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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Mar 2007 : 13:40:21
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LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
Awareness And Organisation Are The Tools For The Attainment Of Dignity, Liberty And Prosperity
Compatriots, in our meeting to decide the fate of NADD after the National Assembly elections, I gave a summary of my view on the elections and my opinion on the need to keep the office of flag bearer vacant until two years before a presidential election, so that popular consent through a primary will be a basis of determining candidature.
The objective of my summary on the way forward was designed to enable us to come to a speedy decision in order to address the concerns of our activists. I, however, promised to submit a comprehensive analysis at a subsequent date.
Herein lies the reason for conveying of this memorandum to you which shall be submitted to the press so that our activists in particular and the people, as a whole, will have access to its contents in order to excite a national debate on the political future of our dear motherland.
I must say that, when I learnt of the results of the National Assembly elections, which were preceded by an acquisition of 6% of the votes in the presidential elections, my heart summoned me to call it a day.
However, when my wish was placed before the judgment seat of my mind, it intimated that the present generation has the responsibility to hand over to the future generation a better society than it inherited from its predecessors. It intimated further that where few who have access to abundance have the strength to turn their back at privileges to subordinate their hearts, minds and every aspect of their very being to the mission of emancipating their people, to give up before the mission is achieved, is neither a sign of prudence or a manifestation of virtue. My conscience therefore rebelled against my heart and now dictates that I remain not at the head, for it is not the divine right of anyone to be a leader for life in a democratic society, but to become part and parcel of the process of building a membership and collective leadership that would be able to respond to the call of national duty in order to carve an enlightened, free and prosperous destiny.
The Executive and membership of NADD have one of two options. They may put NADD on ice and proceed to build the structures of their original parties or restructure NADD, build its financial, diplomatic, knowledge and membership base in villages, regions and population centres so that through periodic workshops and seminars and annual congresses its principles, policies, programmes and practices or method of work will be shaped by and known to all its activists. Such an enlightened and organised membership alone or in collaboration with the membership of other opposition Alliances may utilize the service of the Independent Electoral Commission to hold primaries to select a presidential candidate by popular consent two years before the 2011 presidential elections. If such an agenda is adopted, all those who have the zeal to be a presidential candidate to liberate the people, especially women aspirants, would prepare themselves for such primaries.
Suffice it to say, the annual congresses up to 2010 will provide the general membership with the opportunity to scrutinize the operation of the Alliance and the performance of all those who handle leadership positions so as to assign fitting roles and responsibilities to each.
Compatriots, political and historical science teaches us that no society can change for the better without awareness and organisation. Change agents must be the embodiment of awareness and organizational capacity. NADD activists must therefore be aware and organised. The nurturing of such a membership impose new demands on the member parties of NADD and their general membership who are affiliated to NADD. It calls for a restructuring of a mammoth scale.
Suffice it to say, the successful engineering of such restructuring is inconceivable without the full appreciation and acknowledgement of NADD's obstacles, shortcomings and achievements.
In my view, a balanced view is not to dwell exclusively on the obstacles and shortcomings or the achievements. To take a one sided view of the obstacles and shortcomings will lead to fatalism and despair. A political void or chasm emerges which no one can fill. Society therefore recedes into the old proverbial catch phrase, where the controllers of power become the proverbial cat and the opponent becomes the proverbial mice who blame each other continuously and turn to each other invariably and ask before every election "who will bell the cat."
On the other hand, to dwell on the achievements alone will lead to the overlooking of individual and collective shortcomings and promote self righteousness and the building of "castles in the air" In this situation, one looks for faults We end up finding faults to blame others instead of diagnosing illness in order to cure it.
Compatriots, the 21st Century is not waiting for the writers of history. They invariably must follow events. Each century can only be shaped by the makers of history, that is, those who are ready to utilize their collective intelligence to guide their creative hands to build a collective destiny of liberty, dignity and prosperity.
This is therefore the time for sober thinking. It is time for realism.
It is incontrovertible that NADD is a definite entity with its nature and characteristics. It has principles, policies, programmes and practices. It has aims and objectives. It has a leadership and activists. NADD can neither be equated with any individual party comprising the alliance nor with the sum total of the different parties. Obstacles, shortcomings and achievements can only be identified if we gauge practices and results against principles, policies, programmes, objectives and targeted goals. Personality analysis and traits help us very little in grasping the facts. It may even lead us astray to mistake the forest for the individual trees. It may lead us to substitute fiction for facts.
On the other hand, when practices and results are weighed against identified goals, the factors which enhance achievements will be identified and the commissions and omissions which create hinderances will be laid bare. This is precisely the task of this memorandum.
