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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Oct 2009 : 17:22:09
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Culled from The Daily News
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Gambian Opposition in a state of Coma' says OJ
 An influential Gambian opposition leader Omar Jallow (Alias OJ) has said that the Gambian opposition parties are not dead but instead in a state of coma.
In an interview with The Daily News, OJ said since 2001 when the ban on opposition parties was lifted, their problem has been, and still is how they can bury their individual interests, our party, tribal, and ideological interests to serve the bigger picture, that is the Gambia.
“The Gambia to me is far more important than any of our party or all the parties, coming together. And until and unless the opposition are aware of this and become more responsible by coming together to serve the interest of those people who look to us for salvation and upliftment, then we have failed the Gambians”, OJ asserted.
He said they came very near to achieving their objective when they came together to establish an alliance called NADD. “NADD was an institution to which all Gambians can identify irrespective of which party, tribe, religion or ideology. NADD became a common product that can be owned by each and every Gambian. And the success of NADD can be measured when we had the six by-elections during NADD existence and we won all the four elections and APRC won very marginally, the two other seats. But unfortunately, few months before the election, two of our partners withdrew and devastated the whole opposition front, and the confidence that the people had in us”, OJ explained, adding that this was reflected in the voter turn-out in the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections and local council election in 2008; that nearly 50 percent eligible voters did not even vote.
I was discussing my interview arrangements with you to someone just before I come here. “Oh! He (OJ) used to be a powerful man,” was what the person told me. Howpowerful were you?
I don’t know what the person meant by that, but I was born in a very modest religious family in Old Yundum. My father moved to Serre Kunda for us to go to school when I was about six months old in 1947 to be precise. Then I went to a modest school St. Therese’s; from there to St. Augustine’s where I did my O’ Level and later joined the Cooperative movement. And then I went into politics in 1968 because during my school days I was active in debates and I was interested in politics. I became an active member of the PPP youth movement.
In 1972 I contested the Sere-Kunda constituency. But then United Party (UP) was the dominant Party in Serre- Kunda and all candidates before me lost their deposits. Fortunately for me, I got my deposits but lost the contest with about 212 votes. I then joined the newly established Commercial and Development Bank for five years and they sent me to the Republic of Ghana through the ranks and became the Loans Officer in the Ministry of External Affairs and that’s how my political life started.
I spent three years as Parliamentary Secretary going to the UN and other world and regional bodies with delegations from The Gambia. I also attended other meetings like the OAU (now AU) Liberation Committee at which time there were wars in countries like Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Angola Zambia and other countries. In 1981, I was promoted to become a Minister, when former President Sir Dawda asked me to establish the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment which had the mandate to alleviate the suffering of the people from drought. During this time most of the West African countries were suffering from drought. I headed this ministry for 8 years from 1981 to 1989. Then in 1989 I was moved to the Ministry of Agriculture, where 1994 AFPRC coup found me.
Fortunately for me, during the past the then president and the party had a lot of confidence in me that I became the Secretary General of the PPP youth wing. In 1992, I was active in youth activities. If that was why the person was saying I was powerful then I derived the power I got from the people of Sere-Kunda.
But there was this popular adage in Mandinka called “Nyeba-banko” (literally meaning the land of big fish) which was used to refer to big men in the former regime. Perhaps you were also one of those “nyebas”?
The connotation for me … I always tell people that I went into politics to serve the nation. I was very young when I went into politics. I have the belief that people should stand up and serve their country. In the process I was given the opportunity, for which I will really extend my appreciation to the leadership of the PPP, but most profoundly to the people of Serre-Kunda for giving me that opportunity to serve. I was more or less a servant of the people and I did not see myself as a “nyeba” but a small fish that was built by the inspiration and the trust that the people of Serre-Kunda had in me, in trying to serve their interests and aspirations. That is how I saw myself. And that is why I led a humble life all throughout my political career because I have to be:
It is now 15 years some months now, since your regime was gunned out of office. How has life been with you?
