Lafia Touray la Manju
Dear Readers,
In my previous article, I made a retraction of my earlier claim that Madam Ida Jallow-Sallah was a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and issued an unreserved apology for this error after it was clarified to me by my sources That claim, which was retracted, was not even the gist of my statement but part of a demonstration of how as a wife of an opposition leader, Madam Ida Jallow-Sallah was able to pursue a top career at the Ministry despite the ever prevalent culture of political persecution at work place in the Gambia. The thrust of my statement remains unshaken despite a rejoinder from the PDOIS Secretariat.
PDOIS offered no disagreement with my statement that Madam Sallah was a high flyer at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. They actually confirmed it but wouldn’t explain how she managed to do that in the face of this very unpleasant and of course illegal but prevalent practice in The Gambia.
Their supporters claimed that Madam Sallah was able to defy the odds because she is a highly qualified person but when I cited the case of Dr Boro Suso who is also a very highly qualified person with the same level of academic qualification as Madam Sallah, they lost steam and ran into hibernation.
Now, if you think that was a bit cheeky, you probably haven’t met PDOIS’ Administrative Secretary. He is “Touray Manding Morri” just like myself though. I guess that makes him my brother but that is a different issue.
Suwaibou Touray maintains that he was out to clarify things for me and to the readership and so when I did the decent thing by retracting the “permanent Secretary” claim, I thought PDOIS would be wisely enough to admit to things that we all know are inherently true, in the interest of clarity but hell no. Not only did they endeavour to make everybody believe that all Gambians can pursue a top career in the civil and public services of the country provided they got the right qualifications and regardless of their political views, association or nexus with key opposition figures. They also want everybody to believe that there are no victims of political persecution at workplace in the Gambia, and that the practice is just my own fantasy that never exists in the Gambia under this present regime.
We all know these claims are bonkers and a plethora of deception of the highest order. Therefore, I will not waste my time on them. However, I am concern by the kind of postulations PDOIS is making in support of their wild claims including the suggestion that the law on employment in the civil and public service in The Gambia is highly respected by the APRC government. If people are to believe these, I know no one does, there is no doubt that President Jammeh’s approval rating will shoot through the roof. Does PDOIS want to tell us this is why Jammeh had 72% in the last presidential elections?
PDOIS’ Propensity to Spin and Distort
When Halifa Sallah and PDOIS were accused of selling the draft constitution to the Gambian people in a referendum without telling them the down side of that document so that voters can make an informed decision, PDOIS did not have a defence but went on to scapegoat Ousainu Darboe for arguing the same constitution in court as if that was a culpable act of approval on Mr. Darboe’s part. Thus, I am not surprise that they are resorting to the same tactic to dampen criticism of how Halifa Sallah was indirectly rewarded through his wife for doing Yahya Jammeh a great favour by keeping the opposition divided and in a state of perpetual bricking.
Contrary to PDOIS’s claim, my information is that it is UDP’s national Congress that elects people to the party’s national executive and that Dr. Boro Suso is not one of the people elected to this body either at the UDP Brikama Congress of 1998 or in the Jarra Soma Congress of 2010. He is however, a strong member of the party and advises the executive and the party leader on policy. This is the first point.
Secondly, a university anywhere in this world is always independent of the government and should be governed by its own rules and policies. That is why the UTG has a council and a Senate whose role is to provide governance and academic policy for the UTG independent of the government. It was on this basis that Dr Boro Suso was abled to work for UTG and it is the same reason that made both Halifa Sallah and Sidia Jatta to be associated with the university at some point.
The UTG was not supposed to be an integral part of the government or under its control. However, what is clear is that Dr Suso sacking resulted from government interference into its affairs. He was kicked out after president Jammeh made pronouncements that he owns the university and that he was not going to allow any opposition member to remain a staff there. If this is not political persecution, then PDOIS must provide us their definition of political persecution at work place.
Dr Suso filed a case of unfair dismissal at the employment Tribunal but the magistrate refused to hear him despite a ruling from the High Court that he has the jurisdiction. Dr Suso’s file is still gathering dust at the Kanifing Magistrate Court and PDOIS is fully aware of this. Yet, they would ask me to provide a list of victims of political persecution at work place in The Gambia as if the practice does not exist. This is insensitivity of the highest order.
Dr Suso’s consultancy work with the UNDP is not even a contract of service with The Gambia government. Thus, it makes me wonder why PDOIS continues to trade on the ignorance and the gullibility of its supporters like this.