Compatriots, in my campaign in both the presidential and National Assembly elections, I had stipulated in no uncertain terms that Nationhood is epitomized by the existence of a united people thriving in a state of liberty and prosperity. Where unity is trammeled, liberty trampled and prosperity stifled Nationhood must become the casualty.
I left no stone unturned in emphasizing that he or she who is likely to be adamantly unwilling to entrust D100 (one hundred dalasis) to a relative who is a crook but would entrust a whole nation to another on the basis of tribal affirmity alone is yet to be conscious of the value of Nationhood.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 32/2007, 19 - 20 March 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2007 : 19:20:28
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Nadd seems to be a bunch of High School boys on a school trip, taking unquestionable instructions from a head teacher. This is worst that dictatorship. Why can't other voices be heard too. Oh I know why? It is because the supressing effect of the Ayatollah's arrogance has deprived them of a voice and yet they can't leave because of fear of damaging their personal prides. What a shame!
God save the Gambia |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 20 Mar 2007 : 19:20:28
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Nadd seems to be a bunch of High School boys on a school trip, taking unquestionable instructions from a head teacher. This is worst that dictatorship. Why can't other voices be heard too. Oh I know why? It is because the supressing effect of the Ayatollah's arrogance has deprived them of a voice and yet they can't leave because of fear of damaging their personal prides. What a shame!
God save the Gambia |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2007 : 23:53:30
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LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
Continued from Last Issue
I made it abundantly clear that no passport or identity card exist in The Gambia that is designed specifically for Mandinkas, Fulas, Wolofs, Jolas, Serehules, Akus or those who classify themselves as members of tribes, in general. What exist are a National Passport and a National Identity Card. To focus minds on the importance of National Identity, I risked oversimplifying my message by asking people whether they pay taxes and duties into tribal treasuries. The lessons were further driven by asking whether the monies paid are utilized to build schools, hospitals, roads and render other social services to strictly benefit members of specific tribes. The people never hesitated to respond in the negative.
Once the question of National Identity was put to the fore I went further to buttress our common and equal ownership of the country which is embodied in the concept of one person one vote.
I took time to explain to them that it is that common ownership of the country which makes it obligatory for them to have equal say in determining how the country is administered. The possession of this will power to say how the affairs of the country are to be managed, is what gave rise to the constitutional dictum that “The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia.” I emphasize that to be conscious of ones national Identity is to be cognizant of one’s possession of a “will power” and voice to say who should manage the affairs of this country. This awareness that one possesses a National will power and a voice that are equal in measure to that of all other nationals is what makes each Gambian a custodian of the sovereignty and independence of the country.
Compatriots, I emphasized to them that no single Gambian has any personal power that was superior to the other; that the power exercised by members of the executive, legislature or judiciary are entrusted to each to serve the common interest. I conveyed the content of section 1 subsection 2 of the constitution in our various languages. It states categorically that “The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of government are to be exercised.”
I stressed the point that power belongs to the people; that the authority of the president and the legislators are supposed to be derived from the expression of the will of the people. It was made clear that it is mandatory for all those entrusted with the power of the people to exercise it to promote their general welfare including the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms and enhancing their prosperity. It was made evident that only a people who are conscious of their sovereign powers and are determined to exercise their sovereign will power freely to put public trustees in the office of president and legislators should expect them to be sensitive to and work tirelessly to promote their general welfare and prosperity. I further argued that a people whose will are bound by thousands and one chains of inducement and intimidation cannot express it freely. Such people cannot he a sovereign people. It was put in the most unequivocal terms that, as long as people continue to submit to prejudices of tribe, intimidation and inducement of what ever design or form, the country will continue to be a sovereign nation without a sovereign people. A crisis of identity would lead to a clash of loyalties, parochial sentiments and interests. Ultimately, the national interest as chambered in the pursuit of social cohesion or unity, liberty, dignity, prosperity, that is the general welfare, shall be the casualty.
It was therefore made evident that the creation of a society that can guarantee the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people is irretrievably linked to the free exercise of will and power to make informed choice. Those who failed to exercise such choice mortgage their future and the future of their children to a destiny of poverty and degradation.. I did not only stop at using the best traditions in our languages to empower the people through fables and proverbs, I went further to concretely explain the functions of the executive and the legislature.
