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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 03:22:16
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WIND OF CHANGE BLOWS OVER OUR DEAR MOTHERLAND
By Fabakary Trawally
The selection of Honourable Halifa Sallah as the flag bearer for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development has once again rejuvenated the hopes of the Gambian people for change, signaling the departure of ignorance, poverty, backwardness and all forms of indignities in their lives to serve as a model on the African continent in particular and the entire world in general. This seeming indecisiveness viewed by the skeptics and those who were and are frightened to death by the emergence of NADD for one reason or another as a sign of severing through, to separate the grain from the chaff. As Kwame Nkrumah rightly puts it, it is like when one boils something, all the bits and pieces of useless stuff come to the top and one is able to skin them off easily. Now that the useless stuff has been skinned of and consigned to the waste bin of history. The giant, NADD is on its feet to show the mentally fit and well and even the dead that it is now up to the historical mission placed before it by circumstances, than before.
Our Country, The Gambia, is ripe for change, and everyone with his or her right mind knows that if that change is to be meaningful, then its agents need to be led by somebody who has a nationwide appeal, someone who can serve as a unifying factor for both the executive and the people, someone that can tackle his opponents very effectively in terms of strategy, tactics and style, a solid rock who can withstand all weather, a bold person who can surmount all difficulties in order to achieve victory, someone with experience and foresight, who has been exposed to politics in The Gambia and abroad, a charismatic leader who is very articulate and is capable of moving people, someone with good public relations who is reliable, with leadership qualities that transcends all ethnic and partisan influences, one with a high moral standing, someone with a clean record who can be trusted to be absolutely committed to the MOU in its entirely. These are the standards set by the NADD to select its flag bearer or presidential candidate. Every patriot, concerned with the welfare of the people, will agree that it is a better instrument which should be adopted by the APRC or any other political party seeking to be charged with the affairs of the people in selecting its candidates, be it for Presidential, National Assembly, or Council elections. This is what the Gambian people deserve and nothing less.
An encounter with a 70 year old man always comes to mind when ever I reflect on this issue. When the news first come out of the resignation of an individual from NADD, the old man came to ask me whether all the others have also resigned. When I answered in the negative, he emphatically told me that if all the others also wished, they could resign, but he, the old man will remain because he is strongly convinced that it is only NADD that can salvage this Country and her people from their present predicament and promised that he will tie his waist to tour the Country to inform the people about his conviction as he is confident that truth will eventually prevail over falsehood. His position is that nobody can opt out of NADD and be able to justify his action. If this is the position of an old man who has already lived most part of his life, what about the youths with young minds capable of critical thinking.
For those who described Halifa#146;s remarks on the Country's debt burden as hypocrisy and pretended to wonder why he would disapprove what he had already approved in the National Assembly, they should know that it is that they are deceiving only themselves. Those who follow the sittings of the National Assembly on the radio and newspapers are witnesses to the warnings and sincere advises Honourable Sallah gives to the APRC regime whenever the issue of loans is tabled before the house. Secondly he has stood in every part of this Country to warn the people about the dangers of perpetual borrowing. Nobody can distort that. In all rallies he will give the story of a man who took a loan, and instead of investing it to create more wealth so that when it is time for payment, he can repay the loan from his profit and still escape poverty. He went ahead to buy a mansion, marry several wives and slaughter a bull every day.
Halifa will then asked the people what they think will be the fate of the man when the time for the payment of that loan was due. The people have always responded in one voice that he will have to sell his mansion, divorce his wives and not eat meat anymore; that such a man can never escape poverty. He would tell them that this is what happens when you have a Government which just embarks on taking loans only to put up white elephants in order to impress the people that they are doing something without investing into the productive sectors of the economy. This is a fact that can be understood by every body; even the weakest minds like my own are able to absorb the lessons being taught in this analogy. What the sycophants and deceptors failed to ask themselves is why did people take loans in the first place and what should be the intent of a dignified person, when taking a loan? Should it be to ever remain a debtor or manage it in such a way that you could be safe from borrowing? No dignified person will want to remain a debtor nation if we have efficient and dignified people at the helm of the affairs of the people. There is enough to satisfy our needs without ever resorting to loans. The problem is misplacement of priorities and not lack of resources. Imagine the President justifying his acquisition of the two expensive Hummer Limousines saying that this is a sign of progress as nobody can look low upon this Country; claiming that now days everybody is talking about the Gambia. He even boasted of giving the manufacturers the designs of the vehicles.