Amadou Sanneh has a business to run and a workforce to maintain. He is a professional accountant who is in the market for anybody who can afford to pay for his services irrespective of their political leaning or affiliation. All the work he carries out for his clients including the government are based on a contract of service, not a contract of employment. That means he is a self-employed contractor. Thus, unlike Madam Ida Jallow-Sallah who was an employee at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and under a contract of employment, Mr. Sanneh cannot be taken to be an employee of the government of The Gambia by any stretch of imagination.
Mr. Sanneh is undoubtedly a well sought for and top class accountant whom anyone would love to have to edit your books. But if anyone gets carried away by his quality services to the extent of wanting to employ him as a staff, I think I know the answer he will give you. He is a self employed accountant whose wife lost her job in the public service because of his involvement with the UDP. This is the incontrovertible fact.
It makes me wonder how far PDOIS is ready to travel just to shrug-off legitimate criticisms of the reasons behind Madam Ida Jallow-Sallah’s out of odds high flying career at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. The truth thought is that no spouse of an opposition leader in The Gambia is able to keep a career in the civil or public service like she did, and there is no way she could have done that without her husband doing a great favour for Jammeh in the opposition front.
I find it grossly insensitive and profoundly shameful that PDOIS is using the disability of a particular woman’s child just to score cheap political point and to provide cover for Halifa Sallah’s complicity in entrenching the dictatorship. This woman stayed in the country for years after she lost her job to political persecution, and here we have PDOIS telling us cock and bull story. HELLOOOO!!!!, she is a victim of political persecution at work place and her disabled child is not a political football!!!!
PDOIS’ Waffling
My attitude has always been to ignore PDOIS’ propensity to blow their own trumpet for I always recognise that to be a trait of delusion. On this occasion, however, I could not resist the temptation of putting their comment on Kemeseng Jammeh in its rightful context.
Shortly after the 2002 parliamentary election which the UDP boycotted, all the opposition parties except the NCP were invited to the US to discuss the possibility of an alliance. At this meeting, there was an agreement in principle that an alliance should be formed and parties must begin working on the modalities as soon as they return to The Gambia. It took them a long time because they could produce a MOU that was acceptable to all. It was in this period that a Bye-election was announced in Jarra West and the opposition parties were already in alliance at least in principle if not on paper, and it was in the same spirit that PDOIS offered collaboration with the UDP in Jarra West which was not refused. My information is that the Young man who offered to be a PDOIS candidate in this Bye-Election was not aware of the fact the UDP had ended its boycott of elections, and was accordingly advised. Most of the signatories on his nomination form are UDP supporters.
The UDP Leader, in the same unity spirit, also cut his holiday short in the US to return home, at his own expense, and campaigned for Halifa Sallah in the Serrekunda Central Bye-election of 2005. He also travelled to Wuli and Upper Saloum with UDP supporters to campaign for Sidia Jatta and Hamat Bah respectively at his own expense. The UDP also gave the same support to an NRP councillor in Upper Saloum.
Nobody seems to be aware of Halifa arranging a vehicle for UDP supporters in connection to the Jarra West Bye-election and even if he had done so, it must have been in the spirit of the coalition that was already agreed in principle among the parties for he would have had no reason to do that. One of the important essence of a coalition is to pull resources together. That is why nobody is hearing the UDP talking about their contributions to Sidia and Halifa Sallah’s Bye-election campaigns of 2005.
PDOIS is doing a lot of waffling about Halifa Sallah’s arrest in connection to the witch hunting saga but what they haven’t told the readership on the witch-hunting issue is that the UDP Leader and others also travelled to Kiang to urge people there to resist any arrest associated with the witch hunt since the practice was not only illegal but also amounts to abduction. Their mobilisation efforts was only thwarted by the “no show up” of the witch hunters in kiang.
The UDP has produced more Minority Leaders than any political party in The Gambia since the birth of the second republic and we know the privileges that come with that position.
In terms of renumeration, Kemeseng Jammeh used to get only D1000.00 more than the rest of the elected members and he does not have an official car. He uses his own; a very small blue car. Alhagi Momodou Sanneh also never had an official car. He uses his own car; 4X4 Nissan Patrol. So what is this business about Halifa not using an official car?? Who said he is entitled and which law states so?