I inferred that if the country is taken as a bread basket, the role of the executive is to ensure that our material and human resources are put to work to replenish the basket so that each can reap his or her fair share in investment or employment. I have explained it, in not uncertain terms, that it was the duty of the executive to translate policies into action plans; plans into programme ; programmes in projects that could to address the multifarious developmental needs of the country. I told them that if there is hunger in the country they should ask the person they have put in charge of their National bread basket. In the same vein, it was indicated to them that responsibility without accountability provides a fertile ground for abuse of office and misrepresentation and impunity in governance; that the principles of best practice in managing the affairs of a sovereign people dictates that power given to one organ of the state should be subjected to scrutiny by another organ of the state.
I emphasized that the National Assembly is created to scrutinize the way the executive and its Departments Manage the affairs of the country and restrain them from abuse of office or misrepresentation by exposing what is going wrong and indicating how to right it. I indicated that the National Assembly member must be able to analyse bills, international agreements, policies and programmes, as well as evaluate projects to be able to make a meaningful contribution to national development. Our platform for the National Assembly election sought to help the people to see the distinctions between the roles of the executive, the national assembly and the councils. The candidates who opposed me sought to blur the distinct functions to bar the electorate from making informed choices.
It is important to give you a graphic of the campaign trail, the issues raised by my opponents; the views I express to respond to their positions, the reactions of the electorate and what was responsible for the ultimate outcome. This should enable us to weigh initiatives against results; gauge the whole performance of NADD, in light of the objectives that gave birth to it and map out a way forward. In this way, I will be able to situate my role in aiding the democratic revolution forward so as to usher in an empowered generation, fully capable and committed to take charge of their destiny.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 33/2007, 21 – 22 March 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 21 Mar 2007 : 23:53:30
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LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
Continued from Last Issue
I made it abundantly clear that no passport or identity card exist in The Gambia that is designed specifically for Mandinkas, Fulas, Wolofs, Jolas, Serehules, Akus or those who classify themselves as members of tribes, in general. What exist are a National Passport and a National Identity Card. To focus minds on the importance of National Identity, I risked oversimplifying my message by asking people whether they pay taxes and duties into tribal treasuries. The lessons were further driven by asking whether the monies paid are utilized to build schools, hospitals, roads and render other social services to strictly benefit members of specific tribes. The people never hesitated to respond in the negative.
Once the question of National Identity was put to the fore I went further to buttress our common and equal ownership of the country which is embodied in the concept of one person one vote.
I took time to explain to them that it is that common ownership of the country which makes it obligatory for them to have equal say in determining how the country is administered. The possession of this will power to say how the affairs of the country are to be managed, is what gave rise to the constitutional dictum that “The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia.” I emphasize that to be conscious of ones national Identity is to be cognizant of one’s possession of a “will power” and voice to say who should manage the affairs of this country. This awareness that one possesses a National will power and a voice that are equal in measure to that of all other nationals is what makes each Gambian a custodian of the sovereignty and independence of the country.
Compatriots, I emphasized to them that no single Gambian has any personal power that was superior to the other; that the power exercised by members of the executive, legislature or judiciary are entrusted to each to serve the common interest. I conveyed the content of section 1 subsection 2 of the constitution in our various languages. It states categorically that “The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of government are to be exercised.”
I stressed the point that power belongs to the people; that the authority of the president and the legislators are supposed to be derived from the expression of the will of the people. It was made clear that it is mandatory for all those entrusted with the power of the people to exercise it to promote their general welfare including the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms and enhancing their prosperity. It was made evident that only a people who are conscious of their sovereign powers and are determined to exercise their sovereign will power freely to put public trustees in the office of president and legislators should expect them to be sensitive to and work tirelessly to promote their general welfare and prosperity. I further argued that a people whose will are bound by thousands and one chains of inducement and intimidation cannot express it freely. Such people cannot he a sovereign people. It was put in the most unequivocal terms that, as long as people continue to submit to prejudices of tribe, intimidation and inducement of what ever design or form, the country will continue to be a sovereign nation without a sovereign people. A crisis of identity would lead to a clash of loyalties, parochial sentiments and interests. Ultimately, the national interest as chambered in the pursuit of social cohesion or unity, liberty, dignity, prosperity, that is the general welfare, shall be the casualty.
It was therefore made evident that the creation of a society that can guarantee the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people is irretrievably linked to the free exercise of will and power to make informed choice. Those who failed to exercise such choice mortgage their future and the future of their children to a destiny of poverty and degradation.. I did not only stop at using the best traditions in our languages to empower the people through fables and proverbs, I went further to concretely explain the functions of the executive and the legislature.