He said that Gambia is a modern state with proud presidents who want everyone to be proud of their Country. Is this what will make the people to be proud of their Country when his regime have only succeeded in raising the national debt from about 13 billion dalasis in 1994 to 22 billion dalasis today. What pride is there for a debtor to see in such extravagance when he is living a life of misery? The cost of living is so high, income is so low and there is no market for the farmer's produce.
Imagine the colossal sum of money that went unaccounted for in the Central Bank from 1994 to 1999. According to an audit report of: 1994/95 D573, 874, 675 - 1996/97 - D754, 032, 321, and 1998 - D983, 389, 368, 1999 - D784, 122, 217.
These amounts if put together, will amount to D3, 095, 418, 581 (Three billion, ninety five million, four hundred and eighteen thousand, five hundred and eighty one dalasis). If this large sum of money is invested in production and industry, the Country's youth will not have been drowning in the Meditaranian Sea in search of greener pastures because of lack of employment at home; our health facilities will not have been without enough staffing, lacking basic equipment and drugs; our educational institutions will not have been without teaching materials, enough teachers and lecturers; the farmers will not have lacked markets for their produce and the agricultural sector will not have been backward as it is today. All these are cases because of an inefficient and backward leadership. Most Gambians, particularly the youth, have now come to this realisation. They know that they cannot forge ahead without the right leadership. A leadership as Nkrumah puts it, comprising of a new type of citizens, dedicated, modest, honest, and informed men who submerge self in service to the nation and humankind; men who abhor greed and detest vanity; a new type of men or women whose humility is their strength and whose integrity is their greatness.
The youths cannot find this anywhere, other than in NADD. This is why they are rallying behind NADD and come next Presidential and National Assembly Elections, they shall vote it into office to put an end to their long suffering and bring into reality, the dreams of our great men and women like Marcus, Malcolm, Cabral, Lumumba and Nkrumah and Josina Machel. May all off them rest in eternal peace!
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 26/2006, 6-9 April, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 09:13:14
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| We do have a good flagbearer but not strong associates, strong supporters and the rivalry within them. Honestly Halifa Sallah is the only one who I can count on as a humble visionary leader. He is very eloquent who alawys avoid sarcastic or abusive lanquange to address issues, very courageous to speak his mind without fear and favour. He is a decent politician and I do not support and trust the rest; for most of them are having attitude problems, being selfish and lots of weaknesses making them very unpopular. However national interests' is at stake and they especially other rival politicians inluding Darboe, Hamat, Mborodi Waa Juwara, O.J, Hassan Musa Camara, Lamin Kuti Jabang and every single Gambian has a noble duty for the Election 2006. My appeal to them is to lead the campaign with messages, priorities and a decent strategy to communicate with the masses to convince and market more sound political ideals. They should stop using abusive, saracastic and character assasinations of individuals. However they are duty bound to espress that all citizens including the President is accountable. Let them forget about threatening to bring Jammeh and his cohorts to justice aftermath of the elections as that would alert him to never hand over power. Any form of threats against anybody is counterproductive. The system envisaged aftermath of the election would deal with justice and accountability. Good luck. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 09:31:30
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To share and analysis with other readers Halifa Sallah's latest contribution in parliament as reported by the government sponsored and affiliate paper "Observer newspaper"
Resist coup-inspired govts ... Halifa Sallah urges Gambians
Written by Alhagie Jobe
Wednesday, 05 April 2006
Hon Halifa Sallah, the National Assembly Minority Leader and NAM for Serekunda Central Constituency, has called on Gambians to reject any government that comes to power through a coup d'etat, as it is not in accordance with the country's democratic principles and the AU constitution.
