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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Apr 2008 : 21:19:09
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http://gainako.com/fejango/Issue~251-2008/
STGDP is reviving its near success idea of uniting Gambian opposition during the last general elections. You can call them any names if you want, but one thing is abundantly clear, they came up with one of the most brilliant and practical ideas in our history to unseat an incumbent President who has every grip onto power.
Although STGDP's idea of uniting the opposition crashed at the last minute, but [they succeeded in bringing together politicians who usually don't see eye to eye despite seeing the same problems daily.
This group of smart Gambians from all backgrounds did what many of us failed to do, they rolled their sleeves and not only think and write about their ideas, but they mobilize people around a great platform that came this close to succeeding.
They certainly underestimated the obstacles that was ahead of them and made some serious errors along the road. However, since this was the first time such a process was tried to the level it was, mistakes were bound to occur. I hope we learned our lessons and will get right back to work to succeed this time around.
Got more comments, but wants to hear from others.
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2008 : 21:45:31
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| dbaldeh, you are right they deserve our support. the vital issue for all interested parties to scrutinise and study is what went wrong and why? they should avoid scape goating and concentrate on furthering the strong alliances and brotherhood. if they can identify what causes the union of nadd to fail, then addressing future pitfalls will be easy. we wish them all the best. |
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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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2008 : 22:27:16
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Santanfara, I think they already know what went wrong and are back on their feet to correct those steps and move forward. The leadership issue was a major factor and I think it could have been handled a lot earlier and better.
Another fundamental error many of us made was the desire to go for a one big homerun for change instead of taking incremental steps. Change as we all agree does not come easy and complete change is almost impossible at the get go. So many of us were shutting for not only a change in personnel but a system as well. This proofed to be more challenging.
In a nutshell, there was an opportunity to settle for one or the other and then pick up from there. I believe that was a big error. The groups partisant embracement of individual candidates versus being neutral at all times was also a red flag. The opportunist who saw a gap in the process exploited that and manage to tear apart the fragile union.
More lessons we learned are going to help us out this time around. One thing though, people should not start to label those STGDP as they and them and wish them luck as you started out. I think we should call this call to union ours and be willing to support it at all level.
Once we start to isolate them and say "I wish them well" it will start to look like outside issue to us. So santafara, please let's roll our sleeves and join the call to action. We can embrace the idea and send our contributions in ideas and resources. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 00:55:21
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thanks dbaldeh. for a start ,many like myself here in the u.k don't know the first thing about the stgdp. i don't know who is who in that movement. all we see is press release and so on. that is why i stated that we wish them well. if the union is all inclusive, i hope they spread their tentagles and make us all aware of what the inner circle compuse of.
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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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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 09:44:59
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Santanfara, I don't know if you were around during the run up to the 2006 elections. May be you were not online as much so you missed a lot of stuff. STGDP has become a household name since 2005. So am really surprise that you don't know much about the movement.
Just fyi, STGDP was the brain behind the coming together of the opposition. They engineered it from the begining to the launching of NADD in the US. So if you do a little research online you will not miss information about movement.
Beside Santanfara the most important thing is not knowing who are the people behind the movement. As for me all I was interested in was the idea of uniting our opposition and that was good enough for me to jump on the van wagon.
So again, this is not about identity politics which you and I are all trying to fihgt and get rid off. So I would recommend reading a little more about the ideas behind the movement and see if you buy into those ideas.
It is important to note that STGDP in fact had members from all supporters of major opposition parties in the Gambia before the fall out. I for one was introduced to STGDP by a strong UDP supporter who was coordinating the efforts in my state.
While STGDP ended up being divided, like the opposition it was actually a movement of national unity before the leadership selection messed everything up. So once again, lets support the ideas and not necessarily the people behind it. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 13:33:52
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Thanks Dbaldeh, STGDP's reemergence in the political scene is a blessing for the Gambia democracy; STGDP needs and deserve our support.
Santafara raised an important point that I think the STGDP leadership should address this time around. I think STGDP should reach out to our brothers across the Atlantic; there are many Gambians who are willing if not eager to join the struggle to restore democracy in the Gambia. Europe is a goal mine that STGDP should look into.