I inferred that if the country is taken as a bread basket, the role of the executive is to ensure that our material and human resources are put to work to replenish the basket so that each can reap his or her fair share in investment or employment. I have explained it, in not uncertain terms, that it was the duty of the executive to translate policies into action plans; plans into programme ; programmes in projects that could to address the multifarious developmental needs of the country. I told them that if there is hunger in the country they should ask the person they have put in charge of their National bread basket. In the same vein, it was indicated to them that responsibility without accountability provides a fertile ground for abuse of office and misrepresentation and impunity in governance; that the principles of best practice in managing the affairs of a sovereign people dictates that power given to one organ of the state should be subjected to scrutiny by another organ of the state.
I emphasized that the National Assembly is created to scrutinize the way the executive and its Departments Manage the affairs of the country and restrain them from abuse of office or misrepresentation by exposing what is going wrong and indicating how to right it. I indicated that the National Assembly member must be able to analyse bills, international agreements, policies and programmes, as well as evaluate projects to be able to make a meaningful contribution to national development. Our platform for the National Assembly election sought to help the people to see the distinctions between the roles of the executive, the national assembly and the councils. The candidates who opposed me sought to blur the distinct functions to bar the electorate from making informed choices.
It is important to give you a graphic of the campaign trail, the issues raised by my opponents; the views I express to respond to their positions, the reactions of the electorate and what was responsible for the ultimate outcome. This should enable us to weigh initiatives against results; gauge the whole performance of NADD, in light of the objectives that gave birth to it and map out a way forward. In this way, I will be able to situate my role in aiding the democratic revolution forward so as to usher in an empowered generation, fully capable and committed to take charge of their destiny.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 33/2007, 21 – 22 March 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2007 : 11:27:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
Nadd seems to be a bunch of High School boys on a school trip, taking unquestionable instructions from a head teacher. This is worst that dictatorship. Why can't other voices be heard too. Oh I know why? It is because the supressing effect of the Ayatollah's arrogance has deprived them of a voice and yet they can't leave because of fear of damaging their personal prides. What a shame!
God save the Gambia
Nyarinkangbana! Its absolutely non-sense and I totally dis-agree with your views. NADD was created as a SOLUTION TO A POLITICAL CRISES AT HOME BY STGP to improve GAMBIAN DEMOCRACY.
NADD is not a Party-led alliance but a STRATEGIG ALLIANCE TO MOBILSE ALL THE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES OF OPPOSITION PARTIES.
Greed, power struggles and undermining of efforts made them saw failures, dis-orientation and DISGRACE
God bless The Gambia |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2007 : 11:27:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
Nadd seems to be a bunch of High School boys on a school trip, taking unquestionable instructions from a head teacher. This is worst that dictatorship. Why can't other voices be heard too. Oh I know why? It is because the supressing effect of the Ayatollah's arrogance has deprived them of a voice and yet they can't leave because of fear of damaging their personal prides. What a shame!
God save the Gambia
Nyarinkangbana! Its absolutely non-sense and I totally dis-agree with your views. NADD was created as a SOLUTION TO A POLITICAL CRISES AT HOME BY STGP to improve GAMBIAN DEMOCRACY.
NADD is not a Party-led alliance but a STRATEGIG ALLIANCE TO MOBILSE ALL THE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES OF OPPOSITION PARTIES.
Greed, power struggles and undermining of efforts made them saw failures, dis-orientation and DISGRACE
God bless The Gambia |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 15:23:37
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LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
Contd from Last Issue
Allow me now to focus on the various forces at work during the 2007 National Assembly elections.
The scene at the Borehole on the eve of the 25th January 2007 polls is instructive. This is one development which confirms that the Gambia is in urgent need of a democratic revolution. Without this democratic transformation of our culture, people and nation, we shall have our back turned at the 21st century and would steadily march towards the era of the “Mansas,” or Kings of bygone years.
What do I mean to be precise?
Just before midnight, over twenty women assembled at the Borehole. They crawled on the sand like toddlers building sand mounds. After each sand mound, they would chorus some chants and then place a tree branch in the middle. They did this for over 100 meters towards the Borehole bridge. Once they completed this phase of their ceremony, they came back to where our drivers parked their transports. This is when the most disgraceful part of the ceremony started. These elderly women said something and then exposed their buttocks in unison. This was done several times.