In his contribution to the resolution condemning the March 21 abortive coup, which was tabled at the National Assembly on Monday, Hon Sallah said that democracy demands that power be derived from the consent of the people and should be exercised politically. He added that the constitution of the African Union states in Article 4 that "the union shall function in accordance with the following functions - that is, condemnation of unconstitutional deriving of a government."
According to him, a violent overthrow of a government has no place in a democratic and constitutional country - whether the government is functioning economically or not. He said they in the opposition condemn the March 21 abortive coup.
END of report.
Of significance is the conclusion descrediting any government that came into existence by coup and whether the government is functioning economically or not is illegal. Thats what Jammeh's government and APRC party represents 100% (a hundred percent.) |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 10:19:06
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kOBO,
what a wonderful forsight!Abusive languages and threats will be counterproductive-what a good PR.but my only problem is the level of consciousness of electorates. Really it is too low.Do your own research within the kombos and see what they think.
It seems to me that gambians do not elect a president because of policies.They elect you because they think God has chosen you to lead.PDOIS`s policies were the best before,but how do they do?Less than four percent of the votes.And do know people still lok at NADD as PDOIS?There is a real problem which cannot be easily countered by sensitisation.About 46% of the masses are illitrates and that level of illitracy is frightening.Unless and until that level has drastically gone up, there is no chance for oppositions in the gambia.Is difficult but a hard fact.You see you cannot explained policies to someone who has already make his mind up(lamin is my cousin,jammehs brother is my friend,am not going to waste my time because you cannot win the president by votes,at least the country is peaceful,politicians are all the same,the president is doing enough,the old crooks will took over, etc).All what they said is we have seen jammeh and you dont know what the new guy will bring.So lets stick with what God has given us(the national concept), when his time is up he will go( this is the typical concept of the sizeable percentage of the masses of the gambians).The youths who parked the rallies most of them dont even have voters card.They prefer to do ATAYA than voting.
Kobo, wonderful pieces but the political maturity is not there.I really sympatise for these guys on the ground( halifa,sidia,etc).Is good to talk because thats the only way but the political climate is murky.
Just my view. |
Edited by salimina |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 12:06:04
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salimina it sounds like an honest one to me.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 15:18:50
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| Although the political climate is very bleak characterised by ignorance, high level of lack of education amongst others. Salamina I do have my reservations on PDOIS and do not trust that Sedia Jatta is fit in the political scene as a leader but respect them in some of their political ideals and advocacy. This unity is not about PDOIS or about crude veteran politicians but strategically there is no doubt under the present circumstances of general hardship, economic bankruptcy, divide and rule policy of APRC, there are chances for a good contest against Jammeh under an alliance of all peoples party (NADD). If you review the previous elections and PDOIS, NCP, PPP, NRP and NDP where together under Darboe who was very popular at that time, there would have been a marginal difference between Jammeh and Darboe or a landslide was possible in Darboe's favour if results and statistics of the electorate are not being manipulated by unfaithful public servants and the Independent Electoral Council. However there is another opportunity under Halifa Sallah, entrusted as flagbearer but Darboe, Hamat and threir supporters are loosing the opportunity for a radical change of the political climate of our dear motherland Time is seriously running out not only for Darboe and Hamt but for strategic reasons against us. Let history not judge them as traitors and hinderance to progress of Gambia. They were just filling gaps temporarily and not very good politicians to lead us forever. However we appreciate their efforts in the development process and they have last chance to set a landmark in the political scene and to make them true patriots and considered dynamic leaders for years or never be written off in politics during their lifetime. There are a lot of dissent within APRC ranks as they know Jammeh is using them for personal self-agrandisement dictatorship and corrupt rule. United we stand divided we fall. |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 15:49:30
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Bro, you are entitled to your opinion. But with regards to Sidia, i think he is a fitting symbol.In fact one of best in the gambian politics( currently).You see the problem with most of the gambians elites is they think that leadership is all about presentation.Because someone can write wonderful essays and present it eloquently so will be a good leader, is a misnormer.Is actually more than that.Sidia might be little bit quite but go to his consequency though is remote and guage the level of their political awareness.