Halifa’s election to Parliament was only a fluke that came about as a result of a UDP boycott. That is why he lost his seat in the subsequent election that the UDP participated.
I will not go about listing the number of UDP supporters who suffer illegal arrest and detention or to highlight the number of times the party leader himself suffered police and NIA harassment, illegal arrest, detention and at least one trump-up murder charge because those are established facts already in the public space.
The Charge of Tribalism
It was claimed that people have contacted PDOIS and stated that I am against Halifa Sallah because I am a Mandingo tribalist. I am not actually bothered by that because I know that is typical of PDOIS’ Mandinkaphobic elements.
People of all tribes will freely take to public fora and criticise Lawyer Ousainu Darboe without any fear of being labelled ‘a tribalist’ because he is a public figure. All that UDP supporters do is to register their strong disagreement. However, when a Mandingo do the same in respect of Halifa Sallah, he/she is called ‘a tribalist’. If we are to go by this logic, clearly a wollof assimilated Tukulor who is vehemently opposed to any coalition rallying behind Lawyer Ousainu Darboe, a Mandinka, is also a tribalist. If PDOIS’ Mandinkaphobic elements disagree with this, then they must review the litmus test they use to determine who is and who is not a tribalist.
I find it particularly astonishing that PDOIS would find it compelling to demonstrate that Halifa is not a tribalist. In my experience, and without prejudice, when a white guy walks to you and claim that he is not a racist, he is most likely than not, a racist for otherwise he would not have any reason to tell you he is not a racist. If PDOIS wants to tell us that the statement attributed to Halifa Sallah regarding how he prefer Yahya Jammeh over Lawyer Darboe as president, was borne out of tribal disdain, they must go ahead and do so. I have not insinuated anything neither did Tuku Jallow, the UDP Yai Compin behind the leak, accused Halifa Sallah of tribalism.
I still maintain that the solidarity message PDOIS sent to the UDP in commemoration of its 18th year anniversary is not sincere but merely a ploy to ward off criticisms particularly from UDP supporters like myself. Sooner or later, I will be vindicated.
Lafia Touray la Manju
Ends
I never intend to comment online, but Lafia’s comments are both provoking and disrespectful. DO NOTE THAT THE GAMBIA’S PROBLEM IS NOT HALIFA N UDP’S PROBLEM IS NOT PDOIS. I am not sure that u are a UDP supporter.
Do know that both Halifa and Darboe are genuine and selfless Public figures who sacrifice all their lives for this country. He hence deserve your respect if u claim to b a Gambian.
Hence u choose to see Halifa and pdois as udp’s problem, I want u to ask urself if the following were caused by Halifa n pdois instead of ple like u who hide behind parties to sow discord n manifest acute hatred against ple of respect.
1. Was it Halifa or pdois who threatened Darboe in 1996 election that took him to seek refuge at Senegalese embassy.
2. Was it Halifa or pdois that caused Darboe to call Yahya and accept defeat even before counting went half way. I was in d field working on d election wen Darboe went on air congratulating d man.
3. What prevented u n ur likes from showing solidarity n support when ur party leaders like late single, waa, Femi and even d recent members where arrested, tortured, sentenced and jailed for mere exercise of their rights. Wen Sam was arrested along with d other journalists, Halifa stood by him and ensured they released by 72hrs o he stay with him in detention.
4. Pls explain to ur grassroots what leads to ur consecutive decline in all elections from 1996 even after joining with Nrp o ppp.
5. What prevented udp from joining a united from where they would bring 50 times more delegates to vote for them than pdois in 2011. Hamat led that coalition only because of his votes from the previous election. Darboe was going to be voted by his own supporters had ple like u been genuine n stood by him
Pls do leave an innocent woman alone and stand to ur ground like that woman did and did not need Halifa to protect her positions.
Oh! No, No, Gambia, the question should be why is it that despite pdois’s almost 30 yrs existence and their claim of policy superiority, they never scored anything above 3 percent either in the first or second republics?????? You are just bitter.
Thanks
From hence, no pdois member will respond to u. People like me will take u on word for word n refute every propaganda against udp and its counterparts who are doing whatever they can to stop d atrocities in our land before its late.
Darboe conceding defeat and congratulating Jammeh is political maturity of the highest order. At the time he placed his call, Jammeh’s lead was insurmountable.
John McCain did not wait until the final vote was counted before he congratulated Obama neither did Mitt Roomey. This is how it is suppose to be.