Difficult, but sustaining. When I was going into politics in 1968, I knew I was going into a very difficult profession. I was always interested in politics and I have learned from the history of political leaders and what has happened to some of them. But somebody has to do it inoder to remove Africa from that intolerance, stigma, ignorance, poverty, violence, etc. We should learn from the history of the West still dominate? I think we should be pre-occupied with how to resolve all these aspects of African society rather than to fight against each other.
Being in government doesn’t make one to be a God nor does it make one to be a villain if he or she is an opposition. We (government and opposition) are not supposed to be enemies but partners. For 17 years as a Member of Parliament for one of the biggest constituencies in the country, and the most cosmopolitan town, there has never been any police case between any of my supporters and the opposition. Not even a conflict between me and those who stood against me as candidates. I saw them as partners and citizens who had the constitutional right to contest for the election and the seat which I had occupied. Since 1994, I have gone through a lot of tribulations and difficulties. I was arrested on a number of occasions, imprisoned on many occasions and at one time, I was detained for 14 months and not allowed to see my family or any of my relatives. And for the first 30 days of my detention I was taken to the Army Barracks in Bakau. I was not allowed to take bath nor to change my cloths, or even wash my face… just to be used to break me up, my spirit. But it enhanced and strengthened my spirit to know that when it comes to violation of rights, you have to stand up and speak.
When it comes to the process that undermines democracy, respect for the rule of law, liberty and human rights you have to stand up and speak against it. God gives us three very important gifts that is the gift of life, liberty and freedom. And for me, I belief anybody who wants to take those freedoms you have a right to stand up and speak in the best possible way that you can. And that’s what I am doing up to now. I believe in democracy, rule of law and the government that came in 1994 was a military government…that came through the barrel of the gun, not the consent of the Gambian people. So as a representative of a government who was elected in a free, fair and transparent election, it is my cardinal responsibility and duty to stand and protest against the take-over of the constitutionally and democratically elected regime of Sir Dawda. I am still on it, still in the opposition, PPP as a partner to NADD and I believe that development, peace and stability can only be achieved by having a vibrant, strong, Opposition; a vibrant, strong and independent Press, a vibrant strong and independent Judiciary and ofcourse, an independent – independent I mean – Electoral Commission which does not become partisan and does not serve the interest of any of the parties in the political race.
You said life has been difficult for you but sustaining since the military take-over, perhaps you are still enjoying what President Yaya Jammeh may like to remark as rampant corrupt monies?
No! For me I am happy and pleased that after the coup, the APRC established a Commission of enquiry called Bamfo. This I want you to emphasize and make sure it’s reflected. This was a Commission to which Sir Dawda and all his Cabinet members went before. And Decree 11 that established the Commission stipulated that the Commission would sit in public and the Report would be made public. And Decree 25 stated that the Report of the Commission before it would be published, would be given to all those who went before the commission or their lawyers for them to raise objections to any of the recommendations that were made by the Commission. Unfortunately, this Report since1996 or 1995 has never been made public. Nobody in the Gambia, except I would say the people in the Council saw the report. It has never been sent to any of us or our lawyers. So if anybody wants to accuse us of rampant corruption, then it is just hearsay and baseless. I think the main reason and justification for the coup would have emanated from the report of this commission if it was made public for the Gambian people to judge from the information that has been given to this commission. And what emanated from this commission whether the PPP government was corrupt as accused of. I am telling you, up till today none of us has seen that report. So that means all the accusations were baseless because all the commissions were Kangaroo Commissions. And then those people who even established this Commissions did not believe in the commission because they violated the very ethics and rules that established the commission. So I still stand up and say all the accusations against the PPP were baseless and all commission were Kangaroo commissions.
But as a result of the alleged corruption for which some senior government officials’ properties were seized, what was seized from you?