Compatriots, what type of thinking is in the minds of these women? Common sense teaches us that those who plant stones cannot reap groundnuts. It is equally evident that no cashier dares to face a judge and then claim that the fraud he/she is accused of emanated from the disappearance of money from the safe because of the handiwork of a magician. Despite this elementary truth, these women believed that by their sand mounds, incantations and exposure of their buttocks they can make me to lose an election. All of us pay lip service to the notion that human beings are embodiment of dignity, worth and conscience; that democracy entails the possession of political will by each member of society which is expressed in equal measure to determine popular representation on the basis of consent. Where in lies the dignity, worth and conscience of a woman who crawls on the ground and expose her private parts with the mistaken notion that she is to influencing others to do what she wants against their will?
Our primary task, therefore, is to combat this stultifying notion that people can be made to win or lose elections through magical interventions. In the struggle against harmful traditional practices, we should add the struggle against shameful and undemocratic traditional practices. This is a fundamental task of the democratic revolution. We must ensure that people own their minds and are resolved in exercising their will without fear or favour, affection or ill will to chart their own destiny.
Suffice it to say, I must bring to your notice that I utilized all wisdom that I could command to combat this culture of mystification of the voting system.
I emphasised that those who claim that the leaders of the APRC regime have a divine right to rule are undermining the very foundation of democracy. I explained that democracy is about choice; that a country that is destined to guarantee liberty and prosperity to her citizenry must have a party in government and those in the opposition who are competing to outdo each other in providing enlightened leadership to the people. I indicated that there can be no choice without an alternative. It was made abundantly clear that a farmer who is given responsibility to separate good from rotten seeds would do his/her children great injustice if he were to plant the bad ones and then go to the mosque or church to pray to reap a bumper harvest.
I buttressed this point by telling the voters that the National Assembly member is a seed, that they should be very selective in the exercise of their discretion to elect their leaders; that they should be ready to accept responsibility for any hardship or deficit in liberty and prosperity if they select leaders that cannot address their needs and aspirations.
I quoted many verses from religious books to confirm that those who turn their back at truth when they see it are misrepresenting their facts; that only the truth can set people free irrespective of religious affiliation or philosophical orientation. I emphasised that the role of a religious leader is to counsel ones congregation to listen to what all the candidates had to say and pursue the truth. This is the way they can contribute to the raising of the awareness of the people. I explained that the religious leader is commanded to counsel one’s followers to do good and forgo evil deeds; that one cannot demonstrate faith in one’s conviction if one does not exercise free will in choosing to do good and to shun evil. In the same vein, democracy dictates that the sovereign person must makes a distinction between good governance and bad governance then make a choice of leader based on the type of ideas they promote.
I must further admit that the group that proved to be most unpredictable in the whole electoral equation are the youths. Special efforts were made to engage them. Cassettes of speeches I gave in Manchester, Father Farrell Hall and the Gambia College were circulated to vans or youth clubs. The excitement displayed by them was exceptional. This distribution of cassettes was linked to grass root meetings in strategic compounds. People in the neighbourhoods attended such meetings which gave us visibility and closeness to the electorate. This enabled me to deliver messages on a one to one basis. Young people followed our campaign team and extended invitation for special visits to raise awareness.
One may now ask: What changed the mentality of the youths and shift made them either to support the other candidates or abstained from voting in the elections?
The lesson became clear when a group of youths came to me to indicate that youth leaders were being infiltrated and promised the heaven and the earth. They explained that many young people have been asked to register their teams to become a part of a football tournament. They asked me to organise a football tournament of our own to counter the scheme of my opponents, organize musical programmes, provide food and green tea, occupy the youths for the whole campaign period and provide “Asobi” to the girls.
It was becoming increasingly clear to me that many of the young people were beginning to be moved by short term material and social benefits. I had the option of maintaining my hearing and nurture democratic minds so that they can make informed decisions or sink into the world of those who bargain votes for money or services. Even though, I had organised football tournaments before and had given countless number of football jerseys and other gears to the youth in the past. I was not ready to yield to the proposal that was a conditionality.
I had the option of becoming a National Assembly member based on the free expression of will by the electorate or bribe my way to a seat in parliament.
I began to utilize the story of the frog and the bird to drive my message to the young people to caution them of the danger of selling themselves into bondage for a poultry price. I told the young people in no uncertain terms that the only slave who deserves to be one is the person who has the free will to choose to live in liberty and prosperity or slavery and poverty and decides to accept to live in slavery and poverty for a petty price. I told them that I do not even want the vote of a youth who does not value his/her sovereign power. That such a youth cannot defend the sovereignty of the country and the continent and promote the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people.