Candidates always know the results before they are even announced on Grts.
I accept that Darboe made a mistake in calling Jammeh for Jammeh is not the type of person one should extend such a courtesy and respect to. No wonder his call was recorded and played on the national media without his consent which is illegal. But you know, Darboe has learnt his lesson on that.
Thanks
Please give us a break Lafia so-called Touray The Gambia has so many pressing issues u can write about but u keep on castigating PDOIS trying to gain cheap popularity. Pls pls PDOIS let this man don’t waste your time or divert your attention from pertinent issues.
LAFIA u are a disgrace.
I also want to agree with Gambia that PDOIS should no longer give this attention seeker anymore time…This is so because,in my view,PDOIS has exercised its right of response and has clarified the main issues raised by this sorry and sadly disturbed and bitter soul..
It has clarified the status of Madam sallah’s employment;
It has clarified its position on employment and job security;
It has clarified its position on inter-party cooperation to achieve strategic common objectives…
I therefore humbly beg the Administrative Secretary to reserve his time for genuine opponents of PDOIS who deserve to be engaged…Lafia is not interested in an honest discussion…He has a motive and nothing will stop him…Like Gambia stated,we will engage him and expose his deceits and lies…
TO MY IN-LAW AND ALL SILENT OBSERVERS….
Did you all notice how an item about the UDP’s 18th Anniversary did not attract a single comment from any PDOIS Members,supporters,sympathizers or followers…? Can you see that happening if it was about PDOIS…? And yet the PDOIS “side” is always blamed for being “this” or “that” when they are attacked and they come out to challenge their attackers….Any impartial observer should know who are the aggressors…
Bax, my in-law indeed. This is a Muhammed Ali southpaw, a sucker punch! Why would a PDOIS piece on KAIRONEWS get 100 comments & a UPD 18th Anniversary piece get ZERO comment ??????????
Because, Dear In-Law, WE Gambians are driven more by HATE than LOVE!! We love to FIGHT!! We want to DESTROY our enemy more than we want to SUPPORT our friend!!
Lafia…..
Let me begin by asking you this question… Who goes into “hibernation” when asked serious questions…?
Gambia has asked you a few questions…Others have done so in the past but got nothing…Let’s get some answers then….
Once again, in your undiminished desire to vent your frustration and anger at PDOIS (for whatever reasons), you have resorted to usual strategy of misinformation, twisting of statements and naked lies, to continue your misguided and futile mission…
But let’s begin with your charge of Madam sallah’s supposedly “high flying” job at the Ministry of Education..Please define your understanding of a “high flying” job…I am asking you because,according to PDOIS Administrative Secretary,these are Madam Sallah’s qualifications and positions at the Ministry of Education…
BA in Economics;
Masters in Comparative Literature;
PHD in Sociology with the highest honours given by French Universities…
She is listed as having held the positions of teacher (Upper & Senior Secondary Schools) and lecturer (University)…And Principal Education Officer (PEO) with certain responsibilities….
Is this your idea of a high flying job for a person with her qualifications…? Does anybody think that the position of PEO for a PHd graduate is a high flying job…? As a teacher with over ten years service with the Ministry of Education, I have worked under PEOs who did not even have a Masters Degree…I doubt whether some even held a Bachelors Degree at the time of their appointments…I know several Deputy PEOs and EO (Education Officers) who did not hold a Bachelors Degree…So it is a blatant lie that the position of Principal Education Officer is a high flying job for a PHd graduate…That’s more like suppression….
Now, let’s expose more of your deceits…
Quotes from Lafia…
(1)…”PDOIS offered no disagreement with my statement that Madam Sallah was a high flyer at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. They actually confirmed it…….”
Comment…Where did PDOIS confirm that Madam Sallah was a “high flyer” at the Ministry of Education…? We will wait for the appropriate quotation…
(2)…”Not only did they endeavour to make everybody believe that all Gambians can pursue a top career in the civil and public services of the country provided they got the right qualifications and regardless of their political views, association or nexus with key opposition figures. They also want everybody to believe that there are no victims of political persecution at workplace in the Gambia…..”
Comment….Tell us where this was stated…To expose your deceit, here’s what the Administrative Secretary informed this audience….
Quote Suwaibou Touray…” A social clinic was established where people come to lodge their complaints of violations of rights and hardships of all sorts for remedial actions…” This proves that PDOIS is dealing with victims of the regime, so they could not have been unaware of persecution…For the information of the audience, PDOIS has run social clinics well before the advent of the AFPRC/APRC era….