They were wrong, illegal and unconstitutional because they should have published the report and allowed us to challenge the recommendations as stipulated in Decrees 11 and 25. As for them, they established the Commission, promulgated the Decrees and violated them. So in effect, the Commission was an illegal commission as long as they did not respect the decrees. So they seized our properties illegally, and would say that really comparing the acquisition of properties by the former and present regimes, taking into consideration the commission that was established by Yaya Jammeh to which the vice president and all the ministers went, is for the Gambian people to compare after 29 years, how many properties we had and after just 8 years, how many did they have. That is for the Gambian people to judge and you people as investigative journalists should go and investigate and report because the Gambian people, the younger generation and those yet unborn should know the truth about what happened in this country so they can learn to build a better, free, fair and just society tomorrow.
You can also give an assessment of how the PPP government, is very unlike and or like the APRC government?
The PPP was a democratic government that believed in democracy, rule of law and human rights. That is why it was the PPP government that first, in the then OAU now AU, called for the establishment of a human rights commission. That is why it is here. And I was privileged to be in that meeting at the AU that pushed a resolution to make Steve Biko Day a public holiday throughout the world. It was the PPP, in Uganda 1975, which pushed the commonwealth Heads of States to establish a commonwealth commission in the commonwealth secretariat. President Jawara was shouldered above most of his colleagues in terms of human rights and the rule of law. The type of opposition he had, as young as you are (referring to me) you have seen the activities of Sheriff Dibba, how active they were and PDOIS.
The freedom that they had then, we do not have it now. During our time there was no arresting of journalists, detaining of journalists. It did not happen. During our time there were no detentions of opposition leaders just because they opposed. During our time, opposition leaders were respected and allowed to openly participate and agitate for their activities. Those things are not happening now. And ofcourse, during the PPP regime we had an economic system which was driven by private capital. Private enterprises were allowed to take center-stage in our economic activities. And the governments as a government and those who run it were not allowed to participate in commercial activities because we were supposed to be regulators and policy makers. If we had wanted to do so, it would be a conflict of interest. So that is the difference. The governance programme of the PPP was far better than the governance program of the APRC.
Opposition parties are dead….?
Are what?
…are dead as shown by opinion polls on newspapers. You are a subscriber of the Daily News, you must have seen a vox-pop one of our reporters conducted not long ago, revealing that Gambians have lost confidence in the opposition. What is your opinion?
I would rightly say that we are not dead, but instead we are in Coma. Because from 1994 most of the political parties were banned. And since 2001 when the ban was lifted, our problem was and still is how we can bury our individual interests, our party interests, tribal interests, and our ideological interests to serve the bigger picture, that is the Gambia The Gambia to me is far more important than any of our party or all the parties, coming together. And until and unless the opposition is aware of this and become more responsible by coming together to serve the interest of those people who look to us for salvation and upliftment, then we have failed the Gambians.
We came very near to achieving our objective when we established NADD. NADD was an institution to which all Gambians can identify irrespective of which party, tribe, religion or ideology. NADD became a common product that can be owned by each and every Gambian. And the success of NADD can be measured when we had the six by-elections during NADD existence and we won all the four elections and APRC won very marginally, the two other seats. But unfortunately, few months before the election, two of our partners withdrew and devastated the whole opposition front, and the confidence that the people had in us. This was reflected in the voter turn-out in the 2006 presidential election, parliamentary election and local council election in2008; that nearly 50 percent of eligible voters did not even vote. Not that it is voter apathy but the reason for that is that APRC has become very unpopular, but where is the credible alternative for the people to go and show solidarity to and vote? As long as we are divided as opposition, the chance of achieving our objectives is zero!
Why did they withdraw?
