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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Apr 2011 : 21:39:03
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PDOIS STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN DAY 24 April 2011
Issued by Halifa Sallah
By Publisher
28-04-11
The Republic of the Gambia came into being on the 24th April 1970. The Republic is 41 years old today.
PDOIS is commemorating this day today in Wuli East where a by election is taking place for the National Assembly seat. We sincerely hope that the 42nd birthday of the Republic would be commemorated in a massive and progressive manner in a Third Republic ushered in by the undiluted votes of the new sovereign Gambian who is fully conscious of his or her power to determine the destiny of his or her country and his or her unrestrained and unrestricted right to live in liberty and prosperity.
Some days ago President Jammeh asserted that,”only the military can end the carnage in Africa.” However, history teaches that Siad Barre of Somalia was a military leader. The same goes for Idi Amin, Jean Bedel Bokassa, Samuel Doe, Joseph Mommoh, Lansana Conteh, Joao Bernardo Vieira, Blaise Compaore, Mamadou Tandja and the list goes on ad infinitum. More is needed to end the carnage in Africa than the mere building of military forces.
President Jammeh further lamented that “today most African countries could be re-colonised in a matter of seconds because they don’t have the requisite armed forces to defend their Independence.”
History teaches that the Soviet Union had one of the most, if not the most, sophisticated military machinery in human history but could not be saved from collapse from within. The weakness of a Nation lies in its own internal constituents and not on the strength of it external adversaries. No power on this earth had ever tried to impose a no fly zone on Libyan soil until Gaddafi started to wage a civil war against his own sovereign people.
The strength of a Nation lies not in the size of its military arsenal but on the awareness, unity and determination of its sovereign citizenry.
In short, no sovereign Nation could stand without a sovereign people. History teaches us that the twentieth Century was the era for the triumph of the right to self determination and Independence of Nations. Despite the military might of the colonial powers which far outweighed that of the colonised they could not impose their will on the people who were determined be free to determine the destiny of their Nations and achieve Independent status.I In short, no force on earth could subjugate a people who are determined to be free. No people could be dominated who are determined to attain and defend their right to self determination and Independence. This is a fundamental law of political science and it is incontrovertible.
The question now arises: Why are leaders like President Jammeh claiming that many African countries could be colonised in seconds? The answer is simple.
This is because most countries failed to move from building sovereign nations to nurture a sovereign people. They were satisfied with the creation of national boundaries, National executive mansions, National Anthem, National emblem, National flag and a National day to commemorate as Independence Day. They did not give importance to the second task of National liberation, that is, to nurture a sovereign people with the sovereign awareness that each one of them is the depository of the sovereignty of each country and is embodied with civil, political, economic, social, cultural and ecological rights that must be protected by all governments that wants legitimacy. This sovereign person becomes a sovereign social being whose religious, ethno-linguistic or tribal identities, gender, racial features, regional origin or other characteristics are submerged under ones sovereign identity as the National of a sovereign Republic.
It is such sovereign citizens who are the building blocks of a democratic society that could give birth to governments that depend entirely on the consent of the people to derive the authority to govern a state for no other purpose than to ensure the liberty and prosperity of the sovereign people.
The failure to protect the rights of the people to chose representatives without inducement or intimidation, whose primary duty is to build self reliant economies which would link raw material production, processing and the manufacturing of appropriate machinery for production that could guarantee employment, income for good standard of living, education, health, recreation and leisure is what has given rise to poverty and marginalization of the people.
The concentration of power and wealth in few hands which often take ethno-linguistic, sectionalist and partisan features has in most cases fueled power struggles and the overthrow of governments through coups or mass uprisings.
Thus failure to address the demands of the people for liberty and prosperity in many parts of Africa is what eventually led to perpetual instability and a gradual descend into the quagmire of a failed state. Of course such states could easily be controlled and dictated to from abroad since they have no internal cohesion.
PDOIS has made it its fundamental aim to consolidate the sovereignty of the Gambian people and make them truly free to become the architects of their own destiny.