History has therefore placed in out hands a fundamental task that must be performed if we are to build a democratic society where people are indeed in charge of their destiny. We must engage the youth of the country and make them think like owners of a country instead of behaving like beasts of burden who live in misery from the cradle to the grave. In order to achieve this goal they must be able to distinguish political functions from social functions.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 34/2007, 23 – 25 March 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 15:23:37
|
LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
Contd from Last Issue
Allow me now to focus on the various forces at work during the 2007 National Assembly elections.
The scene at the Borehole on the eve of the 25th January 2007 polls is instructive. This is one development which confirms that the Gambia is in urgent need of a democratic revolution. Without this democratic transformation of our culture, people and nation, we shall have our back turned at the 21st century and would steadily march towards the era of the “Mansas,” or Kings of bygone years.
What do I mean to be precise?
Just before midnight, over twenty women assembled at the Borehole. They crawled on the sand like toddlers building sand mounds. After each sand mound, they would chorus some chants and then place a tree branch in the middle. They did this for over 100 meters towards the Borehole bridge. Once they completed this phase of their ceremony, they came back to where our drivers parked their transports. This is when the most disgraceful part of the ceremony started. These elderly women said something and then exposed their buttocks in unison. This was done several times.
Compatriots, what type of thinking is in the minds of these women? Common sense teaches us that those who plant stones cannot reap groundnuts. It is equally evident that no cashier dares to face a judge and then claim that the fraud he/she is accused of emanated from the disappearance of money from the safe because of the handiwork of a magician. Despite this elementary truth, these women believed that by their sand mounds, incantations and exposure of their buttocks they can make me to lose an election. All of us pay lip service to the notion that human beings are embodiment of dignity, worth and conscience; that democracy entails the possession of political will by each member of society which is expressed in equal measure to determine popular representation on the basis of consent. Where in lies the dignity, worth and conscience of a woman who crawls on the ground and expose her private parts with the mistaken notion that she is to influencing others to do what she wants against their will?
Our primary task, therefore, is to combat this stultifying notion that people can be made to win or lose elections through magical interventions. In the struggle against harmful traditional practices, we should add the struggle against shameful and undemocratic traditional practices. This is a fundamental task of the democratic revolution. We must ensure that people own their minds and are resolved in exercising their will without fear or favour, affection or ill will to chart their own destiny.
Suffice it to say, I must bring to your notice that I utilized all wisdom that I could command to combat this culture of mystification of the voting system.
I emphasised that those who claim that the leaders of the APRC regime have a divine right to rule are undermining the very foundation of democracy. I explained that democracy is about choice; that a country that is destined to guarantee liberty and prosperity to her citizenry must have a party in government and those in the opposition who are competing to outdo each other in providing enlightened leadership to the people. I indicated that there can be no choice without an alternative. It was made abundantly clear that a farmer who is given responsibility to separate good from rotten seeds would do his/her children great injustice if he were to plant the bad ones and then go to the mosque or church to pray to reap a bumper harvest.
I buttressed this point by telling the voters that the National Assembly member is a seed, that they should be very selective in the exercise of their discretion to elect their leaders; that they should be ready to accept responsibility for any hardship or deficit in liberty and prosperity if they select leaders that cannot address their needs and aspirations.
I quoted many verses from religious books to confirm that those who turn their back at truth when they see it are misrepresenting their facts; that only the truth can set people free irrespective of religious affiliation or philosophical orientation. I emphasised that the role of a religious leader is to counsel ones congregation to listen to what all the candidates had to say and pursue the truth. This is the way they can contribute to the raising of the awareness of the people. I explained that the religious leader is commanded to counsel one’s followers to do good and forgo evil deeds; that one cannot demonstrate faith in one’s conviction if one does not exercise free will in choosing to do good and to shun evil. In the same vein, democracy dictates that the sovereign person must makes a distinction between good governance and bad governance then make a choice of leader based on the type of ideas they promote.
I must further admit that the group that proved to be most unpredictable in the whole electoral equation are the youths. Special efforts were made to engage them. Cassettes of speeches I gave in Manchester, Father Farrell Hall and the Gambia College were circulated to vans or youth clubs. The excitement displayed by them was exceptional. This distribution of cassettes was linked to grass root meetings in strategic compounds. People in the neighbourhoods attended such meetings which gave us visibility and closeness to the electorate. This enabled me to deliver messages on a one to one basis. Young people followed our campaign team and extended invitation for special visits to raise awareness.
One may now ask: What changed the mentality of the youths and shift made them either to support the other candidates or abstained from voting in the elections?
The lesson became clear when a group of youths came to me to indicate that youth leaders were being infiltrated and promised the heaven and the earth. They explained that many young people have been asked to register their teams to become a part of a football tournament. They asked me to organise a football tournament of our own to counter the scheme of my opponents, organize musical programmes, provide food and green tea, occupy the youths for the whole campaign period and provide “Asobi” to the girls.