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“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 13:54:53
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| THANKS again demba. I was never online untill after the 2006 election. so i missed every thing from the formation of NADD to the collapse of the idea. as brother ebou4th stated, we in Europe seems to be left out in this great endevours. i was not arround to capture any ealier press releases. but i support the effort for unity and progress. i shall google STGDP.i am not the average political interested fellow untill when i realise that minding my own business will never be a solution for our collective brotherhood.so forgive my ignorance of stgdp. |
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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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 16:11:07
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Santa, we have a similar story. Due constant deployments that come with military service I could not pay attention to Gambian politics, upon separation from the military I had the opportunity to analyze Gambia's political situation and realize that her decent citizens need to move from only criticizing to taking action by making a concerted effort to unite and provide an alternative for Gambians back home. A United Diaspora that speaks with one voice; is ready and willing to use its resources and take stake in Gambia's political future is quickest and most effective way of brining effective change in the Gambia.
What SGDP is doing is a step in the right direction, it is impossible to agree on every single issue in fact if all of us agree on all issues all the time then some one is not thinking. If the ultimate goal is a democratic change of government then everything else should be minor. If we have a common gold then how we achieve that goal should be the easy part.
To STGDP:
“I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottle
I make mistakes but learn from every one
And when it's said and done
I bet this brother be a better one
If I upset you don’t stress
Never forget, that God isn't finished with me yet”
Tupac Shakur
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“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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Edited by - ebou4th on 01 May 2008 17:44:40 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 20:44:58
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The Unity Call;
How ready are we all?
http://gainako.com/fejango/Issue~252-2008/
Last week, Mr. Musa Jeng and Mr. Karamba Touray opened up an important chapter in Gambia’s history. Probably among all the debates worth weighing in –this one of unity for Gambia’s opposition leaders is in the forefront. I humbly ask others to weigh in sincerely as they deem it fitting. If we should all fold our hands and avoid the heat of the debate, we might as well quit complaining about arbitrary arrests, disappearances and other human rights violations, because the talk is just repetition. If we wait till the last minute, then we would live to regret again, because it is a fragile moment in Gambia’s history. It is obvious that we wish for future generations a peaceful co-existence and a harmonized living together.
It is my humble opinion that if all the concerns registered on the local papers, media outlets and gossips are to go by, then Gambians should move beyond talk to action movement now. The battle is a genuine battle but we cannot afford to be more divided by any factor more than we are already, for that is just another loose battle we are fighting. We are equipped with enough information to tackle this should be unanimously desire.
For unity to flourish, there have to be a compromise on the parts where we are held by dissenting views. It takes two to dance ‘tango.’ The many sub groups’ need to bridge their gaps and embrace one another in a spirit of unity. The issue of unity makes every one important. Imaginarily at the mosque or Church where worshippers converge, it comprises of all people –the literate and the illiterate; the sick and the healthy; the rich and the poor; the leaders and followers; the men and women; et cetera, et cetera. It clearly shows each and every one of us is important.
At the current time -no doubt, there are many unanswered questions, thus: How much compromise is needed? Who will be in the forefront of such a unifier? What will be their role? How can they bring the different parties together? How can they maintain it to the end? What level of support should be given to them? What will be neutrality? What will be the main source of funding? What rules and regulations will foresee such a unifier as an oversight body to handle matters of progress or failure? On and on without end with looming questions, some obvious and others not –that’s the game of unity. The organizers or the followers will not know the answers more than others. Most of it you learn as you moves on. Admittedly, unity call is not easy. There are many obstacles to it including our own attitudes and conscience, some of it pure instinct and some impure. The divisive instinct is the one that need to be buried once and for all.
In the absence that the sub groups or Diaspora Gambians are not ready for this challenge, then it is my humble view that we take a direct approach of sitting with the key opposition members –all of them. If you have an opinion about the matter, the debate is now open at Gainako. Please send us your sincere thoughts as time permits you –editor@gainako.com.
NOTE: Personally, as at now, I don’t belong to any political party or sub group(s) except the UGAMA of talk –at least not an active member to any other. I am ready to support any group of individuals or associations that will take the challenge of fighting for Gambians. If this is where others are, then let us see thoughts fly higher to the skies.
Sincerely,
YJ |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Edited by - Dalton1 on 01 May 2008 20:49:59 |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2008 : 23:02:17
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Very good ideas from all of you especially as relates UNITY and the resolve for CHANGE. Our situation in Gambia is such that money and clubbing is not enough. There is unflinching determination to CLING unto position by the prevailing political players. Unless good sense prevails that the job they are doing can also be performed by other able and willing hands, all efforts to unite for change will stay in bottleneck progression. Opposition parties and ruling party players need to accept that it takes a generation of people to call it progress. Rather than wishing to stay till the end, another way of going about matters is by having each good player handing down the mantle to the next potential better player. That is so hard for most Gambians not only in politics but even in other encounters of life. |
Karamba |
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