As we commemorate Republican day we have the duty to remind the people that the Government of the First and Second Republic have trivialized April 24th, Republican day. We have the duty to make it the most important day in Gambian History.
As we commemorate Republican day we have the duty to remind the people that the Governments of the First and Second Republic have trivialized April 24, Republican day. We have the duty to make it the most important day in Gambian History.
Compatriots, the 41st birthday of the Republic is taking place at a time when Africa and the Middle East are undergoing the most challenging period of our post independence history. People under monarchies are demanding for Republics. Peoples in Republics are demanding for sovereignty of their nations to reside in them and for full recognition of their civil, political economic, social, cultural and ecological rights. Many countries are going through their storm and stress period because they either do not recognise or have the leadership that could identify the demands of the times..
In the Gambia PDOIS wishes to take this opportunity to state without any equivocation, on this national day that the current deficit in liberty and prosperity in the country is due mainly to the failure to carry out the democratic revolution to its logical conclusion of consolidating the sovereignty of the people. Our primary mission now is to achieve such a task.
Hence we want each Gambian to make ithe following his or her motto. “Sovereignty resides in me!” “Power belongs to me!” “Collectively, we are the guardians of our own destiny!” “Collectively, we are the architects of our own destiny!” This message should be retained in computer desktops and cell phone screens. It should be texted to friends and loved ones.
We should go beyond this recognition of our individual sovereignty to conceive ourselves as the building blocks of the sovereign Republic. Each of us must put our sovereign existence as part and parcel of the Republic to be supreme to our diverse religious, gender, ethno-linguistic and other diversities. In this way we would put our National interest before our parochial interests. This is the first task we should achieve during this 41st year of our sovereign existence. Any Gambian who is alive this year without recognizing that sovereignty or power resides in the people is not fit to live in a Republic.
The second lesson that should be drawn this year is that the sovereignty and power inherent in us as citizens of a sovereign Republic should be translated into decision making powers. This requires us to accept full responsibility in determining who is assigned the responsibility of managing the affairs of this country. Without being a registered voter one cannot participate in determining who will manage the affairs of the country. The voting card is a symbol of the sovereign power of the citizen. It gives each citizen equal say in determining how this country is run. Hence, every Gambian who has attained the age of 18 years should be a voting card carrying citizen. A person without a voting card is a powerless and voiceless citizen. The citizenship of such a person is meaningless. Each Gambian should recognise that the ballot is a symbol of his or her sovereignty and decision making power. To sell one’s voting card is to sell one’s power and voice to another sovereign citizen. This transforms the person into a voiceless and powerless self made slave. Such a person is not fit to be a citizen of a sovereign Nation.
It goes without saying that the Constitution grants voting rights to the citizen so that those who preside over the affairs of the state would know that they are service providers who would be held accountable for maladministration. This is neatly put in section 26 of the Constitution. It states
“Every citizen of the Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right, without unreasonable restrictions
a) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives,
b) to vote and stand for elections at genuine periodic elections for public office which election shall be by universal and equal suffrage and be held by secret ballot,
c) to have access, on general terms of equality to public service in the Gambia “
Citizens have the right to participate in the conduct of public service directly or by voting to entrust a fellow citizen who is more competent to carry on the responsibility of providing public services to us on the basis of equality. In short, we vote for people so that they could provide us with liberty and prosperity.
It should therefore be clear to all sovereign Gambians that when we are electing a president we are actually making a decision on who should handle our sovereign National wealth for us. This sovereign National wealth comes from taxation, non tax revenue such as dividends from public enterprises, payment for government services and royalties from the mining of our minerals and the use of our natural resources. This year alone the national budget should be(4500 Million dalasis) 4.5 billion dalasis. This country also receives loans, grants and gifts which should be known to the people and would be known under any government we manage or participate in as a coalition. It is elementary knowledge that one would not entrust any sum of money to a brother who is a crook. Hence the wealth of a Nation should not be entrusted to any one on the basis nepotism, tribalism and patronage. Anybody who votes on the basis of patronage is a corrupt voter who is an accomplice of any future corrupt administration that would divert resources from providing adequate public services, infrastructure and create the environment for further public sector and private sector investment into the productive base of the economy to create employment and generate a better quality of life for all.