It was becoming increasingly clear to me that many of the young people were beginning to be moved by short term material and social benefits. I had the option of maintaining my hearing and nurture democratic minds so that they can make informed decisions or sink into the world of those who bargain votes for money or services. Even though, I had organised football tournaments before and had given countless number of football jerseys and other gears to the youth in the past. I was not ready to yield to the proposal that was a conditionality.
I had the option of becoming a National Assembly member based on the free expression of will by the electorate or bribe my way to a seat in parliament.
I began to utilize the story of the frog and the bird to drive my message to the young people to caution them of the danger of selling themselves into bondage for a poultry price. I told the young people in no uncertain terms that the only slave who deserves to be one is the person who has the free will to choose to live in liberty and prosperity or slavery and poverty and decides to accept to live in slavery and poverty for a petty price. I told them that I do not even want the vote of a youth who does not value his/her sovereign power. That such a youth cannot defend the sovereignty of the country and the continent and promote the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people.
History has therefore placed in out hands a fundamental task that must be performed if we are to build a democratic society where people are indeed in charge of their destiny. We must engage the youth of the country and make them think like owners of a country instead of behaving like beasts of burden who live in misery from the cradle to the grave. In order to achieve this goal they must be able to distinguish political functions from social functions.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 34/2007, 23 – 25 March 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 16:07:11
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Halifa Sallah, my good friend, how about some spacing in these letters for easy swallowing.
 Keep the fire burning! |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 16:07:11
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Halifa Sallah, my good friend, how about some spacing in these letters for easy swallowing.
Keep the fire burning! |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 17:06:20
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| Hi Dalton, it’s one letter but published small pieces. It’s typical of Foroyaa when it is long articles. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 17:06:20
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| Hi Dalton, it’s one letter but published small pieces. It’s typical of Foroyaa when it is long articles. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 17:53:46
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Mawdo Momodou,
This is about too much within a short period of time. I just meant to tease on my elderly friend. He must be laughing when reading that thread. Thanks for ur rejoinder.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2007 : 17:53:46
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Mawdo Momodou,
This is about too much within a short period of time. I just meant to tease on my elderly friend. He must be laughing when reading that thread. Thanks for ur rejoinder.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2007 : 13:51:16
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LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH (Continued)
Compatriots, I dare say that if the young people of the Gambia conceive elections as a game of numbers and give their votes to the highest bidder, they are certain to mortgage their future to the vagaries of the gambling table. The pursuit of football, jerseys and dalasis staked in tournaments would dictate how votes are cast unless, our young people inculcate in their minds that the casting of a vote is the highest expression of the political will of a sovereign person, a will that should be asserted with honesty and clarity of mind by an incorruptible citizenry. Unless such political maturity is attained the future of this nation shall be immersed in doom and gloom.
Compatriots, apart from the young people, another group that is decisive in determining the outcome of elections in the constituency are the women. Their "hand to mouth" struggle for existence has compelled them to develop cooperative survival techniques which reinforce social and political obligations. The establishment of thrift savings and credit societies provide access to funds to invest in small scale enterprises. These funds are often accumulated from the daily, weekly or monthly contribution of members who receive the total sum contributed on a rotational basis. The group (compin) members tend to have influence on each other because of the culture of solidarity that emanates from rendering mutual support in financing naming, marriage and other ceremonies. Those with political interest often seek to influence the leaders of such groups so that they can exert pressure on the rest of their members to give blind support to certain political parties or political figures.
Six tendencies were evident among the women in Serrekunda Central Constituency. The first tendency was manifested by women who owned their minds and needed no one to dictate how they are to cast their votes. They do not entertain any form of intimidation or inducement. They even campaigned for me without being visible. I must say that a large portion of the votes I received came from such women who simply want effective and efficient representation. Many of them experienced shock when they heard the results. I came to identify many of them as a result of the expression of their grief after they heard the announcement. I could never have imagined that some of the characters who appeared could have been so interested in shaping the political life of the country.
Secondly, there were those women who have come to develop links with the Centre I established to serve the people, known as the People Centre at Papa Sarr Street.
The non partisan free computer training services, the education support programme to finance the fees of disadvantaged students, the revolving loan scheme financed by a deposit of more than 50% of my national assembly income into a bank to run an interest free and non profit micro finance scheme, the community support programme, the social organisations, the provision of recreational kits to children of the women, the provision of office space to the National Association of Disabled Youths and financial support to open up its bank account and meet travel cost to conduct radio programmes, the provision of a social clinic to counsel and serve as an interlocutor for the solution of labour, marital, inter generational problems, land, gratuity, rent, inheritance disputes, all combined to move many women to become politically active to safeguard the gains.