(3)…” I am concern by the kind of postulations PDOIS is making in support of their wild claims including the suggestion that the law on employment in the civil and public service in The Gambia is highly respected by the APRC government…..”
Comment….Tell us, with supporting quotation(s), where PDOIS stated that the law…….”is highly respected by the APRC Government…” Is there anybody in this audience who is not aware of the constant admonition of the government,by PDOIS, to adhere to the rule of law and end its rule of impunity…?
(4)…”When Halifa Sallah and PDOIS were accused of selling the draft constitution to the Gambian people in a referendum without telling them the down side of that document so that voters can make an informed decision, PDOIS did not have a defence but went on to scapegoat Ousainu Darboe for arguing the same constitution in court as if that was a culpable act of approval on Mr. Darboe’s part….”
Comment…
Who accused PDOIS of selling the draft constitution…?
Where did PDOIS scapegoat Ousainou Darboe…?
Was it PDOIS’ responsibility to inform the people about the contents of the draft constitution or did they carry out a voluntary civic duty …?
Where were you and the people you support..?
Why didn’t you carry out your civic duty to tell the people about the “down side” of the draft constitution or did the people ignore you..?
Would the result of the referendum be different if PDOIS did not say a word…?
Would military rule have ended if there was no constitution…?
Would the UDP and others be formed if there was no referendum and constitution…?
PDOIS knew that without a “Yes” vote, there would be no constitution and without a constitution,there would have been no return to choosing reps by elections…The constitution was a prerequisite for the coming into being of the 2nd republic, regardless of its imperfections…PDOIS has always maintained then, that your representatives can amend the laws to make them reasonable and sensible, but that the first huddle must be passed…Those who campaigned for a “No” vote should tell us what would have been their next step(s) if they disagree with PDOIS’ position…It’s never late to get your side, even if it is just for the records…
continued…
(5)…”Contrary to PDOIS’s claim, my information is that it is UDP’s national Congress that elects people to the party’s national executive….”
Comment…Where did PDOIS state that this is not the case…? In other words, where did PDOIS state that officials to the UDP National Executive are not elected by the National Congress..? And how reliable is your information when your informants can’t even differentiate between a Permanent Secretary and a Principal Education Officer…?
(6)…”…. and that Dr. Boro Suso is not one of the people elected to this body either at the UDP Brikama Congress of 1998 or in the Jarra Soma Congress of 2010.”
Comment… I don’t know whether this is true of the UDP, but there are many organisations that have executive members who are not elected…Such positions are usually occupied by people with special skills/knowledge and Dr Suso would fit that category…
(7)… He is however, a strong member of the party and advises the executive and the party leader on policy.”
Comment….If he advises the executive, then he must attend executive meetings….And if he attends executive meetings, then it is excusable to assume that he is an executive member of the UDP…
Please learn to differentiate between what PDOIS says and what its members say…The information about an executive member of a popular opposition party holding a job at a state institution is from PDOIS members and not from PDOIS, but it wouldn’t matter to you, anyway..
(8)…”Secondly, a university anywhere in this world is always independent of the government and should be governed by its own rules and policies.”
Comment…Aren’t you forgetting something…? Let’s remind you that we are talking about Gambia under the APRC with Yaya Jammeh as head of state, where according to you,is persecution, persecution,persecution for UDP members and associates of Lawyer Darboe…So don’t BS us about “Independence” of state institutions and own rules and policies…
(9)…”. It was on this basis that Dr Boro Suso was abled to work for UTG and it is the same reason that made both Halifa Sallah and Sidia Jatta to be associated with the university at some point.”
Comment…Now it is clear why you came with that BS about independence and own rules and policies..But is Dr Boro Suso’s association with the university the same as that of Halifa and Sidia..? According to you, Dr Suso was employed as a permanent member of the teaching staff…? I doubt very much whether the PDOIS duo were ever employed in all their association with the university…
Now, even if Dr Suso had lasted at the university for one month, or even one week, and going by your criteria, wouldn’t that question the status of the UDP as a genuine opposition party at the time that an adviser to the party leader was employed by a state institution…?
(10)…”. Yet, they would ask me to provide a list of victims of political persecution at work place in The Gambia as if the practice does not exist. This is insensitivity of the highest order.”