In addition,since these people cannot come together then the game is over. The only hope we got is the opposition to come together again. |
Edited by salimina |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 17:48:52
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| I do agree with your opinion Salamina and Sedia is also a reknown intellectual and a good technocrat to help us design the enabling environment and democratic structures we require for a new republic. I might be wrong in my opnion but let Sedia be aware that not all of us are impressed with PDOIS and him but rather give due respect, trust and support to the current flagbearer Halifa Sallah always. However every body have strengths and weaknesses and Sedia have a quota to contribute as a prominent politician. Leaders are born but not created. No hard feelings Salamina or don't see it as an attempt to count him out or discredit him. He fas been the Presidential candidate for a party and Halifa was very loyal to him. Let him give Halifa a chance. The Bantaba is open for debate and those writing eloquently are not politicians but participants of debate to sort out our political problems. Game is not over yet as we need to unite and forget about individualism, dominance or leadership. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 17:55:06
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| Salimina I have reviewed your comments for the second time to understand better your views. I have to congratulate that you cautioned that if the opposition do not unite game is over. I now endorsed this statement as accurate. Thanks sister keep up the good work. |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 18:09:08
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| No, i dont see it that way but that guy is a star. Have you ever heard of him saying something against the policies of NADD? Initially to select NADD flag bearer is between leaders of different political parties. He is the leader of PDOIS but have you heard of his interest? |
Edited by salimina |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 18:30:54
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| Thats all about wisdom, element of flexibility, sacrifice personal ambitions and the need to show good example for others to follow suit. Darboe and Hamat Bah should have been inspired and do the same thing and unite under any flagbearer for this crucial election 2006. In this proactive sense I humbly apologise for any negative comments against Sedia as the anwsers are in nobodys dormain. We are suppose to be critical but if your views cannot be expressed properly and / or not substantiated you end up with regrets. Thanks Salimina for putting me on track. Whats past is now history but the current situation is more demanding for all Gambians to subscribe and salvage the situation in unison rather than addressing personal issues. All errors and mis-statements are deeply regreted. The calling is for unity and not isolate any individual laeder or political part supporters. Its now time for action and constructive opinions. |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 19:13:09
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Interesting! In addition lot of people are critisiing Darboe for what he has done but if you understand little bit of social psychology you would be able to understand or explained the mindset of Mr Darboe.What he mentioned about the reason for disloyality is different from what is really the case.This guy is very intelligent. He knows that as a politician you dont just say what is always the truth( thats is one of the principles of politics no doubt i dont like it).
In any school of political thought, the first thing a political student learns is how to secure yourself then fight for what you want. The rationale is the party or the leader has to be existing in order to lead or to become a president(no doubt the first priority of any president is security,security,security). What Darboe is looking at is( my suggestion)if they elect any leader,that person got an advantage to showcase his and his parties credentials. So therefore, at the end of the term if the president did well, there is no chance for any other party to compete with his parties nominee. Why? because one of his colleaques has already got the hearts and minds of the electorate.Even you Kobo and including any sensible person will vote for that party.
So in a nutshell,Darboe will never achieved what he wants.Definitely there will be no level playing field. This is africa, is very easy to control the minset of the electorates. Thats why jammeh is still in office.
My thinking! |
Edited by salimina |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 20:08:44
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| I do respect Darboe and voted for him several times but this time he got it wrong in his political strategy with his associate Hamat Bah. They are now more dangerous to derail the election 2006 to give Jammeh another clear mandate to serve another term. I would want him to listen to this forum amonst others to know what is at stake if only he, Hamat convince all their supporters to rally behind NADD or bargain a new deal under a new or revised Memranding of Understanding. Its is crucial to advise them that time is running out for the oppotunity for peace, stabilty and unity for the common good of the motherland. We need them to make some humble gesture for a noble cause. As a politician you need the masses and mass support can be mobilised through unity. |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 20:12:25
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| I wish they could do that. Thanks anyway for your ideals.Am off see you again |
Edited by salimina |
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