Needless to say, the National Assembly is designed to be an oversight institution whose members are to approve budgets and scrutinize how our sovereign National wealth is utilised so that they would blow the whistle if it is being mismanaged.
All sovereign Gambians should make commitment after 41 years of existence of the Republic that we will vote on the basis of merit and not on the basis of our family and ethno linguistic ties or according to our whims and caprices.
The clarion call during the 41 st anniversary of the birth of the Republic is for Gambian citizens to take charge of their destiny by getting voting cards and voting on the basis of reason and merit and not on the basis of prejudices and passions.
We have public enterprises, minerals and natural resources that could enable us to accumulate sovereign National wealth that could be utilised to build infrastructure, free government from taking loans from local banks and thus release over 7000 Million dalasis which is currently owed to such banks by the state to finance young entrepreneurs who want to invest but lack the capital to do so and are not guaranteed a secure investment environment. PDOIS would repeal many laws on economic crimes and leave all claims of liabilities of the private sector to government to be dealt with through civil suits. Today people hear about large tracks of land being given to investor in the name of building 21st Century facilities. Under a PDOIS Government or a Coalition government we become a part of no land will be taken from extended families, Villages or the state without a share holding scheme where the families, villages and state become a permanent beneficiary through the creation of partnerships at the various levels.
The twenty first century has entered its second decade. It is not an honour to have 61 percent of our population living in abject poverty. It is not an honour to have a National Assembly with only five opposition members and four women two of whom could be removed by be executive and replaced while the others could be driven resulting in a by election. It is not an honour to have a stadium with a hostel that could be transformed into a University campus while the students commute at great expense. It is not an honour to have afternoon shifts which shortchange children in their educational pursuits at great expense to parents who are now being required to pay their annual salary to educate a child in a private school. .It is not an honour to have families deprived of three meals a day and concentrating on poor diets which encourage diabetes and hypertension. It is not an honour to find people detained beyond 72 hours without trial. It is not an honour for production inputs to be above the earning capacity of farmers.We could go on and on to catalogue the deficits in liberty and prosperity.
The consolation is that the destiny of the Gambia lies in the hands of sovereign Gambians. Each of us has a contract with destiny. We could vote wisely and be voted for sincerely so that we could work together to be the architect of a destiny of liberty and prosperity to all or vote recklessly and be voted for insincerely and thus become the victims of a wretched destiny. The choice is ours. History will record our deeds. Posterity will be the judge.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2011 : 22:04:58
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FOROYAA REFERRED TO DAILY OBSERVER NEWS ‘only the military can end the carnage in africa’ http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/only-the-military-can-end-the-carnage-in-africa
FOROYAA CONCLUDED WITH;
"The consolation is that the destiny of the Gambia lies in the hands of sovereign Gambians. Each of us has a contract with destiny. We could vote wisely and be voted for sincerely so that we could work together to be the architect of a destiny of liberty and prosperity to all or vote recklessly and be voted for insincerely and thus become the victims of a wretched destiny. The choice is ours. History will record our deeds. Posterity will be the judge. " |
Edited by - kobo on 28 Apr 2011 22:11:00 |
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Senegambia
175 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 00:15:19
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| I really enjoyed reading this educative statement. Men of Mr Sallah's calibre are hard to find. I will join in saying that "sovereignty resides in me, and that collectively we are the guardians of our destiny". |
Tesito
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 01:45:18
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It was a pleasure to meet Halifa again. And Gambians should be really proud to have men and women of such strong character and disposition to still be committed to the highest aspirations and noble intentions for our country.