Comment…This is a classical example of your deceit and trickery….Here’s what PDOIS has written that you have attempted to twist to suggest that PDOIS does not believe that the practice exists…
Quote Suwaibou Touray….”Since we had written to the UDP to give an undertaking to form a united front to combat all unconstitutional actions against parties and their members we thought you would expose all those who have been unlawfully removed from the public service and challenge us to take up their cases or expose us as insensitive to the plight of the citizenry….”
As is clearly seen, PDOIS did not ask you to provide a list to proof that the practice exists…They want you to challenge them to take up these cases…PDOIS cannot take up anyone’s case if it is brought to their attention…
(11)…”Dr Suso’s consultancy work with the UNDP is not even a contract of service with The Gambia government…”
Comment…UNDP works with the government of Yaya Jammeh….Hallooooo…! The government was supposed to have blocked the appointment of Dr Sedat Jobe to the AU outside the borders of the Gambia…How about consultancy services of an adviser to an “opposition” Leader within the country…?
(12)…”Amadou Sanneh has a business to run and a workforce to maintain. He is a professional accountant who is in the market for anybody who can afford to pay for his services irrespective of their political leaning or affiliation. All the work he carries out for his clients including the government are based on a contract of service, not a contract of employment…”
Comment…Wowowowoh… Hang on a minute…! Forget about the type of contract (of service/employment)…
So Amadou sanneh, a UDP Executive Member is providing accountancy services to the APRC government of Yaya Jammeh…? Now, given that International Organisations, Institutions and foreign Governments demand private auditing of Government Accounts for credibility,isn’t it right to say that Amadou sanneh’s accounting firm is helping to present the books of the government as authentic and reflecting the true state of the economy, thus allowing it to access more funds…Could anyone find a greater collaborator within the opposition..?
continued….
Manju Touray, i say let the debate/revelations continue so that the people can make their own judgement….. These sorts of behaviours were rampant during the first republic and caused us dearly. they must be talked about and where one makes a mistake, one must apologise like you did regarding Madam jallow.
Gambians don t like it when some one hits the nail on the head. Some gambians have no regard for the greater good.
No offence intended though. peace
(13)…”Nobody seems to be aware of Halifa arranging a vehicle for UDP supporters in connection to the Jarra West Bye-election…..”
Comment…More lies and deceit…Where is it stated that Halifa arranged a vehicle for UDP supporters…?
Here’s what was written….
Quote Suwaibou…”Halifa with Faye Suso utilised his constituency office to coordinate the transportation of 1000 registered voters to vote for Kemeseng and further utilized the constituency fund to finance those who accompanied him after his victory as a UDP candidate.”
(14)…”In terms of renumeration, Kemeseng Jammeh used to get only D1000.00 more than the rest of the elected members and he does not have an official car. He uses his own; a very small blue car. Alhagi Momodou Sanneh also never had an official car. He uses his own car; 4X4 Nissan Patrol. So what is this business about Halifa not using an official car?? Who said he is entitled and which law states so?”
Comment…Where is it stated that Halifa was entitled to an official vehicle…?
Here’s what Suwaibou wrote…”As opposition leader he did not use an official vehicle and did not utilize the petrol vouchers given to him…”
Is this the same as being “entitled” to an official vehicle…? Don’t you know that private vehicles used for official errands are designated as official vehicles and entitled to fuel allocation…?
All that Suwaibou is implying is that halifa did not use an official vehicle…Being a humble person, he probably used public transport or PDOIS vehicle to attend to official duties..
(15)…”It was claimed that people have contacted PDOIS and stated that I am against Halifa Sallah because I am a Mandingo tribalist. I am not actually bothered by that because I know that is typical of PDOIS’ Mandinkaphobic elements.”
Quote Suwaibou Touray for comment…..”Hence it should be clear to all that there are no tribalists in The Gambia.There are just attempts to use ethno-linguistic origins as an instrument to promote personal interests whenever it suits a person….”
Deceit and deception is not possible…
@ Luntango Suun Gann Gi, how long did you live in Gambia?
@Paul Mendy. The secret of Jammeh’s success is that he fully understands his compatriots’ PASSION to DESTROY each other. Gambians don’t have the same passion to BUILD each other UP. It is the PHD syndrome. Bax, Lafia, it takes two to tango – enjoy the dance!
My in law….