Thirdly, there were those women who had established themselves as the women leaders of the APRC who used to free themselves during National Assembly elections to vote for a person of their choice. Many of them have always been convinced that I could be an ideal representative. This time they were told that the President wanted the seat and those who break ranks would see the consequences. The weakness of many leaders of women groups is the fact that during registration, they rely on the Village heads or Alkali for attestation forms to influence many people to be registered. They keep register people whom they can control.
Since presidential elections and the national assembly elections do not take place simultaneously all the aspirants for the various seats usually exert their own influences on the various women groups. Each women group strives to have its choice selected so that they would have greater influences on the political process. This is what gives rise to boycotts by those whose choices are rejected. In this election, the impression was given that the victory of the APRC candidate will enable all groups or compin leaders to benefit. They were also made to believe that a defeat will be reprimanded. Hence in the 2007 National Assembly elections the women who are linked to the APRC camp continued to support the candidate while trying to draw the loyal group members on their side. Only the non visible members broke rank and either abstained or voted against the candidate because of dissatisfaction in the choice of candidature. One may wonder why APRC women groups would campaign for a candidate they may not want. The answer is simple. A close relative of mine who is an APRC supporter explained their state of mind in the clearest manner. She said to me "Halifa if you were president we will do things to sustain you in office than we can ever do for Jammeh." She indicated that the problem is that Jammeh is in power, that if they don't get close to the government the minority ethnic groups whom she referred to in a derogatory manner, would end up being more important than they are in their own city, that they cannot allow themselves to go through such people to get to ministers and other top government officials. It is therefore clear that some women would support any ruling party just to be closer to the decision makers. They would obey instructions just to remain in the good books even if they do not believe in what they are doing.
The fourth tendency is those women who have been politically linked to the UDP. Those linked to the UDP were simply informed that Halifa Sallah spoiled Ousainou Darboe's chance to be president, that he also must be deprived of his National Assembly seat. They claimed that Halifa Sallah has prejudices against members of the Mandinka tribal group.
The attempt to peddle these two indefensible views is what undermined the credibility of the UDP candidate in Serrekunda Central. Many of their credible supporters decided to stay away from their campaign. Some gave support to me while others who wanted me to lose supported the APRC candidate.
The fifth tendency was displayed by women who have been associated with the NCP. A number of them continued to support the UDP after the split between the leadership of the NCP and UDP. However, when they realised that the UDP would not be able to win the seat some gave me their support while others restored their traditional support for the NCP. The message from the NCP was very simple. They conveyed to their women that the party leader had sent word that all those who are interested in his welfare should vote for the APRC candidate.
Finally, the sixth tendency deals with women who still see themselves as migrants. Once they come into the country they usually have a long standing host who provide them with all the support to get residence. Since people can get voter's cards through attestations such people find it easy to get identity documents and voters cards. However, such women are always insecure. They are always under the dictates of their original host. They always stand the risk of being accused of obtaining identity cards through false pretence.
Infact, during the recent upsurge to get non Gambians to acquire what is referred to as alien identity card such people go through a lot of trauma for fear of being discovered. Voters of such a nature can never have a mind of their own. They can always be subjected to intimidation by those who helped them to get the voter's card.
I must say that one of the worst features of the past registration exercise is to allow people to get voters cards through attestation. Now that we have both the Presidential and National Assembly election behind us one service that I can perform to promote the democratic revolution in the Gambia is to add my voice in calling for electoral reform.
The Gambia government has accepted the decision of the African Commission on human and peoples rights to introduce street names and compound numbers and mention such addresses in the voters' cards of all successful applicants. For over a decade this has not been implemented. I will trace these documents and lay it before the Independent Electoral Commission for action. The reason why it is easy to escape scrutiny is to register voters without the filling of detailed application forms with security features. It is amazing that one has to fill forms to get ID card and passport but the forms that are required to be filled to get voters' cards are non existent. It is absolutely essential for us to focus on comprehensive review of the electoral system before the holding of any major elections. I am convinced that with massive voter and civic education and electoral reform a more democratic environment will be created for a freer and fairer election to take place.
Without such developments, the results of elections cannot truly reflect the undiluted choice of the people. In short, how can one explain the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Let us interrogate the results of the two elections.
Continued below
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.35/2007, 26-27 March, 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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