 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11733 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Feb 2006 : 20:27:25
|
Interview With Halifa Sallah On NADD And The Reported Split
FOROYAA: People are trying to understand what is happening to NADD. Can you help?
HALIFA: What is happening is simple. People have been putting pressure on NADD to select a flag bearer. The Executive Committee decided to put that on its agenda. As far as the Memorandum of Understanding is concerned, the flag bearer should be selected through consensus or through a primary.
There is no procedure on how consensus could be arrived at. The procedure however could be established by a simple majority vote. The first attempt at consensus was to nominate potential flag bearers and try to arrive at a consensus through voting. This created an impasse.
This method was abandoned. A second method was unanimously agreed upon. A Committee for Selection comprising all the political shades was established. It was mandated to introduce criteria for selection of a flag bearer. The criteria had been unanimously agreed upon. Selection should have proceeded but the Committee for Selection indicated that consensus can best be built if the persons placed in the list made a declaration to abide by the decision of the committee. The meeting adjourned to enable the persons whose names were on the list to engage in consultation.
At a subsequent meeting to discuss the results of the consultative exercise. It was at this point that Mr. Darboe tendered his resignation from NADD. Volunteers in the committee decided to engage him to promote unity.
He was asked to withhold the submission of the letter of resignation to the IEC pending the consultative exercise. Prior to any meeting being convened, President Obasanjo visited the Gambia to enable the governing party and the Opposition to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to undertake to respect a Code of Conduct. NADD represented the five political parties who constituted the alliance. Only NCP and GPDP representatives signed on behalf of their parties. The presence of Mr. Darboe as part of the NADD delegation gave the impression that the consultative exercise would bear fruit.
However the Kairaba meeting was followed by a press conference convened by Mr. Darboe to announce his resignation from NADD and promise to reapply for membership to the UDP. He added that a rally would be held and mentioned that Mr. Hamat Bah would be present.
FOROYAA: The rally has taken place and Mr. Darboe and Mr. Bah have declared a UDP/NRP Alliance where does that leave NADD?
HALIFA: NADD has to hold a meeting to examine the developments and take a position.
FOROYAA: After the declaration of a UDP/NRP Alliance can one still talk about their membership in NADD? There is already a split in NADD?
HALIFA: Every thing must be put in its proper context. The resignation of Mr. Darboe from the NADD Executive cannot be equated with the withdrawal of UDP from NADD.
FOROYAA: You need to convince many readers.
HALIFA: You see, there is NADD, the Alliance registered as a political party. The Alliance has both the characteristics of a party and Alliance at the same time. As an alliance all political parties have been equally represented at the Executive Committee.
When NADD was registered the matter finally went to court. The court decided that if any person has registered as a member of NADD one must be seen as belonging to two parties. To ensure that the characteristics of NADD as an Alliance and a party remain, some members of the Executive committee decided to technically resign from their original parties to remain members of NADD. The original parties also continued to adhere to the MOU establishing the Alliance. The members of the Executive Committee continued to make decisions in liaison with the parties they originated from. This mechanism operated smoothly until Mr. Darboe decided to resign and start UDP activities. The equation has changed and in order to be honest to the public, the NADD Executive would have to meet to discuss the development and come up with a press release to clarify issues.
FOROYAA: Does this mean that the selection of a flag bearer is now out of the agenda?
HALIFA: The consensus principle is still being pursued. The primary is also an option. There is a delay, but there is no crumbling of NADD. THE UDP and NRP representatives are still active in the NADD Executive. Sooner or later the truth must be told to the people. It is a matter of time for everything to be clear and for NADD to move forward.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 20:34:29
|
In his resignation letter Darboe gave two basic reasons for defecting from NADD . The first one is that NADD has been transformed into a political party following the Supreme Court ruling he cited in the letter . Darboe seems to indicate that the MOU that maintains the existence of separate and individual parties under NADD has become defective by the Supreme Court ruling and that it is legitimate to set the MOU aside . This seems to be a legal technicality and he may be right . The second reason is that there is lack of trust among the leadership of NADD. The so-called '' human frailties '' that convinced him that NADD is not for Ousainou Darboe . It would be good if Darboe give details , because frankly I don 't really think anyone knows what he means exactly .