The physical developments taking place in the Gambia are remarkable; it is evident and noticeable. It will not be an exaggeration to say that the physical appearance of the country, for someone who has been away for too long, has been transformed beyond recognition. The Gambia I left, and the Gambia I returned to has been completely different.
However, development is about people. Development should be people centered and people oriented.
All the infrastructural developments, good road networks and physical transformations taking place must be a compliment, to the overall development of the health, education, prosperity, social mobility, freedom and liberty, and other inalienable rights of a sovereign citizen.
We have gone through two phases of evolution in our country; a first republic and a second republic. We will go through the third phase, and hopefully the last stage in this evolutionary process; and that will be the third republic.
It is my hope that PDOIS will lead, and guide this third phase to consolidate the people centered and people oriented development goals and aspirations of the Gambian people.
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 04:35:38
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Meanwhile, they have lost the bye-election in Wuli East. Just reporting.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 05:14:37
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TLDR, but seriously if you guys would start giving me a dollar every time you utter the word "sovereign" or its variations, I'd be VERY HAPPY  |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 05:16:35
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quote:
the National Organising Secretary, Mr. Shyngle Nyassi, informed the villagers that the UDP is in favour of one opposition candidate in the upcoming bye-election slated for the 28th April 2011, and that all UDP supporters should vote for that candidate whoever he/she is and whichever party he/she belongs to.
PDOIS (plus UDP) lost even with the support of UDP!!!! Looks like overwhelming support of Jammeh continues crashing the opposition.
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 05:18:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Prince
TLDR, but seriously if you guys would start giving me a dollar every time you utter the word "sovereign" or its variations, I'd be VERY HAPPY
38 times...wow. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 06:57:57
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Prince, the word "sovereign" is a cardinal pillar in PDOIS's overall development and governance objectives.
That is why they keep the emphasis that they do not want to govern a people who are not sovereign. That is why they also belabor all the fundamental characteristics that are necessary to make one a sovereign citizen.
This is also a fundamental requirement that will cultivate and consolidate a culture of democratic dispensation, that will not only give a voice to every citizen, but also jealously safeguard that voice against infringement.
Therefore, the word "sovereign" is very important, and I strongly believe that PDOIS is proud to take ownership of it.
*
Nyari, PDOIS has lost the Wuli bye-elections, and I don't think the UDP would have won it either had they contested for it. This is just the reality of the political situation at the moment.
I wont be surprised either if the Presidential elections should follow the same trend; however, there is the possibility of a big upset as there is a sense of muted anger, and quiet resignation that nobody knows what that might translate into. We have to wait and see.
The third republic is going to evolve; how it is going to evolve will depend to a large extend on the internal contradictions, and how those contradictions can be managed and guided. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 10:03:08
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
quote:
Originally posted by Prince
TLDR, but seriously if you guys would start giving me a dollar every time you utter the word "sovereign" or its variations, I'd be VERY HAPPY
38 times...wow.
THEY WILL NEVER WAKE UP AS ITS UTTERED OVER MILLION TIMES SURELY PRINCE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN A MILLIONAIRE |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 11:18:03
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Rene, clam down. I was only just merely reporting. UDP did not campaign for your guy but our hearts were with him since he was an opposition candidate.
There was no direct support for him though thanks to Halifa Sallah's intrasigence.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 13:51:55
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HOPE RENE WILL COMMENT FURTHER FOR NYARIKANGBANNA ABOVE
HOWEVER WHY ARE YOU (NYARIKANGBANNA) DECEPTIVE AND DO ALWAYS DISPLAY HATE FOR HALIFA SALLAH WHAT DOES YOUR COMMENTS HAS TO DO WITH THIS PRESS RELEASE YOU AMONGST OTHERS ARE THE PROBLEM FOR ANY SET-BACKS OF OPPOSITION AND EMPOWERMENT OF JAMMEH/APRC BUT NOT HALIFA
WHAT "HALIFA'S INTRANSIGENCE"
REFER BACK ON FOROYAA'S CONCLUSION;
"The consolation is that the destiny of the Gambia lies in the hands of sovereign Gambians. Each of us has a contract with destiny. We could vote wisely and be voted for sincerely so that we could work together to be the architect of a destiny of liberty and prosperity to all or vote recklessly and be voted for insincerely and thus become the victims of a wretched destiny. The choice is ours. History will record our deeds. Posterity will be the judge. "
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Edited by - kobo on 29 Apr 2011 14:33:41 |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 15:07:58
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quote:
"Rene, clam down. I was only just merely reporting. UDP did not campaign for your guy but our hearts were with him since he was an opposition candidate.
