Kairo News has been informed about how President Yahya Jammeh had “spiritually dismantled the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD)” eight years ago.
“I laughed off when I heard President Jammeh advising graduating university students to keep away from marabouts in April this year,” our State House Revealer said. “I laughed off because Mr. Jammeh believes and feeds on marabouts’ work day in, day out. He turns to marabouts before he does anything, even before appointing a minister or director. When NADD was formed in January 2005, Jammeh was scared to the bone. As a result, he had been running from one marabous to another. The President called an old Fula marabous and expressed fears of being beaten by a united opposition. He asked the old man to work on the opposition so they would split and soon.
“The old man instantly did some work and asked Jammeh to make sacrifices. He said by the time he was done, nothing would hold the opposition together. President Jammeh immediately sent four other great marabous, including the old Fula man on confinement. Before they got out, news of an opposition split was announced in February 2006. President Jammeh was so happy that he gave huge amount of money and a brand new Pajero to the old Fula man. The marabout cried and soon left for Bissau. Other marabouts were also dashed with cash and a newly built compound. I want Gambians to know that their President is a hypocrite.”
The Revealer added Mr. Jammeh keeps “small and large ruminants to address his sacrificial needs. Jammeh fights people spiritually and mentally. He is in the habit of consulting marabous to work on any person before he employs him/her. He will ask people to find out the name his/her mother calls him. That is why by the time he appoints you minister, he is already done with you. Before appointing Ajay Janneh as chief of Kombo South, he asked about his real name and where he was working at the time.”
NADD, a five-party coalition of Gambian opposition political parties, was officially launched in January 2005. This followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the National Democratic Action Movement, National Reconciliation Party, and People’s Progressive Party.The alliance sought “to put an end to self-perpetuating rule, ensure the empowerment of the people so that they can participate in sustainable development.”
Ends
I BELIEVE IN THIS STORIES ITS NOTHING NEW TO ANY MATURE THINKING PERSON THAT JAMMEH USED TO FINISHED ANY OPPOSITION GROUP SPIRITUALLY EVEN THE ONE OF THE FORMER SOLDIERS VERY SOON THEY WILL START ACCUSING EACH OTHER FROM THERE ITS TOTAL SPLIT EG WHERE IS THE NATIONAL TRANSITION COUNCIL AND THE LIKE
No marabout split NADD. It was Halifa Sallah and Lamin Waa Juwara. These are the people who don’t even show respect to Assan Musa Camara and frustrated the old man’s efforts to hold the camp together. He was a great statesman. May his soul rest in peace.
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Please Editor, do not carry such idle talk in your most respected paper…
Let him satisfy his fantasies with his marabouts, but don’t waste valuable space with such laughable nonsense. .
Peddling lies and gossips!
Liar @ Lafia Touray la Manju
And they followed [ instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. { Sulayman, the Son of Dawda} It was not Sulayman who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people Magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But they the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, ” We are a trial, so do not disbelieve by practicing magic. And yet they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. and they, people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. Whoever purchased it [magic] would not have in the hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew. Surah 2 [ Albaqarah] verses; 102: And if they had believed and feared Allah, then the reward from Allah would have been far better, if they only knew: Surah 2 ; verses 103: Therefore, please do not disbelieve [ SHRIK] Shrik is the greatest sins God had described in the Quran .. May Allah guide you all to the right path
I did not believe what has just been published in this media outlet. I am really saddened and dissapointed to have read such ideas being perpetutated in this so-called news medium. How low you have brought your reputation down be pedalling these backward ideas and misconceptions about marabouts!
Are you really serious about marabouts? These are social ills; please get it out of the minds of Gambians. As new media, I think you have a big responsiblity to play here – you shape people’s way of thinking. Unfortunately, I do not see the professionalism that journalism deserves in this piece. What you need to be doing is to be bringing up issues that will stimulate rational debate and talking more on things that appeal to human mind. It’s disgusting to hear you talking about marabouts here and there. Gambians need to be weaned out of these bad ideas and let’s see how the world is shaped better in more developed nations.
Let’s have a better editing of what you receive from the public next time please. This is not censorship. But for the good of our country, this social scourge must be cleansed from Gambian psyche. You will be helping the president if you publish stories like this because he wants people like you to be his mouth piece to propaganda this business of appealling not to the intellect.
Bax, let’s face it. You’ve to understand that everything a society does has news value. Haven’t we seen Jammeh displaying marabouts and idol worshippers openly? Kairo News go after anything about the Kanilai devil. Leave Bax in self denial.
Brother Bax, looks like you overstayed abroad. No wonder you thrash what is typically African.
It’s clear that Camara has missed the point. Google and find out. Stories like these have made news over and over. Do u want to say the Albino killing in Tanzania for sorcery must not be published? Man up Camara
Dawda, you don’t respect yourself. That’s why you are coming here calling people names. I standby what I have said because I know what I know to be a fact, which is, Lamin waa juwara and Halifa Sallah were the ones responsible for the disintegration of NADD. Both of them were disrespectful to the late Assan Musa Camara who was doing everything to keep the camp together. He was became frustrated and washed his hands off. Soon after NADD collapse. If it were not for Assan Musa Camara, NADD would not have survived a year let alone three.
