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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Apr 2007 : 02:02:29
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FOCUS ON POLITICS
DIBBA’S FIRST ELECTION CONTEST AGAINST SIR DAWDA
With Suwaibou Touray
Continued from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3443
We have been focusing on the History of the Gambia from pre-independence to post independence era. Earlier on, we had shed light on the N.L.P. (National Liberation Party)led by Mr. Pap Cheyassin Secka in 1975. Let us pick up from where we had left. The forth coming general elections was slated for 1977. Mr. Dibba spent the whole period going up and down campaigning for the presidency. He had on his side few members of parliament. Influential elders, illiterates for that matter who had contributed tirelessly in his campaign. People like Pa Harley Jammeh of Bakau who left the PPP to Join him and Mr. Mass Jobe, Mr. Solo Dabo, a businessman and so many others, who left the PPP and Mr. Gibou Jagne who left the UP to join the NCP. Elites like Mr. Bakary B. Darboe also joined and so on.
All is not also well with the PPP. The workers continued with their strikes in protest of the break down of the talks between them and the Government. For example, the G.U.C electrical workers downed tools but the G.U.C administration intervened quickly to avert humiliating the government because it was done just the following day 19th January 1976 after the return of President Senghor from an official visit to the Gambia.They were protesting over what they called discrimination among workers in the Civil Service in the various departments.
The same year (1976) witnessed the downing of tools by the Public Works Department drivers and mechanics on 18th October 1976 in demand of what they called their “residue of Waller’s recommendation. They claimed unfair treatment in the award of their “back dues” as was done to other workers in other sectors of the department. Their Trade Union backed them who later negotiated with government.
The PPP and N.C.P both criss-crossed often with hitches and skirmishes. For example, during the PPP rally in Sukuta, according to the Gambia Outlook reporter, one Suntu Konta, whilst speaking on PPP Platform, he used insulting language against non PPP members apparently dissatisfied with the low turn out at the rally. He was heckled by one Momodounding by shouting that “if you people want others to support your party, you cannot get them by abusing them.” According to the Outlook, Konta told him that it was none of his business as he was not invited to the meeting. It was reported that with the exchange of words, Konta descended from the platform and assaulted Mr. Nding which caused an uproar, culminating into a fight dispersing the crowd, leaving Yai Compin women to run helter-skelter.
1976 also witnessed the pilgrimage of Sir Dawda to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He retuned on the 8th of December 1976. he was accorded rousing welcome at the Yundum International Airport by high ranking officials of the PPP diplomatic corps, heads of departments and other eminent personalities. Such occasions were utilized to acquire the required publicity stunt.
The NCP also held a meeting in Brikama and a Kemo Jatta was said to be severely beaten by their members. According to Outlook Kemo was acting arrogantly when the Police arrived prompting his arrest and subsequent detention at the Police Station.
The U.P and the NLP stormed the news when the two held a joint rally at Sam Jack Terrace, and Mr. Sekou George acting as the Chairman informed the people that the U.P and NLP had formed a coalition. He said people were saying that the U.P was dead. He said the U.P was not dead; that it was maybe because they were not seen campaigning when the PPP had already started its campaign. He said the three seats in Banjul were secured for the U.P and the NLP. He did not say anything about the NCP. That was the time, the people knew that the NCP was going it alone. Could the NCP win an election without other opposition parties, became the question of many observers.
But the NCP was struggling to convince its members that they could win the election. During his provincial tour, he was given a white horse to ride on at Toro Village which he did symbolizing victory to the throne. At that meeting Mr. Dibba was made so confident that he declared according to the Outlook that “It is self-evident that the NCP would form the next government of the Republic of The Gambia.”
The Gambia Outlook captured the return of S.M. Dibba from the provinces when he crossed from Nuimi and Badibu. According to Outlook, he was given what was described as a presidential welcome on Friday 18th June 1976. the Outlook said Kunkurangs danced, running to and fro, in preparation to make way for arrivees to enter their vehicles and to allow him to enter in his Dibba’s car and to proceed with the hundreds of lined up motor vehicles. The reporter described it as one of the longest carcades ever seen in Banjul. The procession went through streets in Banjul and ended at the residence of Mr. Dibba at New perseverance street, with slogans such as “down with Jawara,” etc.
The NCP also had a rally at Bakau where Mr. Pa Mass Jobe expressed optimism that the NCP was going to win. Was the prediction based on objective analysis of the political scene at the time or was, it made just to encourage other people to vote for the NCP? He criticized Jawara’s pilgrimage. He said Jawara did not fulfil the obligations before going to Mecca such as to see to it that people were properly well cared for; that there was hunger or Mal-content in the country etc. referring to the hunger marchers protest. So he asked, “What did we have?” He said there was unrest in the country, referring to the worker’s strikes, people were dismissed from their jobs and the country was left in complete mess. So he asked “Why the pilgrimage when your children are hungry?” There was laughter and claps.
Mr. Dibba also spoke and said even if the PPP won the election, it could only accomplish 30% of the five year development plan. He criticized the lack of prioritizing things by the government.
Mr. Demba Jawo who was a young Freelance Journalist, made his prediction in his focus on the electioneering at the time, that the anticipation of some people for a sort of a loose alliance of the three opposition parties to put a United Front against the PPP was rather unlikely, judging from the difference in approach to fundamental issues between the NCP and the U.P/NLP coalition. According to him, the PPP still appeared to be very strong despite the intensive campaigning launched by the opposition in some parts of the country, especially around Banjul and Kombo. According to him, the question was whether the PPP would get an absolute majority to form the next government, was as he said anybody’s guess.
Mr. Demba Jawo in his letter to Outlook analysing the different parties’ stand point said, there was not much difference between them. He said apart from the NLP which he opined advocated for what he called Pseudo-Socialism, all the rest appeared to be conservative capitalists. He said their only opposing views, he opined, were, who should head the government of the country? He concluded that neither of them (the opposition) was likely to effect much changes in policy, either foreign or domestic and said only the approaches were different.
Mr. Jawo also described the NCP as a one man party which centred everything on the shoulders of the party leader. He said the PPP referred to them as dissatisfied or disgruntled elements which he Jawo agreed with.
On the U.P/NLP Alliance, Mr. Jawo opined that it was prompted by ethnical ties between the two leaders and not less so by the sense of regionalism because as he said, both drew support from Banjul. Their doing better rest on their combined strength, he opined.
On the PPP, Mr. Jawo analysed it as bureaucratic in Outlook eventhough it had managed to become a truly nation-wide party cutting across both tribal and regional boundaries.
So as it stands now, The Gambia was poised to go into an election having parties almost of the same programmes. The nomination day for the presidency was done on the 14th March 1977. according to the constitution in 1977, the party returning the most members to parliament would be vested with the unquestionable right to elect from among their ranks and file the person they deemed suitable to fill the exaulted post of Head of State of the Nation.
According to the Outlook, the PPP nominated Sir Dawda K. Jawara and Hon. S.M. Dibba was nominated by the NCP, before Sir Philip Bridges at the Supreme Court No.1. Each party must have over 100 registered voters supporting their nomination. It was also reported that Mr. S.M. Dibba experienced difficulty when he wanted to enter the court premises because the PPP supporters refused to leave the area after their nomination and his own supporters who turned out in large numbers which prompted Police Intervention.
See next issue for the 1977 campaign proper and elections.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 40/2007, 9 - 10 April, 2007
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