There was no direct support for him though thanks to Halifa Sallah's intrasigence.
Thanks
Nyari, what UDP did and did not do is immaterial. The dynamics that determine the outcome of this bye-elections far outweighs whatever moral or direct support UDP could have given to any opposition candidate.
The ruling government was determined to keep that seat, and they did.
Regarding your insinuation that Halifa is intransigent; the long and short of the whole story is that Halifa or any of his compatriots, will never do what you guys wanted them to do. And understandably so for good reasons too.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 15:45:02
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Sankalanka AS ISSUES ON THIS TOPIC ARE VERY COMPLEX HOWEVER ATTENTION IS SHIFTED AND BLAME GAME SPECIFICALLY DIVERTED TO RECENT BY-ELECTIONS; THIS IS WHAT THE POINT NEWSPAPER SAYS; Yet another lesson for the opposition UNDER http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/yet-another-lesson-for-the-opposition
READ;
"Yet another lesson for the opposition
Africa » Gambia
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Wuli East bye-election results are once again another lesson to the opposition that they have no alternative but to unite, if they indeed expect to pose any credible challenge to the ruling APRC ahead of scheduled presidential, legislative and local government elections.
By now, the leadership of the UDP, NRP, NADD, GPDP and GMC must have realised that their division is not only an advantage to the APRC, but spells doom for any chances of them making it to State House.
If these results have not taught the opposition leadership any lessons, on what they should expect from the forthcoming presidential and National Assembly elections, then we wonder what else would.
However, it is quite re-assuring that the campaign and the elections went quite peacefully, without any noticeable hitches, and there is no doubt that everyone is hoping and praying that this is replicated in the forthcoming presidential elections.
When NADD was launched in May 2005 with a lot of fanfare, many members and supporters of the opposition were happy that they had finally found the formula to oust the APRC from power.
This much was alluded to by the NDAM leader in the interview with him carried this week by The Point.
However, when the split occurred some years back, many people felt quite despondent and so let down that they decided to take a holiday.
In any case, many supporters of the opposition today are in virtual disarray; utterly confused as to which of the opposition factions they should support - whether what is left of NADD or UDP or NRP.
With almost seven months to go before the next presidential elections, there is still no sign that the opposition is anywhere near forming an alliance to contest the elections.
Yet, considering the mistrust and animosity that exists between and among the leadership of the opposition in this country, it would be quite hard to imagine them ironing out their differences and coming together to fight the elections, in whatever form.
There are, indeed, those who believe that even if they succeed in forming an alliance, it would still be too late for it to make an impact, or for them to regain the momentum that they lost after the break-up of NADD.
Indeed, the APRC is, no doubt, quite happy with the present situation, when the opposition parties are not concentrating on working out a political strategy to defeat the APRC, but are instead expending their energy in trying to outwit each other.
Definitely, as things stand now, it is hard to see how such a divided opposition can defeat the APRC."
ALSO RELATED BANTABA GAMBIAN POLITICS TOPIC The Opposition Have Lost Credibility - Mbarodi UNDER http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10799
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Edited by - kobo on 29 Apr 2011 15:50:54 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 15:54:57
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| In terms of skills, qualifications and leadership, Halifa Salah is superior to any leader in Gambia. I thought it is obvious. No? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2011 : 15:58:28
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HISTORY WILL NOT JUDGE HALIFA ON ABOVE CRITERIA BUT AS A LEGEND |
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