Rest in peace H.E Assan Musa Camara,
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The opposition leaders back home were responsible for their split, it has nothing absolutely to do with marabouts. Please, focus on your [Deen] religion, believing in marabouts is a [SHRIK] disbelieve.
Just because you don’t believe in a story doesn’t mean it’s false or shouldn’t be publish. Editor, please publish and allow public to judge. Keep up the good job.
I am so sad to read all this back biting, Allah says this is also haraam in your holy Koran
Would it not be better to leave the past alone, stop blaming anybody for the state of governance and put into action a plan that will benefit all of the people, accountability and transparency is something we will all be brought to one fine day, let’s forgive one another and start making plans to help the future generations, this will be Blessed by Allah, or don’t you believe and have Faith?
Satan is doing his job to the best of his ability, given that right by Allah, we good kindhearted human beings are not supposed to follow, we are to refrain from badness, and pray never to enter into evil!
Satan is only more powerful than man, if you don’t put Allah first!
Remember to follow good and right only, walk away from people who do the opposite, better you live a life of poverty than deal with evil doers!
I pray for the best positive outcome, for the future of Gambian people to turn to common sense and stop all this nonsense! May God forgive us all for our ignorance!
Thank you Yankuba Jobe for putting it this blunt.
I came to realised a lot about the collapse of NADD after the demise of the Late H.E Assan Musa Camara, the former Vice President. Somebody who was close to him at the time told me the kind of frustration he endured to keep NADD as a result of been treated with contempt and utter disrespect by Halifa Sallah and Lamin waa juwara. He said the old man enjoyed the cooperation of the UDP for a long period but at the the end, some in the UDP also began to complain that other leaders who have been refusing to give the old man his due are taking the UDP for a ride. They too began to harden their positions on issues. With no one ready to comprise on anything, NADD collapsed leaving the old man with a great deal of regret and disappointment.
My source told me that if it weren’t for NADD would not have lasted 3 months let alone 3yrs. No marabout split NADD neither did Jammeh.
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Allah maa Allah ye Assan Musa Camara la dinbaaya sutura; Ayee so barakolaa. Alifaa kendeh loo lemu
Correction; my source said if he weren’t for Assan Musa Camara, NADD would not have lasted for three months let alone three years.
May God bless the children and grandchildren of Assan Musa Camara. And may his soul rest in peace. If one of his children decides to run for president, I will be his campaign manager in honour of Assan who was an exemplary gambian elder and statesman by all accounts.
Vomit it all Great Kairo! Marabout business will always be with us. Our so-called elites do it well. Why are they scared of Prof. Kah? They think he’ll bury them.
What about UDP(Darbo) instead of Waa and Halifa? Do you think we are stupid to buy your so call one sided story.
Thank you Seey jarju. O.J warned UDP (especially Darbo) that leaving NADD is “POLITICAL SUICIDE” and repercussions of that blunder cause incarceration (jailed) of Femi Peters and now Amadou Sanneh; many deaths, abduction & disappearances; more weakening of opposition front.
Liar and lways agitating mandinkayaa! Shame on you @ Lafia Touray la Manju
Rumour mongering, peddling lies and malicious vile slanders! Shame on you all especially mandinkaphobia sickening Lafia Touray la Manju.
Seedy Jarju, if you read my post, I said that my source told me that at the latter part, some UDP figures were complaining that those who were refusing to give Assan Musa his due and the respect that befitted his status as an elderly statesman, we’re complaining that the UDP was been taken for a ride. So they too started hardening positions on certain fundamental issues.
Yes, if the UDP remain lying on the floor with others walking all over them right through the election cycle, things would have worked. But would have done that if you were in their shoe? I wouldn’t and I am sure most people would not accept it either. They are, however, showed and treated Assan with the greatest respect and affection and the old man was thankful to them for that.
RIP Assan Musa Camara. Those who disrespected you and frustrated your efforts and already cursed beyond redemption.
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Dawda, If you are not proud of your identity, that is not my problem. I am a proud mandinka and will shy away from defending mandinka honour especially when we are being persecuted and insulted for political reasons.
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Dawda, If you are not proud of your identity, that is not my problem. I am a proud mandinka and will not shy away from defending mandinka honour especially when we are being persecuted and insulted for political reasons.
Those suffering from low self esteem should not be allowed to take it out on mandinkas.
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@Alagie Jallow…
I’m not denying mysticism (marabouts) in our “culture”…That’s why I stated. ..”let him enjoy his fantasies. ….”
I know that Jammeh dabbles in mysticism of all kinds, including Marabouts, and I also know that many people consult marabouts/shrines (jaalangs) for various reasons,but should a respected medium like Kaironews give credence to.such rubbish…
Seeking blessings through prayers is recommended and a loved tradition in our religions,but marabouism,as is being presented here is absolute rubbish…And the editor should have known better….
@ sister Alimatou. ..