That question you can go and ask Ousainou Darboe and Amat Bah, because they were partners in the process that established NADD. They started it with us and attended all the meetings. We negotiated the NADD Memorandum of Understanding for 18 months. And all the conditions in the MOU were unanimous decisions for all of us, including these two gentlemen (Ousainou and Amat). The signing was done in a hotel where we invited the whole world. It was a big occasion and all of us signed. And the launching was done at Buffer Zone where each of us made statements committing ourselves to the MOU and its spirit and letter. Then anybody who withdrew from it, that person has the responsibility to explain to you and the rest of the Gambian people, why!
This coalition has failed. Gambians lost confidence in the opposition. As such, they are not strong as they ought to be. And not long ago, you were having an interview with a local newspaper and still calling for a coalition. Do you…..?
And that is what I am still calling for, because we should give it a chance. Try and try again and we will succeed. I think all of us as people who love this country and as responsible leaders; people who lead people, people who the people of this country have trust in; we should learn from our mistakes of 2006 and come together and build an alliance that has a stronger foundation. Am still calling on my colleagues in the opposition camp to please come and sit together, form an alliance, fulfill the wishes and aspirations of that majority of people who look to us for salvation.
But the PPP for instance has not held any public rally since the ban was lifted. Why?
In 2001 when the ban was lifted, then there was a looming election. If we had wanted to spend the resources we had, then we will be diverting from the core issue, to win an election. That is why we joined the UDP in a party-led alliance with GPP and contested the election. Everybody knows that as much as we did not hold a rally, we went with the leader to go round the country. Fortunately we had a fund that the party had and we used it to sponsor the candidate of the alliance. You can realize that the team that led the people to the campaign in NBD was Landing Jallow Sonko, who was a former minister; CRD North was Abdoulie Janneh, URD Omar Drammeh, LRD was Yaya Ceesay, in Western Division Kiti Jabang and James Gaye, and I led it here. All of us are from the PPP. So for any body to say PPP is not active is uncalled for. I think they do not really understand that the PPP and the people have a strong bond.
The election is no loner far away - 2011. What are your plans?
We have really started the process somehow, not open. With the Gambians in the diaspora who supported the opposition to bring a proposal on the table, and called all the opposition to use it as a basis to start the discussion. I hope it would be done soon because we at least want to try again, to see if we can have that strong grouping alliance just like NADD or even stronger, to challenge APRC come 2011.
Earlier on you have made mention of the need for an independent Press; independent Judiciary, but you put emphasis on independent IEC. Do you have doubt in the IEC?
Not only do I have doubt but I do not have confidence in them. The IEC is supposed to be a referee. If my team Manchester won this year’s leagues and next year they are defending the league …but we brought some opposing team and then Manchester has to be asked to bring the referee and the linesmen, which team do you expect to win? Manchester will win. That is what I am trying to say. The president appoints the Chairman, all the commissioners, and then the other stakeholders like political parties and NGOs have no say in the function and establishment of IEC. The IEC should consult with the required intervention of all stakeholders. If we as stakeholders have no say in the function and establishment of the IEC and we have seen him, unfortunately the president, removing one or two chairmen of IEC without giving any reason to the Gambians. That is in variance to the due process. That is why I say I have no confidence in them because I see them as an extension of the executive. That is my personal opinion. Until and unless all the stakeholders are involved in the establishment and operation of the IEC, like in countries like Ghana and South Africa, then I will still question the independence of the IEC.
Source: The Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2009 : 07:01:14
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That's a brilliant interview by the daily news. OJ is a well respected politician and his determination and believe in Gambia should not be overlooked.He is one of the few Gambians who believe in something other than themselves.