Nevertheless , it seems to me that Darboe exalts his narrow self interest in UDP to the broader national interest vested in NADD. My understanding is that NADD is a temporary alliance to achieve a specific short term goal of providing a level playing field against APRC this coming presidential election . That is why I think it does not really matter who become the flagbearer , because his role is transitional and dead-ended .
Darboe also claimed to favor political pluralism to a political merger, yet his alliance with Hamat Bah to bring UDP and NRP together contradicts that .
Darboe needs to understand that the Gambian people would support him if choosen the flagbearer of NADD even though a lot of us did not support him under UDP .That is the kind of compromise and alliance NADD represents .Since the inception of UDP Darboe always campaigned on a platform of a "restorationist" , often contrasting Jammeh 's regime to that of Sir Dawda and PPP. So what is the contention between Darboe and Omar Jallow ? What is the so-called "human frailties " he is alluding to ? I would have been very understanding if his disagreements were with PDOIS , but even he aknowledged his respect for Sedia Jatta , particularly . My personal opinion is that Halifa , Sedia and Sam Sarr are very exemplary personalities in their unflinching selflessness and dedicated service to the Gambian people .
Since Darboe and Bah 's departure from NADD are individual decisions separate from UDP and NRP , I hope these parties just like any political party in the Gambia do not succumb to father-figures and select leaders who represent their aspirations and the aspirations of the Gambian people . I am sure both UDP and NRP will be just good without Darboe and Bah .
I do not want to end this without saying a few things about the present regime in the Gambia . I have to acknowledge that Jammeh is doing a good job in some areas . I can list several areas of developments that are commendable . Perhaps if the human rights area is improved and a term limit for the presidency the Chairman will leave a huge landmark on the Gambian political landscape .
|
 |
|
|
blackerberry2004
69 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2006 : 21:38:32
|
Kayjatta,
Thanks for the wonderful piece above. You took the words right out of my mind (except for the last paragraph)! Darboe and Amat need to rejoin NADD. There is doubt that Yaya could be defeated by having this so called "pluralist" election environment. This upcoming election is like a referendum where people would be asked to vote for or against Yaya. Being attuned to what is going on in Gambia, Yaya has become increasingly unpopular but not enough to trail behind the two most relevant opposition parties, UDP/NRP and NADD. So this underscores the need for one formidable opposition party. |
|
|
|
Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2006 : 00:03:41
|
Good Brothers,
Hey can somebody enlighten me Is OJ really chosen as NADD flagbearer as alledged by Dr.Sain?
If so then Halifa according to his interview with the Foroya news paper is trying to hide something from the people or if not true then why would Dr. Saine try to confuse many readers?
Let me come to Darboe and Hamat,Well I personally called Darboe and WQhat I told him was He has to come back to Nadd and allow negociations to take place.Gambia doesnot belong to Darboe or Hamat.If they are wrong to quit Nadd, well the electorates should not vote 4 them.
I have only the Gambia and nothing else and I am not supporting any body but the Gambia.Even if Jammeh allows Human rights,true democracy and wiped out rampant curroption and brings himself b4 an impartial commossion of enquiry as to how he got his millions and comes out clean, I shall support him.
Darboe has already made a head way 4 APRC and I think 4 the remaining executive members of the UDP to remain in Nadd,They have to be commited to that principle and not to side with their party leader 4 I think the decision was wrong and I did told Him.The Gambia is more than an individual and when He decided to Join politics,He has acepted to strive 4 the people and restore democracy.
Though He has His side of the story which I cannot put on this Web.,I still think He too commited 4 that to witdrew at this crutial period thus leaving the opposition in limbo as to whether to vote Udp or vote NADD?