Believe me.sister, I have rejected Marabouts when I was still going to school…I don’t want to bore you with how and why, but it started when I was no more than 12yrs old…
Marabouts (who pretend to change our fate) are a.con and the sooner we know this, the better for us…
Coincidences do happen in life and if you think a marabout changed your fate in life,then you need to question your faith in God, especially if you claim to be a.believing Muslim….(“you” is not referring to you Alimatou…Just a general usage)
Guys…..
Jammeh wants the public to think that he can do anything and everything under the sun and by presenting the opposition unity failures as the “work” of Jammeh, through his marabouts, you are giving credence to those false claims and strengthening/boosting the false aura of mysticism he wants to create around himself…
How does.that fit in with the role of this medium to educate and inform the Gambian People and the world,about Jammeh’s misrule…?
What I know is that many people in private see marabouts and condemn them in public. Allah knows best.
I like this Editor for allowing us to ramble here without interfering. I adore this forum.
What to like on rumour mongering, peddling lies, back biting and malicious vile slanders whilst Kanilai monster continue to butcher and enslave you all!
PROUD TO BE GAMBIAN AND SHAME ON TRIBALISM! I AM A GAMBIAN CITIZEN, FRANCHISE AND KNEW MY COUNTRY & COMPATRIOTS VERY WELL!
@ These are your comments QUOTED;
“Dawda, If you are not proud of your identity, that is not my problem. I am a proud mandinka and will not shy away from defending mandinka honour especially when we are being persecuted and insulted for political reasons.”
WHY DO YOU HATE HALIFA SALLAH; WITH YOUR MALICIOUS VILE SLANDERS,CASTIGATING HIM WITH BASELESS ALLEGATIONS, “being persecuted and insulted for political reasons.””?
EVERY TIME MANDINKA PHOBIA = THANK YOU JILANKA JOLA PIRR & ENSLAVING THEM!
THE KANILAI MONSTER IS ENJOYING A LINEUP OF OVER FIFTEEN KORA PRAISE SINGING FOR HIM! JOLA PIRR!
SHAME ON TRIBALISM!
JALIBAA KEBBA IS HIS JALI SO WHAT PRIDE IN MANDIKAYAA!
JALIBAA KUYATEH A MANDINKA IS HIS JALI SO WHAT PRIDE IN MANDINKAYAA!
Neither the jolas nor Halifa Sallah is our problem. It is Yahya jammeh who openly threaten mandinkas specifically and that is a problem for me as a proud member of the Mandingo ethic group. If anyone is not conscious of this, then you are gullible.
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How about being a.Proud Gambian….?
How about defending the honour of Gambians, some of whom have been marginalised and branded by the regime…?
How are the Mandinka ‘s being “persecuted” when…..
(1)….the ruling party enjoys the most support from them..?
(2)….They occupy important positions within central and local government. ..?
(3)….They are free to attend schools of their choices and enjoy the same level of Public services, like any other tribe..?
Do you really know what state persecution is..?
Ask the Rohinjas in Mymmar/Burma… Or (until recently) the Aborigines in Australia or Blacks in South Africa. ..
May be then, you would realise how silly and ignorant those comments are…
bax there is indeed mandinka marginalisation going on in the gambia. to say so does not mean the ones saying it are tribalist mandinkas. we have indeed been offended over and over by jammeh. its clear for everyone to see.
In my family, two of my brothers are married to jola women and a sister of mine is also married to a jola man( not to mention some of my uncles, nieces, nephews etc who are fulas, wollofs, akus etc. this is by no means unique to my family).So mandinkas have a long history of intermarrying with jolas in particular.
Mandinkas voting for jammeh is democracy in action in my opinion.
look at the army, police, ministers, members of parliament etc etc and tell us if you will be comfortable with the tribal composition?. i am a proud mandinka myself but will never be comfortable if mandinkas dominate all the state institutions like yaya did!! its like anybody but a mandinka will do.
look at the people who get all the fat scholarships to the west in particular (remember merit does not count in jammeh’s government…) ? etc etc its like there is some sort of social re-engineering going on.
How about his policy of grabbing mandinka lands along the kombo coast in the name of national development? etc etc. Deliberately destroying their traditional power structures…… etc etc.
no one wants trouble in the gambia except jammeh and his gang. Peace and prosperity to all gambians and humanity.
Yes we need to restrain ourselves in what ever we say and do but its clear for every one to see my brother…..
good day to all.
Alagie….
I can only speak.for myself and if you are insinuating that I consult Marabouts in private but condemn in public, then let me assure you that you are wrong….I.don’t consult marabouts. .
I hope the difference between consulting marabouts and seeking blessings (sometimes) from religious leaders is understood….
This story is true I can fully remember after the 2006, Jammeh himself said this over the Tv that the black bull they bought from Abuko (NADD). He Jammeh first bought the bull and give it to them through the seller. That was his charity to demolish the group.http://www.kaironews.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
8. (SBU) NGO contacts from the regional peace-building organization noted that Jammeh has on occasion made anti-Mandinka comments, citing in particular a 2006 television appearance in which he explained, using maps of th sub-region, how the Mandinkas were not historically a true tribe of The Gambia since they came from elsewhere in West Africa. The contacts blamed him for “sowing the seeds of discord,” and also mentioned a tendency for Jammeh to demonize the Mandinkas, who also make up a significant number of supporters of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). They noted that when officials are fired from the higher levels of the government, security forces, and parastatals, they are often replaces by Jolas, and alleged that the latest batch of Gambian army recruits were mostly Jolas –some possibly from Senegal.