My issue with this whole coalition is this ,OJ said ask Hamat Bah and Darboe for the reasons behind the defragnmentation of the coalition,Just the other day Darboe said ask Hassan Musa Camara ,Hassan musa Camara during the break off said the coalition members don't have a common interest and due to this he just might join the APRC ,What really went wrong?...................................................................Peace |
I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
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Kuno
Malawi
17 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2009 : 22:05:58
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A very good interview. I enjoyed it till the end. OJ as highlighted in this interview, has a lot to say, talk about....and he isn't afraid of speaking his mind. His analyses are a good read....I am impressed by his open-mindedness. This shows the PPP bunch, however corrupt, were still better than these secretaries we have today. One minute they are in office, the next they are gone...out of sight, out of mind...or they come back again. Recyling is good but not when it is applied to humans....because we are talking about reductionism at its worst..your humanity is devauled, you are disrespected, your potential is eviscerated, you leave the public square with no enough time to do something, leave a mark.
I am sick of this endless charade we call governance in the Smiling Coast. This is no governance, it is trickery. It is the government of one....how can you fire General Tamba for the conditions at the Yundum barracks? Is he responsible for the soldiers or is the commander-in-chief, President Yahya Jammeh himself, responsible for the welfare of the soldiers. The last time I checked, it was the commander in chief who was always responsible for the general upkeep of the men and women in uniform...he or does that by executing commonsense policies not dictating fiats. Jammeh was just being reactionary..going to the Yundum barracks, kicking mattresses and screaming obscenities at the conditions of his soldiers...as if he had no firsthand knowledge of Yundum realities. For God's sake, he was a creature of Yundum! It is the definition of wilful ignorance to act unawares when you are very much in the know of things at your own door step.
OJ has made me teary..for real now, you can call me effeminate or you can call me emotionally fragile ... but I had to shed a tear or two when I read his retelling of the political situation during the PPP. It is as if he had me in mind....I have learned to shock-absorb these Gambian crazy stories with a mind wired to the past. Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the people...nostalgia is opium to me...I think of the past daily...the good times, the peace and security..the feeling that you could go anywhere with no worries about somebody eavesdropping on you, following your trail, your own family members turned into NIA snitches, the rampant murders, the endless checkpoints, these skinny, impolite paramilitary troopers holding guns they barely had enough manual training on.
I know it sounds hopeless and impossible, but somebody please bring me back the sunshine of the PPP! I would like to be free again, be able to speak my mind without being jailed or killed or made to disappear into the ether of government brutality. I care about my human rights and freedoms and the political space to be able to live and enjoy those rights. I care less about roads, electricity, the modernization of Banjul, the coastal road and all the other facetious displays of government plunder and waste. They can wait or don't come at all!!
Kuno, The Bird
Lilongwe, Malawi |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2009 : 14:34:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Culled from The Daily News
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[ In 2001 when the ban was lifted, then there was a looming election. If we had wanted to spend the resources we had, then we will be diverting from the core issue, to win an election. That is why we joined the UDP in a party-led alliance with GPP and contested the election. Everybody knows that as much as we did not hold a rally, we went with the leader to go round the country. Fortunately we had a fund that the party had and we used it to sponsor the candidate of the alliance. You can realize that the team that led the people to the campaign in NBD was Landing Jallow Sonko, who was a former minister; CRD North was Abdoulie Janneh, URD Omar Drammeh, LRD was Yaya Ceesay, in Western Division Kiti Jabang and James Gaye, and I led it here. All of us are from the PPP. So for any body to say PPP is not active is uncalled for. I think they do not really understand that the PPP and the people have a strong bond.
Source: The Daily News
Point of correction; The NBD Campaign team was actually led by Lamin Dibba who is UDP, and the CRD was led by Lamin Waa Juwara who was UDP. In LRD, Yaya Ceesay was actually assisted by Kemeseng Jammeh who is also UDP. In the Greater Banjul Area, OJ too was assisted by Dembo Bojang [by force] who too is UDP. So, it wasn't like everything was dominated by ppp figures.
Another point to note; when the 2001 alliance was amicably dissolved in 2002, the P.P.P was not and still haven't being able to hold a single rally in their own name, let alone OJ's once much talked about congress.
Good interview though.
Thanks
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 16 Oct 2009 15:05:16 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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