Please 4 the sake of the Gambia, Please come back You got to.
Any body close to Darboe and Hamat must join their effort to bring them back to the table.We all know what is croaking behind but first we must see the Gambia and nothing else.I will vote 4 Nadd who ever is selected it flagbearer even if he/she is blind as long as He/She is Gambian because I will only vote 4 the Gambia.
So lets all go home when the time comes to vote I think this will help NADD more than writting on the web.The veb is not the token and cannot be counted on election day.All of you contributing if you have NADD at heart and not just writtting 4 the sake of it, Go home and register.I shall vote by god's grace and even Yaya Jammeh knows I shall vote for Nadd 4 I was present at the launching ceremony at Buffer Zone--Talinding.If you are comitted be ready to sacrifice 4 it.I b lief we cannot all be killed and there are people who face the might they need us so let us not fail them.
I am NADD and NADD I shall be .....AS LONG AS NADD KEEPS ITS DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND DOES NOT IN ONE LINE DEVIATES FROM IT....(This has to be clear to every body)...4 I don't want to leave Nadd but I also don't want Nadd to leave me...I SEE MYSELF AS CARRYING THE WHOLE GAMBIA.
peace and love
Mankajang Janyanfara. |
|
|
|
Biraago
Gambia
173 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 20:18:51
|
NADD standard bearer selection
It is unfortunate that many compatriots are not in the clear on this subject. The contribution of Abdoulie Saine and the lack of direct clearification on this particular point from the NADD leadership have left many in limbo.
Unofficially, I would like to venture to explain the issu at hand.
Mr Saine was commenting at a particular given time, which does not mean that his analyses are still valid.
NADD was engaged in the first stage of the select and election process to come out with a standard bearer. Omar Jallow was nominated and seconded, Halifa Sallah was also nominated and seconded and Ousainou Darboe was nominated but not seconded. Both Halifa and Ousainou Darboe withdrew their candidature at this juncture.
The first option for the parties, abiding by the MOU, is to agree on a Standard bearer by concensus.
If there had been a concensus, then they would have proclaimed O J as the sole candidate and proceeded to electing him according to the MOU.
Unfortunately, for some reason, their was an objection to the proceedure and it’s results and this lead to the suspension and later the cancellation of this first option. Meaning that NOONE was officially elected in this first attemp.
The second option was the selection of a Selection committee that came out with guidelines stipulating the criterias of the standard bearer. It was under this period that the commotion occurred. The UDP was represented by Kemeseng Jameh and Yahya Jallow at the meeting and not Ousainou and the group now are to scrutinize to recommendations of the select committee and agree to them by concensus before moveing ahead to either select one of the aspirants or to conduct primaries by giving the opprotunity to grassroot members of the parties making up the Alliance (the chairwomen, the chairmen and the youth leaders of the various local branches).
The leadership should now let it be known to the people, if the same aspirants are still on the list or not. This point I cannot claim to have the answer to.
The confusion that is facing everyone at the moment and particularly the members and supporters of the UDP and NRP is the declaration of resignation by Ousainou Darboe (yet he uses the technicality that he is a member of the NADD Alliance as agreed in the MOU but not the NADD party which was registered do to constitutional flaw that does not provide for an Alliance to fill in candidates for election but only parties).
Furthermore, Ousainou Darboe and Hamat Bah declared that an Aliance between the UDP and NRP is in the making and Hamat Bah said that he is behind Ousainou Darboe as the leader of the new Alliance. After making a review of the situation, NADD asked all the partt representatives to go back to their original parties for consultation and come with a clarification of the position of each and every party. They also decleared that all the five parties are still official members of NADD.
Kemeseng Jammeh decleared that he is still a member of NADD. That he was elected at the last by-election together with Halifa and Sidia on a NADD ticket. He is still one of the representatives of the UDP in NADD together with Yahya Jallow.
This is where we stand at the moment.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