9.(SBU) Sources noted that for now, mainly lighthearted stereotypes persist among the various ethnic tribes at the grassroots level, but Jammeh’s apparent political strategy of appointing Jolas and other non-Mandinkas to prominent roles could “evolve” or “explode,” given time. Contacts pointed out that most of the suspects in the March 2006 aborted coup plot and the majority of people held in prolonged detention are Mandinkas, while few, if any, are Jolas.”-
Extract from a leaked US Embassy Cable report.
I love Ndey Tapha Sossesh to bits. See below her article on Jammeh’s anti- mandinka statement. She is right in blaming some mandinkas for their complicity. Some say this is just out of fear while others say it is opportunism but when did mandinkas become cowards or Allah mutaa balolu??;
WHAT IS NEW ABOUT YAYA JAMMEH’S ANTI MANDINKA AND ANTI WESTERN STATEMENTS?
WHAT IS NEW ABOUT YAYA JAMMEH’S ANTI MANDINKA AND ANTI WESTERN STATEMENTS?
Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the article entitled “SG Momodou Sabally read a statement issued by The Gambia Government branding the UDP as a Mandingka group, calls the US and UK as racist nations; Says the Mandingka Group will never rule The Gambia; says the West is funding online papers and the opposition to overthrow his regime”. I have read the article and listened to your statement. As I listened to your programme the question that went through my mind was “what’s new?” The response is “nothing”. These same sentiments have been part of Jammeh’s rhetoric since he took over in 1994. The only difference is the audience. Before GRTS went satellite the audience was small and localized, today the audience is global and wider.
Before going further, let me clarify that I am not Mandinka and I generally do not get involved in tribal, ethnic debates as I believe that it is a non-issue. I grew up in two households where we had to share space with the wards entrusted to my Grandmother, Mother and Aunt’s care from multi-ethnic (Mulatto, Fula, Mandinka, Wollof, Manjago, Serere, Jola, Serahule and Aku) and multi-religious backgrounds. We grew up respecting each other for who they were and not what they are. Thus ethnocenticism, religious intolerance and any discrimination against a human being based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status or sexual orientation do not exist in my life.
I have found the overt discrimination that Yaya Jammeh has displayed against the Mandinkas and people from the West to be totally abhorrent. Since coming into power in 1994, Jammeh has chosen to redefine patriotism and divide Gambians through ethnic, religious and geo-political characteristics. And, Gambians as a people have largely allowed him to do so. Jammeh’s ethnocentric statements against Mandinkas and anti Western statements have dominated his unofficial and official pronouncements and have been accepted and tolerated by the very people that he was attacking and the generality of the Gambian public.
When Jammeh first made the statement that “a Mandinka will never lead this country again”, who was laughing, clapping and cheering? Demba Sanyang former head of household for the ousted President (today Head Chief of Kombo North, and Paramount Chief of TheGambia), Dembo Santang Bojang, former chief of Brikama and Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang former Member of Parliament and Minister in both regimes. This is just to name some of the few who were busy settling scores. They trailed behind him from community to community sitting in various platforms and fora where he abused, castigated, ridiculed and humiliated Mandinkas. Some of this was done in Mandinka strongholds in the presence of Mandinka elders and leaders and there was no disapproval of his statements. Was it not the Mandinkas? I will single out a few examples.
Everyone has the right to belong to a party of their choice. However, the fact that since 1994, Mandinkas could align themselves enthusiastically to a leadership and party that, is openly hostile to them, is something that I have not been able to comprehend. From Niumi to Baddibu, Janjanbureh to Kiang, the Kombos-Sukuta, Gunjur to Brikama, a huge Mandinka following went behind the man who would heap insults on them. Bakau was the last of the largely Mandinka settlements to give in. It was no longer politically correct to be Mandinka and many persons who had claimed to be Mandinka for years were now Jola. Some Dibba’s even became Gibba and started speaking Jola. I have never seen such a rapid transformation in my life. Some Mandinka Jammeh’s now became Jola Jammeh’s. One of them a descendent of the late Mama Tamba Jammeh of Illiassa even went to the extent of claiming on television that Yaya Jammeh is the descendent of one of the Jammeh clan – a lost ancestor whose grandson had now come to rule The Gambia. This was how far Gambian Mandinkas were willing to go to accept Yaya Jammeh.
To me, the biggest sell out is former President Jawara and family. A Mandinka himself, President Jawara accepted the olive branch from the man who did not only topple him, sending for him into exile for over a decade, during which period he openly displayed hostility to him and his people. In the presence of Jawara, Jammeh would make anti-Mandinka statements and reiterate that a Mandinka will never rule the country anymore. What message does President Jawara send to the people by sitting there and accepting such insults?
