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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 14:07:06
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Darboe calls for opposition dialogue
By Alieu O. Jabang
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
 Lawyer Ousainou Darboe Secretary General and party leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) is the latest to add his voice to calls by prominent opposition bigwigs in the country for an opposition dialogue ahead of 2011 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Darboe, who addressed a mass political rally organised by the United Democratic Party Kombo Central Youth Wing in Brikama on Sunday said it is only by coming together through dialogue that the opposition can make headway in the election due next year.
The political rally was the first organised by the party, since it held its congress in Jarra Soma, Lower River Region, in July of this year.
Darboe's call follows that of Omar Jallow alias OJ of the People's Progressive Party for members of the opposition camp in the country to come together for a formidable opposition force ahead of the country's next polls.
OJ at the time also told The Point, in an exclusive interview held recently, that this was the only viable and effective way in which they could succeed in their efforts during the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Meanwhile, according to the UDP leader, he is ever ready to meet with any opposition leader in this country for a dialogue with a view to mapping out the way forward in salvaging the country.
"I am ready to meet with any opposition leader anywhere, anytime to discuss about the way forward in salvaging our country," he told the gathering.
The Gambia, Darboe went on, has reached a level where the opposition needs to put aside all their differences and work together in the interest of the citizens.
The recent skyrocketing of prices in the country, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is a cause for concern, and thus called for more hands to be on deck to avert such occurrences.
Darboe who dwelt on a wide range of issues, added that unless members of the opposition come together and work in the interest of Gambians, there cannot be any political change.
"Nobody will salvage our people other than our very own selves together with their support. The Gambia has reached a point where all hands must be put on deck to effect change," he said, adding that "it is better to be late than never".
The Propaganda Secretary and the Youth President of the Youth Wing, Momodou Lamin Shyngle Nyassi and Rambo Jatta assured the gathering that come the 2011 polls the UDP will emerge victorious.
Speakers at the rally included the UDP National President Dembo Bojang, Aja Aunty Yama Secka, Amie Sabally representing the opposition NRP, and UDP Nyambai ward sponsored candidate Foday Gassama, among others.
Meanwhile, 19 people who claimed to be strong supporters of the ruling APRC led by one Mariama Badjie of Bakau Newtown announced their defection to the UDP at the rally.
Source: The Point
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/darboe-calls-for-opposition-dialogue
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 17:43:57
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UDP RALLY IN BRIKAMA
By Pateh Baldeh
22-09-10
The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) on Saturday, 18th September, 2010, held a rally at Brikama in Kombo Central,Western Region.
Those who attended the meeting were distracted by an uproar which developed when soldiers passing in a vehicle made noises which the UDP leadership considered as nuisance. Speaker after speaker expressed their dissatisfaction which diverted the direction of the meeting until one member of the leadership intervened to advise the rest not to be distracted.
Ousman Rambo Jatta, the youth mobiliser, Shingle Nyassi and the rest of the speakers spoke on the disappearance of Kanyiba Kanyi and the efforts made by the UDP leader in the courts to address the situation without success. Rambo narrated his experience as a detainee. Shygle Nyassi lamented the level of political awareness of the Gambian people who are told that certain things would not be done for them until they vote for the President since they accept to bow down to such sayings. All the speakers called for voters to vote for Darboe as a presidential candidate.
Speaking to the party supporters, the UDP Secretary General and party leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe called on the party supporters to rally behind the UDP.
He first buttressed what Rambo said about the soldiers. The UDP Party leader described as unprofessional some security officials who, he said, were booing at the gathering when passing by. He said his party is under the protection of the law and that they would never tolerate such behaviour. He questioned why the UDP is subjected to such acts. He promised to take the matter up with the leadership of the armed forces so that they would regulate the behaviour of soldiers and other security personnel.
Lawyer Darboe questioned President Jammeh’s involvement in business operations but was quick to add that it is not bad for him to do business but that he should tell the nation whether he pays tax and how much is paid. The UDP leader spoke about the numerous arrests and bail conditions that are impossible to meet, such as the one imposed on Halifa Sallah when he was arrested in connection with the witch craft case.
The UDP party leader called on the people to register as voters for the 2011 elections. Mr. Darboe said he is informing Honourable Sidia Jatta, whom he described as his elder brother, that he is ready to meet with him for discussion at anytime he needs him.
Other speakers also included Amie Sabally, Jang Surou Njie from Kiang West and Lamin Jatta of Brikama, who all expressed their support for the UDP and Mr. Darboe.
Source: Foroyaa Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2010 : 09:03:11
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BACK TO SQUARE ONE ON AGENDA 2011 & CASE CLOSED ON NADD (2006 ELECTIONS) DEBACLE!
1. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES/PARTY LEADERS ARE AWARE OF NEED FOR DIALOGUE ESPECIALLY; UDP/Lawyer Darboe, PPP/O.J, PDOIS or NADD/Halifa&Sidia, GMC/Lawyer Mai Fatty amongst others.
2. Darboe/UDP endorsed my stance = TO UNITE UNDER ONE UMBRELLA
3. ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES SHARED A COMMON CAUSE. THEREFORE NO ONE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PRE-EMPT OR DICTATE ANY AGENDA, PROGRAM, TACTICS & STRATEGIES FOR ANY OPPOSITION PARTY.
4. I SOLICIT EVERY SUPPORT ON MY CIVIC DUTY PROJECT TO GATHER & CONSOLIDATE UNDER "A MELTING POT" IDEAS, PROPOSALS, COMMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS COVERED ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPICS ON WAY FORWARD & AGENDA 2011 TO FORWARD THE GAMBIA OUR HOMELAND.
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2010 : 01:41:52
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19 APRC Party Members Crossed Over To Opposition UDP
24 September, 2010 03:22:
Nineteen people, led by one Mariama Badjie of Bakau Newtown last Sunday announced their defection from the ruling APRC party to the main opposition United Democratic Party, UDP. The seven men and twelve women, who claimed to be previously staunch members of the APRC, expressed frustration with the one-man rule that currently prevails in the country and the growing difficulties of making ends meet in the country in a well attended meeting in central Brikama, in the Western Region. One of the men told The Gambia Journal, in a special interview on the sidelines of the rally how one of his sons, a soldier in the Gambia Armed Forces, has been made to disappear since his arrest a day before the last Independence celebration in February of this year. “There is no door we have not knocked to find out his whereabouts, but all to no avail. In fact, in the process, I came to find out men in the security forces are more terrified than we civilians, it cannot go on like this if we want peace in this country and that is why I decided to switch allegiance,” the middle-aged man from Foni who does not want to be named said.
Another woman who is one of the nineteen said, “Since the days of the transition when Yahya was in uniformed, I have attended all major APRC political rallies, gone on campaign tours around the country leaving husband and family behind. Listen, I have almost always dressed in the green color of the party. Behind my back people used to call me ‘Misses Green.’ But all these I did not do for Yahya personally or for myself personally, but for my children, their children and the people of this country. Now, they want me to go and work Yahya’s farm every weekend just because they gave me a piece of government job, cleaning offices in Banjul. The salary hardly covers the fares. And on top of this I must work as an informant for the NIA, reporting colleagues, neighbors and other innocent people. Enough is enough.”
Most of the others spoke of the rising cost of living and the difficulties making ends meet. In spit of all this, one said, President Jammeh is taking the country’s money and dishing it out to footballers, musicians, praise-singers and “other useless people” as if the country was “floating in dalasi notes.”
Many of these had been said by some of the nineteen people who spoke at the rally but could hardly be made out amidst the din of drumming, handclapping and a noisy background in the massive Brikama rally.
Party leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe Secretary General of the UDP used the occasion to call for talks within the opposition ahead of the coming presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. He said it is only by coming together through dialogue that the opposition can make headway in the presidential election due next year.
The political rally was the first organized by the party since the last mass rally about a year ago in central Serrekunda which led to the jailing of its former Campaign Manager, Femi Peters. Last July the party also held its first congress in Jarra Soma, Lower River Region where Darboe’s continued leadership was endorsed.
The UDP leader said he is ready to meet with any opposition leader in this country for a dialogue with a view to mapping out the way forward in salvaging the country.
"I am ready to meet with any opposition leader anywhere, anytime to discuss about the way forward in salvaging our country," he told the gathering.
The Gambia, Darboe went on, has reached a level where the opposition needs to put aside all their differences and work together in the interest of the citizens.
Darboe pointed at the skyrocketing of prices in the country, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, the drug and other scandals among top-ranking government officials, the instability in government and growing personal tyranny as a challenge to every citizen of the country.
"Nobody will salvage our people other than our very own selves together with their support. The Gambia has reached a point where all hands must be put on deck to effect change," he said, adding that "it is better to be late than never".
Other speakers at the rally included Propaganda Secretary and President of the Youth Wing, Momodou Lamin Shyngle Nyassi and Rambo Jatta UDP National President Dembo Bojang, Aja Aunty Yama Secka, Amie Sabally representing the opposition NRP, and UDP Nyambai ward sponsored candidate Foday Gassama.
Source: thegambiajournal
http://www.thegambiajournal.com/Highlights/1070.html |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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