I agree that it takes “two to tangle” but you will also agree that in this case (unlike APRC/UDP tangles), it is a “healthy” tangle of words rather than blows…
And that we on this side have been “forced” to respond due to the incessant and consistent attacks to ridicule, distort, misinform and sometimes insult and libel the PDOIS Party, its Leaders, members and their associates since 2006, when the NADD initiative failed..
Just visit the archives of Maafanta, Kibaaro, Freedom, Kaironews and Gambia L…It’s the same campaign of hatred, insults and ridicule and often by people belonging to the UDP or aligned to its coalition proposal…All the articles I read, from those signed by Halifa and other PDOIS Members, have been responses to address their critics…and the responses themselves attract even more criticism..
Even the so called impartial commentators, can’t resist taking a swipe.at PDOIS and leaving no one in doubt as to.where their sympathies lie, as far as coalition efforts are concerned. …So let’s put this “tangle” into perspective. ..
I don’t think Gambians have a passion to “destroy each other” but Jammeh certainly understands the national psyche and has used it effectively, to entrench himself and stay in power unchallenged seriously, for this long…The guy literally grow up within the system and was working at the “heart” of it.
Here’s my own humble opinion as to Jammeh’s successful stay in power. …Jammeh understands the following things..
(1)…Our belief/faith in Allah/God and misconceptions about that faith , especially the concept of “Allah’s/God’s Will”…
For many Gambians, all happenings in life are down to one thing only : Allah’s/God’s Will…If you get run over by a reckless driver, it’s Allah’s Will; You unfairly loose a job, it’s Allah’s/God’s Will ; Even if you get caught sleeping with someone’s wife, it’s Allah’s / God’s Will. . (Ndogalli Yalla; Allah laa Lanyinoo)..
Jammeh understands this very much and that’s why he is garbed in religious clothes…He chose Islam because Gambia is a Muslim majority country…If we were a Christian majority country, Jammeh would have been an evangelist President. .
Jammeh is even reported to have once said to Imam Baba Leigh, when he used to do sentry duties at Kotu Power Station, that to “rule Gambia was easy..Just pretend to be a devout Muslim”….Jammeh’s show/pretence as a devout or God fearing, benevolent Muslim is not a coincidence ..It’s for a reason..And it’s worked for him very well…
Continued. ..
(2)…Our dependence on each other for freebies and over adulation of, and respect for, the one who gives…
Gambian communities operate a kind of welfare system with the unemployed depending on the employed for everything…The more you give, the greater the adulation and respect you command, regardless of the source..
Women Kaafos will anoint you as their “father”; Youth football teams will identify you as their “Godfather”; griots will.sing your praises; and the elders will pray for your continued “success”…
Jammeh knows this and that’s why he has become the single biggest “philanthropist” in The Gambia…His “gifts” are limitless…From vehicles, food items, raw cash to scholarships, Hajj tickets and even houses…Crowds follow him because you never know when you are going to lay your hands on.a cool 10,000 Dalasis envelope…And he makes sure everyone knows about it through GRTS…
(3)…Our fraudulent and corrupt political system and practices…
I have stated this before, so there’s no need to elaborate further…Just to add that the prominence of community or opinion leaders,who can swing votes in one.direction.or the other, is well known and documented..That is why it is not uncommon to find entire “kabilolu” (clan) voting a certain.way because the head “decreed” it…
(4)…Our “fear” and “awe” of this “monster” called “Mansa Kunda” (government) that must always be appeased to get “development” and never criticised because that is “ungodly”..
Gambia, like almost all countries in Africa and other parts of the world, has come through a governance history of Kings, Lords and the nobility…In other words, the “Rule of the mighty”….Colonialists simply replaced the Kings and the nobility in their own system of exploitation and the rule of the mighty…
The attainment of independence and republican status was supposed to have ended this type of rule and ushered in.a new of government “of the people”, “for the people” and “by the people”, but that never truly happened…Instead, the new comers simply inherited the powers and privileges of the departing ones and blended it well, with the concept of “democracy and good governance”…No serious effort was made to educate the people about their rights and responsibilities, as citizens and vanguards against exploitation and maladministration…
Jammeh, having “grown up” under that environment and understanding it like the back of his hand, has simply taken it to a different level…Today, he is the only that is talked about as the philanthropist, the Muslim leader, lover of his people and the best “Mansa Kewo Gambia has ever had…
(5)…The “Carrot and Stick” approach..