My final point on the Mandinka is that they have allowed themselves to be marginalized in a country where they are the majority tribe. Instead of coming together as a people to address the negativity that is being forced against them, they have thrown their weight against a man who has systematically diminished them as an ethnic group. The great and brave Mandinka warriors of the past must be cringing in their graves.
Sabally’s insults and claims against the British and the Americans is nothing new. As an observer of the political scene, I was totally appalled at the humiliation that the ambassadors and embassy personnel had to endure anytime that there was an occasion. Jammeh always took joy in spelling out different meanings for the West, sometimes even calling them thieves. I never could really understand why the different missions never took action, even when he declared certain representatives “persona non grata”.
Sabally can rant, rave, call names and he still cannot say and do more than Njogu Bah and others before him have said and done. Today, Njogu Bah is a guest at Jammeh’s famous five-star hotel – Mile Two Central Prisons, sharing the same space with people he declared unpatriotic and disloyal.
Have Gambian Mandinkas reached the stage where they say “enough is enough”? What is certain is that if Gambian Mandinkas who make up at least 36% (2003 Census Figures) of the Gambian population were anti Jammeh and anti-APRC, and voted on tribal lines, Jammeh would never have won an election, instead they would have voted for Ousainou Darboe, the UDP leader who happens to be Mandinka.
That, the Gambia Government labels UDP as a Mandinka party, is not only foolish and mischievous but untrue and designed to polarize society. Most of the UDP executive members that I know are non-Mandinka. What Jammeh, like most dictators, wants is to render The Gambia ungovernable and unstable after him.
The implications of such statements are far reaching and can affect the social fabric of The Gambia for generations to come. We have seen ethnic and tribal conflicts in many countries in the region in particular Rwanda.
To avert such tensions, and to avoid a situation where the country degenerates into ethnic conflict, I encourage the UDP and other political parties, to nip this trend in the bud and look into all possible actions, including legal, for incitation of hatred, hate speech etc to take against Momodou sabally and the Government of The Gambia.
Ndey Tapha Sosseh
(Courtesy of FreedomNewspaper)
manju i respect ndey tapha sosseh too, but she does not seem to understand the true situation of the gambia under jammeh. civil/tribal war in the gambia will wipe us all but particularly mandinkas as clearly promised by jammeh. this is not cawordice,
ALLAH LONBALOO MANG SINI LON. JAMMEH IS NO WARRIOR BUT HAVE ALL THE GUNS AND THE FANATICS TO KILL FOR HIM.
it seems she was provoking a reaction….. what does she want mandinkas to do? start a war or what??? Gambia belongs to all so what is she doing about it?
Blind anger can only lead to disaster for all. to mention a number of mandinkas blindly supporting jammeh is no new thing. lets remember the majority of the opposition during Jawara’s time were mandinkas. some of the things that were said and done by his enemies were and will clearly be classed as hate crimes in the UK OR AMERICA but he ignored them. He even forgave them.
You know, its very difficult to be a majority in any nation because you cannot win no matter what you do or don t do….i am very proud that most mandinkas can see the trap and are keeping it calm with a heavy heart. when the rain falls, it falls on every mans’ roof they say…….
i will say when she wrote that piece,she wrote it out of anger at best……. what is she doing about it then and now??? Never mind what some stupid mandinkas are doing. manglafi bukalafi manju so lets be mindful of this deadly trap……..
abarika morro
Karamo. How long we have to wait to be abused, denied opportunities, victimized, our land taken and forced to leave our country. Allah will never come down here to help us. We have to stand up for ourselves then He will come to our assistance. Yaya knows that Mandinkas are the most patient people and they want peace and tranquility with everybody but we cannot allow the abuses to continue forever. Enough is enough. Dictator Yaya has to go and now.
you are right janjanbureh and jammeh will not live forever. we will surely take back what belongs to us. the changes are artificial so will not live longer than jammeh himself in my opinion…
Confronting our enemy is our duty but we better be ready first. jammeh have the guns lets remember…. What have we got? lets get ready for war because it will be a war brother.
Anger alone will not get us any where…. believe me, jammeh is no warrior and they are scared to death for they know this will not last forever.
we also need to pay attention to the intentions of others who want mandinkas to fight for them but they don t necessarily care about us.
esabari morro… soon come change. i pray that it happens with minimal damage to life and property.
thanks n gdday….
You are right Morikebba patience is the key but for how long. I believed that the prescription to Yaya’s dictatorship is unity. Gambians are not better than any people who fought and got their countries back on the road to prosperity. Gambians are dying everyday of hunger, diseases, lack of opportunities and they are leaving in thousands dying along the way, their properties taken without due process of the law. What is the problem? This is the time all Gambians need to come together and nip in the butt the issue of Yaya once for all. Why wait any longer? Don’t fear anything other than fear itself. Everything will be fine. It is a man made problem and man has to solve it.
Thanks for your patience.
1 How does all these articles forwarded (from sources: “Extract from a leaked US Embassy Cable report.” & “(Courtesy of FreedomNewspaper)”) relate with disintegration of NADD?
