vote in serrekunda central ,this is unsual for a third world country. people have time to go and vote . |
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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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 11:34:34
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They knew him as avery balanced person and impeccable character. He is the BEST POLITICIAN since Edward Francis Small.
Here we can be inspired by JESUS CHRIST IN THE BIBLE! "FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING!
God bless Halifa and The Gambia! |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 11:34:34
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They knew him as avery balanced person and impeccable character. He is the BEST POLITICIAN since Edward Francis Small.
Here we can be inspired by JESUS CHRIST IN THE BIBLE! "FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING!
God bless Halifa and The Gambia! |
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