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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Feb 2006 : 12:33:32
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PRESS RELEASE No. 4 FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT (NADD)
13th February 2006.
The Executive Committee of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) comprising the leaders who emerged from five political parties to constitute NADD has met on Monday 12th February 2006 to review the state of NADD and related issues that are breeding confusion among the populace. It is important for the people to note that trust in government or political parties is not to be based on individual likes and dislikes of each other, on the contrary, it is determined by the degree of commitment of stakeholders to clear fundamental objectives as well as the institutions and institutional processes which make a government or party viable.
The Executive Committee of NADD decided to review its Memorandum of Understanding and the Code of Conduct that its members had subscribed to. It maintains that NADD’s objectives as well as the institutions and institutional processes that are put in place to attain them are viable and intact. Hitherto NADD members had adhered to its Memorandum of Understanding and Code of Conduct up to the point of establishing procedures for the selection of a presidential candidate or flag bearer /standard bearer. Part III of the Memorandum of Understanding paragraph (8) states categorically that “The selection of the candidate of the Alliance for the presidential elections shall be done by consensus, provided that in the event of an impasse selection shall be done by holding a primary election restricted to party delegates comprising the chairman, chairwoman and youth leader of each party from each village/ward in the constituency.”
NADD has started the process of selecting a flag bearer through consensus. One method of reaching consensus was tried without success. The second method is yet to be fully applied. This method called for the establishment of a selection committee with representation from all shades of political opinion within NADD. The selection committee was mandated to draw up criteria for selection, take note of the names of people in the list for selection and proceed to guage the candidature of these persons in accordance with the set criteria. In order to promote consensus at the end of the exercise the selection committee recommended for those whose names were entered in the list to make a declaration that they would accept the verdict of the committee once it is made.
The criteria for the selection of a NADD presidential candidate by consensus are as follows:
1. We need a candidate that can win. We need someone who has a nationwide appeal.
2. We need someone who ‘can serve as a unifying factor for both the executive and the people.
3. We need a candidate that can tackle the APRC candidate very effectively in terms of strategy, tactics and style.
4. We need a solid rock who can withstand all weather, a bold person who can surmount all difficulties in order to achieve victory.
5. We need someone with experience and foresight, someone who has been exposed to politics in the Gambia and abroad.
6. We need a charismatic leader, someone who is very articulate and is capable of moving people, someone with good public relations.
7. We need someone who is reliable, with leadership qualities that transcend all ethnic and partisan influences.
8. We need someone with a high moral standing, someone with a clean record.
9. We need someone who can be trusted to be absolutely committed to the MOU in its entirety.
The selection process is on hold because not only have we failed to get a declaration from some quarters but have not received any new recommendation to quash the method that has been unanimously adopted. In the same vein proposal to go to the primaries has not been made.
Instead the Executive Committee became preoccupied with the attempt by a member of the Executive to resign from NADD while his original party remains a member of NADD the Alliance. The Executive Committee holds that NADD the Alliance is a by-product of the MOU and NADD the Party is a by-product of the Supreme Court decision; that NADD the Alliance and party became indissoluble unless the majority of parties withdraw from NADD the Alliance. In that case NADD the Alliance shall disappear and NADD shall be` run by its registered members. However to ensure the indissolubility of NADD the Alliance and NADD the Party the Executive Committee members had to declare their allegiance to NADD the party to ensure equal representation of all stakeholders. Consequently the Executive Committee has requested all members to explain the content of the MOU and the Code of Conduct to the executives of their original parties to prevent any distortion and misunderstanding regarding their conduct of political activities as long as they remain members of NADD.
Paragraph 2 of the Code of Conduct regarding the harmonization of principles, policies and coordination of activities among member parties states that “During the lifespan of NADD each member party shall regulate its activities to promote the objective of NADD and shall, at all times subordinate all its policies, programmes and activities to that of NADD.”
Paragraph 3 adds that “All member parties shall always be bound by the principle of good-faith in their dealings with each other, draw attention to any infringement of the Code of Conduct during meetings of the Executive Committees and maintain strict confidentiality in discussing differences to ensure their amicable settlement.” Hence the Executive Committee wishes to convey that it is not delayed by indecision, on the contrary, it is delayed by making attempts to get everybody on board so that NADD’s objectives shall be attained. All members were asked to be sincere to NADD by adhering to its Memorandum of Understanding and Code of Conduct or honourably distance oneself from NADD to allow other members to continue on the road that has already been paved.