2. What was the fundamental ISSUE, RATIONALE & STRATEGIC or TACTICAL REASONS for UDP & NRP to desert NADD ?
STOP IDLE CHEAP POLITICS, THE GOSSIPS, PETTINESS, FALSE ALLEGATIONS, HEARSAY, RUMOUR MONGERING & MALICIOUS VILE SLANDERS TO FOCUS CRITICALLY THE MAIN ISSUES WHY NADD DISINTEGRATED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF COALITION/ALLIANCE BUILDING AND/OR UNITED NATIONAL FRONT TO KICK OUT THE KANILAI MONSTER?
I CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU THERE ON ISSUE NO: 1 WHY UDP & NRP DECIDED TO LEAVE NADD? WHAT CLAIMS & JUSTIFICATIONS WERE MADE?
NEXT ISSUE NO.:2 WILL FOLLOW AFTER NO: 1 IS ADDRESSED?
1. A TIMELY RELEVANT QUOTE FOR THIS TOPIC, FROM GAMBIAN COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR “STOCKHOLM DIALOGUE” DATE: Sunday 22 June.
.
QUOTING “DIALOGUE SPIRIT”:
“The obsession with intrigues,” the so and so say”,unfounded criticism.To asses the thought and action of a comrade is not necessarily to speak ill of it.
It is extremely important that all exercise the application of mutual respect as regards what we say,write or do in public as well as in private.As a friend, family, community, forum or country it must be a collective responsibility to help any member who display disrespectful attitudes.
We must reduce our personal and collective weakness and develop our strengths to carry out what our historic responsibility demands of us with personal and collective self and mutual respect.” – AMILCAR CABRAL: COMBAT THE EVIL TONGUE.
2. In line with point no 1 and as “This cause is bigger than any individual or group of individuals, elites, cabal, clique, cronies, opposition political party, party leader, ethnic group and/or tribe”, I challenge all of you there for SERIOUS PROBE OF CAUSES, DEBATE, DISCOURSE & ANALYSIS OF “WHY NADD DISINTEGRATED? IT’S IMPLICATIONS & IT’S RELEVANCE IN COALITION BUILDING/ALLIANCE, UNITED NATIONAL FRONT OR “MERGER OF POLITICAL PARTIES” & IMPASSE ON WAY FORWARD FOR OPPOSITION FRONT & DISSIDENT; BALLOT BOX TOWARDS 2016.
3. ON THOSE NOTES, I WOULD RAISE ISSUE NO: 1 WHY UDP & NRP DECIDED TO LEAVE NADD? WHAT CLAIMS & JUSTIFICATIONS WERE MADE?
NEXT ISSUE NO.:2 WILL FOLLOW AFTER NO: 1 IS ADDRESSED?
LET DECORUM PREVAIL!
“BAI YI LEN WAAH GU SEW” AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES!
Absolutely Karamo, and I do not and will not suppose the use of violence Jammeh because I know what he is capable of, and the mostly likely consequence on the Mandingo tribe in The Gambia. I think Ndey Tapha is mainly concern about the complicity of mandinkas ourselves in this whole charade.
All I ask of mandinkas in The Gambia is to avoid jammeh totally; don’t support him, don’t vote for him, don’t help him comit crime against anybody; don’t even pronounce his name. Call him Lang Banjul.
Thanks
how about the complicity of our wollof family? Are we not all gambians? Have a carerful look at jammeh’s government and you will see they seems to hold far too many top jobs. how is that helping the struggle???
thanks
Absolutely Karamo, and I do not and will not support the use of violence Jammeh except in self defense because I know what he is capable of, and the mostly likely consequence on the Mandingo tribe in The Gambia. I think Ndey Tapha is mainly concern about the complicity of mandinkas ourselves in this whole charade.
All I ask of mandinkas in The Gambia is to avoid jammeh totally; don’t support him, don’t vote for him, don’t help him comit crime against anybody; don’t even pronounce his name. Call him Lang Banjul.
Thanks
1. THE FOCUS AND REAL ISSUE IS “WHY NADD DISINTEGRATED” AND I challenge all of you there for SERIOUS PROBE OF CAUSES, DEBATE, DISCOURSE & ANALYSIS OF “WHY NADD DISINTEGRATED? IT’S IMPLICATIONS & IT’S RELEVANCE IN COALITION BUILDING/ALLIANCE, UNITED NATIONAL FRONT OR “MERGER OF POLITICAL PARTIES”, IMPASSE, ON WAY FORWARD FOR OPPOSITION FRONT & DISSIDENT AMONG OTHER STRATEGIES & TACTICS TOWARDS BALLOT BOX TOWARDS 2016.
2. FIRST, I WOULD RAISE ISSUE NO: 1 WHY UDP & NRP DECIDED TO LEAVE NADD? WHAT CLAIMS & JUSTIFICATIONS WERE MADE?
NEXT ISSUE NO.:2 WILL FOLLOW AFTER NO: 1 IS ADDRESSED?
FROM 2006 NADD “DISINTEGRATION” TO THE BALLOT BOX 2016???
PROUD TO BE GAMBIAN!
