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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 17:29:58
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Hamat Bah says kingship issue a non-starter
By Sainey M.K. Marenah
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
 Picture: Hamat Bah
Hamat Bah, leader of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has opined that the widely-debated kingship issue in many corners of society is a non-starter, stressing that there is nowhere in this country where the ruling APRC party can get 75% of voters.
"This is a non-starter and there is nowhere in this country where the APRC government can get 75% of the voters in the country. There is also no way that the chiefs who are campaigning for President Jammeh to become king, can have 75% of the Gambian voters," Bah said in an exclusive interview with The Point held at the NRP bureau in Banjul last weekend.
The NRP leader, who made his intentions known that he is going to contest the upcoming presidential election as a candidate, said his party does not believe in the kingship idea, as it is a non-starter.
"If that was true, the Government would not have funded the elections. I want to believe that in any society, especially this country, we have many sycophants trying to praise people in order to get something or be secured, but the kingship issue is just a strategy and, as far as I am concerned, I have not heard President Yahya Jammeh make a comment on the issue," Bah added.
Bah believes that there will be an election in the November 2011, and said his party is ready to contest the elections.
"I have no doubt that Jammeh will contest as a candidate. I am also going to be a candidate, and I believe Ousaniou Darboe will also be a candidate, but the rest, I don't know," he said, adding that had it been the kingship issue was a reality, the first sign would have been that the elections would be frustrated.
According to the NRP leader, free and fair elections are not negotiable.
"Free and fair elections are not negotiable, and that is what we expect at all times. We also believe that all interested parties should sit together and discus this forthcoming elections, because we don't want to put this country into crises. We want free and fairs elections, and we want losers to accept that they lost and the winner to accept that he/she has won.
"We strongly believe that there will be a change! Gambia will no longer be the same after November 24. It will no longer be the same as it was before, and anybody who wants to play with the desire of Gambians for a free and fair election would have fire burn him/her," Bah, a past member of the National Assembly, asserted.
In his view, the period of election rigging in Africa is over and will be history, sighting Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo as an example who, he said, cannot rig elections and get away with it. "The international community is not sleeping, and will never allow leaders to cheat people by rigging elections to stay in power. People will not let it happen and, once they move, the world is with them," he said, calling on all party leaders to play their part in ensuring free and fair elections.
He noted that it is very reassuring that the Independent Electoral Commission, despite its constraints, is able to announce and conduct elections.
Quizzed as to whether he still stands by his word that he will contest the forthcoming presidential election, Bah said: "I stand by my word 110%. I want to be a candidate in the election, and contest under the NRP ticket. I am committed to that; I will contest. What I can finally say is that I will be a candidate in the 2011 election. We are working on the elections."
NRP Agenda
According to the NRP leader, his party has the issue of youth unemployment on top of its agenda in the coming elections.
"In this country, we need to act now; we need to do something because we are a small country, and we are closer to Europe. We have the Atlantic Ocean as a natural gift; we have the River Gambia’s fresh water all over. So if we are ready and prepared and committed, within 10 years, Gambia would export food, rice, grains and everything. God has given us the natural wealth and resources that will enrich Gambians," he added.
He continued: "The youths are underemployed. Some of them are already frustrated, because they don't have jobs. They think they don't have a future, and our party's first programme will be to invest in the field of employment, and generate employment for the youths of this country in the field of agriculture. We need to produce enough to feed the people of The Gambia and export overseas, and we (the NRP) are determined to do that. We will encourage investors to come to The Gambia as a production center."
He further stated that his party will make sure the environment is conducive for investors, and encourage them to come and invest in The Gambia.
Bah warned the IEC and all those involved in the process of voter registration to avoid registering non-Gambians.
"When you register foreigners, you are empowering them; you are giving them a say in your country and power and, eventually, they will take over your country. It is a dangerous threat and should be avoided," he said, adding further that Gambians must preserve their sovereignty and integrity as giving foreigners our national documents is not in our best interest.
Source: The point
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 02:26:59
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ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO LISTEN TO HAMAT BAH AMONGST OTHER POOR CALIBRE OF POLITICIANS HE HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING INTERESTING BUT CAN WOO THE POOR MASSES WITH HIS CHARISMA; EVEN WITHOUT ANY TANGIBLE POLICIES, VISIONS AND HARD WORK HAMAT HAS NOT BEEN HEARD OR PARTICIPATED IN ANY NATIONAL POLITICAL ISSUES SINCE ENDING OF DECEMBER 2010 AND FIRST QUARTER (JAN-MAR)
THESE STATEMENTS AMONGST OTHERS LOOKS RIDICULOUS;
- "I have no doubt that Jammeh will contest as a candidate. I am also going to be a candidate, and I believe Ousaniou Darboe will also be a candidate, but the rest, I don't know," he said, adding that had it been the kingship issue was a reality, the first sign would have been that the elections would be frustrated."
- Quizzed as to whether he still stands by his word that he will contest the forthcoming presidential election, Bah said: "I stand by my word 110%. I want to be a candidate in the election, and contest under the NRP ticket. I am committed to that; I will contest. What I can finally say is that I will be a candidate in the 2011 election. We are working on the elections."
RELATED BANTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC Hamat Bah to contest 2011 presidential election UNDER http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10157
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2011 : 09:29:14
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I have only one question for Hamat and the NPR folks if there is more than one...
When is NRP going to conduct a party congress? Without a party congress this year, NRP will not be eligible to contest the elections. They in effect be deregistering themselves according to IEC rules.
Hamat has reportedly appealed to the IEC to give him more time to conduct a congress... When is it coming???
See how callous and irresponsible some of these politicians are? they think they can run around working on their personal business and then come elections only to act as having the interest of the people..... When is the congress???? |
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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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2011 : 10:32:37
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ALREADY PAYING PRICE FOR DOUBLE STANDARDS, INSINCERITY AND HYPOCRISY;
"In Sinchu Karaba, the speakers stated that the village is traditionally an NRP stronghold but will now rally behind the UDP leader, Alhagie Ousainou Darboe as he is a son of Naini. They also stated that they have always known that the APRC is up to no good and that is why they never supported them."
MORE FROM RELATED BANTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC UDP Youth Wing Tours CRR UNDER http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10725
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2011 : 14:11:51
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"The opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) is heading to the morgue in its party leaders native constituency of Upper Saloum as it lost one of its few remaining strongholds to the ruling party last Saturday. " ACCORDING TO DAILY OBSERVER
MORE FROM DAILY OBSERVER NEWS NRP loses stronghold to APRC UNDER http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/nrp-loses-stronghold-to-aprc
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Edited by - kobo on 18 Apr 2011 16:02:07 |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2011 : 19:45:56
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Is Yaya Jammeh drunk with palm wine as he dreams of becoming king? |
Karamba |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2011 : 20:47:07
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| Karamba,you know as well as I do, all he has to do is tell "his people" to vote for him to be a king |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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