The Executive Committee wishes to convey to all sympathisers and well wishers of NADD that it is not in disarray. The attempt by NADD to engage all its members in democratic debates in a frank and open manner should not be mistaken for indecisiveness; on the contrary, it is done to ensure that no member can abandon NADD and claim that a dictatorship was imposed on them. Party representatives have veto power in NADD and cannot be marginalized. Sincerity in not wanting to be seen as the stumbling block had enabled NADD to move forward to develop its institutions and institutional process on the basis of the principle of unanimity. The Executive Committee of NADD resolves that the method adopted to resolve contradictions and problems by putting all issues on the table and debate it out until the superior view stands is the best way of maintaining the integrity of NADD so that no member can ever question its openness and democratic characteristics. The Executive Committee members wish to reassure the people that they have not collectively departed from the Memorandum of Understanding, the Code of Conduct and Constitution of NADD. The Executive Committee maintains that registering NADD to be an umbrella party to contest the forth coming presidential elections is a requirement of both the MOU and the Constitution of the Republic. NADD is to get reassurance of loyalty from its members in the next meeting and proceed with the process of selecting a flag bearer.
Finally, the Executive Committee wishes to reassure the people that it will continue to maintain its sense of bearing, face all challenges in a calm and serene manner so as to build its pillars of integrity and earn the trust and confidence it deserves.
Issued by Executive Committee of NADD
Accountability for the press release
Coordinator Halifa Sallah
NADD Headquarter
30 Papa Sarr Street
Serrekunda
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Biraago
Gambia
173 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2006 : 00:43:03
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 No time to cry over spilled milk
I think the remaining NADD leadership now understand the will of the Gambian people, both at home and abroad and that the enormous support that they have recieved so far would give them more courage to continue to thrust the machine that would eventually dismantle the Jammeh/A(F)PRC dictatoeship once and for all.
Many geniunely patriotic Gambians are hungry to play their part without any unrealistic expectations to see through this phase of our national democratic transformation.
I appeal to all progressive Gambians to accept the new staus quo and move forward. We have been delayed for too long by the same people.
It is as important that we continue to be vigilant regarding the backward tibalist tendencies that has been lurking within our circles.
We should be talking about dislodging Jammeh alone. Our focus must be, the transformation of our very nature as humanbeings and the way we manage our collective affairs as a nation.
This is the begining of the end of nepotism, tribalism, fuedalism, dictatorship, self-honouring pettybourgois manipulationists, corruption, intolerance and the other ills sophocatimg our people.
It is the time for collective approach to our national development. The accommodation of all progressives inspite of the gape in our capabilities and ideological differences. These fundamental aspects of our progress should be handled with the intrest and love for the toiling masses.
Peaceful change should be our goal despite the very frank and though discussions we are engaged in.
The NADD members of the National Asembly should now take up the question of second round of voting in any elections. This is the time to cahellenge the Jammeh/A(F)PRC dictatorship on their attempt to manipulative the electorate. In this way, the NADD resignee would also face the tune of his own druming.
The outstaning issues regaurding the political-criminal cases against honourable citizens should taken up in this era of euphoria.
The grassroot activist must be given more say in all dicission making NADD in engaged in so as to avoid developing an elite oriented Alliance.
We commend the new culture of transparency and openess but try to do more in that field. People would alway speculate when the leadership is silent.
The current process has exposed the A(F)PRC and any other concoction that an leaders of organisations are choosen through merit and not dictates. That the organisations importance reigns supreme to any individual member or leader.
We shall not return to the stone-age fanfare personal mystification politics that some people are used to.
I hope that the rest of the UPD and NRP member continue to work with NADD for a cohesive and democratic Gambia.
I would like to commend the independent media. They have shown that they are true partners in the struggle for peace, democray and development. They have shown maturity i8nspite of all the errors commited in this new expirience. Jammeh should learn from them a bit or two about tolerance, non-censureship of ideas and democratic media repoting.
No more grieve but the gathering of all strength to move forward. |
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