“This cause is bigger than any individual or group of individuals, elites, cabal, clique, cronies, opposition political party, party leader, ethnic group and/or tribe”,
Baks, whilst your views appear quite logical and convincing, I think you are being too pessimistic and your views seem to suggest someone struggling within the box when they have an opportunity to explore beyond the confines of the box. I said this because, obviously, there is something we can pick from what you said in your attempt to compare Gambia with Senegal and that is:
The fact that the Gambia’s current electoral system is designed to recognize the “first past the post” only, this provides enough reason for parties to come together to contest the polls as a united front. What I am saying is that within the current systemic weakness, political parties could still rally around the bigger party and contest the polls to dislodge the incumbent. The basis for such a coalition could be a strong MOU subscribed to and signed by all the parties defining the character and responsibility of the government that wins on the back of such a coalition. With such a government, the first five or so years could be used to correct the country’s battered Constitution; overhaul the entire political and electoral process; initiate democratic reforms; restore our basic rights as a people; etc. At the end of the 5 years, that government would have to resign and an interim government set up (for 3 months) just to conduct new general elections in which a leveled playing field will be created for all parties to partake.
Baks, whether we like it or not, the truth is that the average Senegalese voter is far more educated politically that their Gambian counterpart. Therefore, a party (like the UDP) that has a far general acceptance from the electorate (based on their performance in previous polls) is likely to succeed in any coalition against the incumbent than any lesser known party(ies). You and I (with some fair level of intellectual sophistication) can better relate to PDOIS and we wished they could be given the opportunity to rule The Gambia, but the average Gambian voter does not have that level of sophistication and information to make decisions (through their votes) based on issues. Instead they are mainly concerned with such things as “Baks does not go to people’s ceremonies or otherwise; he does not interact with people; etc. therefore, he does not deserve our votes”. Whilst this may be true about Baks, they have little bearing on his ability to direct the affairs of the country. But who cares about such fine qualities in Baks? So this sordid reality must be understood and dealt with in a pragmatic manner rather than brushing it aside. Remember, within the time-span allowed for electoral campaign by the regime in Banjul, there is no amount of voter education that can change this voter mentality in the short run. So let us take practical measures to match short term challenges emanating from the environment.
@ Janko Camara
Your views and logic would have INSTALLED IDIRISSA SECKA (“LARGEST OPPOSITION RESULTS” & MAJOR CONTENDER OF SENEGAL 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS) AS LEADER OF SENEGAL COALITION OPPOSITION FRONT LEADER; HIM WINNING & BE PRESIDENT INSTEAD OF MACKY SALLAH BUT AT VARIANCE WITH WHAT HAPPENED ELECTING MACKY SALLAH AS PRESIDENT!
UDP SHOULD JOIN A “UNITED NATIONAL FRONT” AND THERE CAN’T BE ANY FORMAT, STRATEGY OR TACTIC BETTER THAN NADD BLUEPRINT!
Hi Dawda, I like the healthy debate as we endeavour to find solutions to the our country’s current woes. In this spirit, I acknowledge your contributions. It is however important to speak with facts when contributing to fora like this. I am not sure where you obtained your statistics from but nothing is further from the truth about the 2012 Senegalese Elections (First Round) results. For your information, below are the percentages obtained by the key parties:
Abdoulaye Wade (incumbent): 34.81%
Macky Sall: 26.58%
Moustapha Niasse: 13.20%
Ousmane Tanor Dieng: 11.30%
Idrissa Seck: 7.86%
Clearly, Idrissa Seck with his (7.86%) was nowhere near “the largest Opposition results” as you asserted. It goes without saying that the only fair and logical rallying point was Macky Sall and his party.
Beyond the results, let’s assume for a minute that your above assertion is correct. Why and how did Idrissa Seck, with his intelligence and eloquence, lost to the quite and somewhat reticent Macky Sall in vying for the Presidency. Assuming there had been some political horse-trading which got Macky the Number 1 job, but why would Idrissa Secka be ignored for the Prime Minister position, and inn his stead, a political green-horn, Abdul Mbaye whose life-time experience had been gathered in the Private Sector, precisely the Banking Sector? It just takes a little thinking to realise some things are just not tenable. Please revise your theory.
It is important to note that there comes a time in our lives when we have to stop the denial and accept reality. Horse-trading is a normal thing in politics. The UDP may not be as intellectual as other parteis, they may not have the best programmes like others, but they have the masses which is a key strength. Afterall, in Banjul the Rule of the Thumb is “First Past the Post” which cannot be achieved without numbers. This fact cannot be discounted. Given the above therefore, why don’t we be more pragmatic and join them on terms considered fair to all the stakeholders to dislodge the incumbent, reorganise the political, judicial and overall governance arena to midwife the birth of a proper Democracy in our beloved Gambia. Brushing aside reality for political theories that have never been tested, in my opinion, is a denial of the reality. Let us accept the Gambian reality and move on.
Apologies for the error in Paragraph 2 “quite” should read “quiet”
@ janko Camara.
1. YOU MISSED THE POINT ON “LARGEST OPPOSITION” (BASED ON RESULTS OF PREVIOUS ELECTIONS).
2.DIFFERENTIATE THESE TWO SITUATIONS: A. PRE-ELECTION & B. POST-ELECTION.
3. PRE-ELECTION (I.E BEFORE 2012 GENERAL ELECTIONS THE ELECTIONS PRECEDING THAT WAS 2007); SO NOTE IDRISSA SECKA “According to final results released after the presidential election, which was held on February 25, 2007, Seck took second place with 14.92% of the vote, falling far behind Wade, who won a majority in the first round.He won one of the country’s 34 departments, that of Thiès”.
IN 2007 ELECTION MACKY SALLAH WAS WITH PDS AND NOT LEADER OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR FORM HIS OWN PARTY.
Summary of the 25 February 2007 Senegalese presidential election results
Candidate Party & Coalition Votes %
Abdoulaye Wade Senegalese Democratic Party Sopi 2007 1,914,403 55.90
Idrissa Seck Rewmi Part And Liggey Sénégal 510,922 14.92
Ousmane Tanor Dieng Socialist Party of Senegal 464,287 13.56
Moustapha Niasse Alliance of Progress Forces Alternance 2007 203,129 5.93
Robert Sagna Takku Defaraat Sénégal 88,446 2.58
Abdoulaye Bathily Democratic League/Movement for the Labour Party
Jubbanti Sénégal 75,797 2.21
Landing Savané And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism 70,780 2.07
Talla Sylla Alliance for Progress and Justice/Jëf-Jël 18,022 0.53
Cheikh Bamba Dièye Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubël 17,233 0.50
Mamadou Lamine Diallo Tekki Taaru Sénégal 16,570 0.48
Mama Adama Guèye Sellal 13,700 0.40
Doudou Ndoye Union for Progress and Renewal 9,918 0.29
Alioune Mbaye Independent 9,016 0.26
Louis Jacques Senghor Movement for the Liberation of the
Senegalese People 8,212 0.24
Modou Dia Independent 4,491 0.13
Total (turnout: 70.5 3,424,926 100.0
4. Macky Sall” was a long-time member of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). After coming into conflict with Wade, he was removed from his post as President of the National Assembly in November 2008; he consequently founded his own party and joined the opposition. Placing second in the first round of the 2012 presidential election, he won the backing of other opposition candidates and prevailed over Wade in the second round of voting, held on 25 March 2012. ”
5. FROM POINT NO. 4 BEFORE OR PRE-ELECTION 2012 WHICH OPPOSITION LEADER HAS “LARGEST RESULTS” TO LEAD COALITION FROM STANDPOINTS OF UDP? IS IT NOT IDRISSA SECKA? THAT WHY I SAID MACKY SALLAH WHOSE PARTY WAS FORMED BETWEEN TWO ELECTION CYCLES (I.E PREVIOUS LAST ELECTIONS OF 2007 AND 2012) WOULD NOT HAVE ANY CHANCE TO OVERRIDE OR SOMERSAULTED IDRISSA SECKA; FROM YOUR RATIONALE & FUTILE ARGUMENTS.
6. IN UK ALSO PRE-ELECTIONS THERE ARE NO COALITIONS BUT WHEN A HUNG PARLIAMENT EXIST PARTIES CAN FORM COALITION.
7. LET UDP JOIN A UNITED NATIONAL FRONT LIKE NADD AS BEST BLUEPRINT FOR “MERGER OF POLITICAL PARTIES”. THAT CAN BE REGISTERED WITH A BANNER UNDER ONE UMBRELLA SERVING ALL PARTIES UNDER A COMMON GROUND AND TRANSITIONAL ONLY FOR A COMMON GOAL.
I thought I was debating with someone who really understood issues but apparently, you don’t fall under that category.
You Dawda Wrote with your own hands:
“Your views and logic would have INSTALLED IDIRISSA SECKA (“LARGEST OPPOSITION RESULTS” & MAJOR CONTENDER OF SENEGAL 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS) AS LEADER OF SENEGAL COALITION OPPOSITION FRONT LEADER; HIM WINNING & BE PRESIDENT INSTEAD OF MACKY SALLAH BUT AT VARIANCE WITH WHAT HAPPENED ELECTING MACKY SALLAH AS PRESIDENT!”
Clearly you never mentioned “Pre” or “post” or even 2007. Go back and re-read what you have written then come back with a better and coherent response. I do not need to argue any further. The point has been made. It’s a pity you are not admitting your error and for me that says it all. I leave the readers to discern the rest for themselves.
Coming back to you Dawda, it is very important to understand issues before jumping in midstream. The first law of wisdom is to learn before speaking.
What you have done is a total exposure of oneself. Essentially you went to google to copy and paste without tasking your brain (if you have any) to make sense of what the statistics provided you. So I will take you on in your own turf.
With Abdoulaye Wade securing 55.90% why would there be any need for a second round of voting? 55% is not the same as 45%. In 2007, Mr. Wade won the Senegalese elections “handsdown” so there was no need for a second round. Even if the scores of all the other candidates were put together, there could only sum up to 44.10%. This is why I said you don’t understand issues. You need a little bit of education on these matters.
yaya dos not ve any spitually dismantles. let me tell u this people are not ready to do golletion part.let know dat we for golletion any time they do we are ready to dea for them this Greedy man will going to leave now as soon as posible.