Jammeh is known to be generous to those who please him but his retribution against those who cross his path is swift and brutal, instilling fear in a people who are generally peaceful and good natured….
Personally, I believe that the combination of these factors is what kept Jammeh in power for this long, and will continue to keep him in power, unless something extraordinary happens..
Lafia, fyi UDP n Darboe never involved in dat witchcraft saga. Y fight a fire where it never is n can’t reach. Y leave Jambur where more than 60 elders were abducted, Makumbaya, Sintet o other villages where villagers r abducted, kidnapped, tortured n even killed. Y leave Foni where villages r deserted n villagers relocate to Kiang, Kombo n Casamance. Y leave institutions like Gamtel house, police, military camps where loyal officers where forced to swear at shrines n drink concoctions n go to Kiang to stop d exercise. Stop d lie brother. If u cannot appreciate Halifa for his efforts which am sure u don’t know, pls don’t lie about him. Will b right back.
Lafia, fyi, it was only Halifa who engaged d government head on n challenged dem. That was y he was charged at d Brikama court for inciting ple to disobey d president’s orders of witch screening; holding meeting for ple to disobey a government exercise of witch screening. He was remanded at mile 2. Charges later drop for in d words of DPP CHENGE “FOR D INTEREST OF PEACE N JUSTICE”. He challenged d VP, interior minister Sonko, Army CDS Lang Tombong, IGP Jesus. He did not stop there, he involved d imam Ratib, all d scholars, Bishops, Diplomatic corps n ngos. He engaged Foroyaa n assigned special reporters Abubacarr Saidykhan n Babucarr Ceesay to follow n report on every movement of d team who where always under heavy military escort from state guard. Where were u, Darboe n UDP??? Let us stop d lie n fabrication pls for d sake of d Gambia n ur children. Y didn’t Darboe go defend d Jambur 4 in Brikama court when they were charged field arson in relation to d exercise just as he defended d UDP militants in court when they r charges for illegal assembly n use of load speakers with permit. Ple being quite doesn’t mean that no one knows anything. We are love witnesses to all these things n waiting to give credible evidence in courts at d right time o to investigators, nit just rantle in d media hiding behind anonymity.
I will be back
Lafia,u accuse Halifa of being anti Mandinka. Even ur fingers that u use to type those words r telling u U A LIER N DECEITFUL”. What tribe is Halifa???? As u say, if he is tuklor, he understands Mandinka more than u. But do u understand tuklor too??? Where r u?? Halifa graduated in d 70s wen u were nothing, he is a sociologist n has every chance of maximizing himself. He choose to stay n develop n enlighten his ple. He could have done Like d 2/3 of gambians overseas. When they established PDOIS n Foroyaa in d 80s where were d ple that u support n urself. In August 1994, wen he refused d position of d junta n defied their ban, they were arrested n detained, taken to court n they fought their freedom n Foroyaa stood. Where were u n those that u stand for??? We were here. Of recent yrs who is taking d government to task on d detentions without trials n detentions without trace?? Is UDP doing d same?? Stop d joke, this about a country of 2m ple. Who is defending d gambians, PDOIS o UDP??? Wat r d organs of UDP, media, schools literacy etc like pdois?? Who is sponsoring dem? Who is exposing d wrongs within? Come out n raise ur voice just once like Halifa does pls.
Halifa wins on serekunda, sedia wins in wulli. Does Darboe win on niani too? He doesn’t cus he is surrounded only by ple u. He wins only in Kiang n Jarra, not bcus of tribe but bcus those ple r principled n genuine. Not driven by ttibalists like u n Yaya who introduced a region wide no oppose in d history of Gambian politics. All genuine opposition leaders r arrested n detained by tyrants around d world. Wen was Darboe arrested n detained???
Will b back on the coalition.
U accuse Halifa of refusing to unconditionally join Darboe n UDP. UDP was joined by ppp, ncp in 1996, wat happened to that union after d election? 2001 by ppp wat again?? 2006 by NRP n GPDP wat happened to d coalition?? 2011 by PPP n GMC wats d state of this too?? Wat were d bases of those unions. Majority party lead unconditionally?? If it was not d UDP leadership unilateral boycott of d NA election in 2002, would APRC have d majority to amend d constitution n remove d second round?? Stop fooling ple. U took Senegal Ablie Wade coalition. Wat happened to Mustapha nyass n d other parties. Y did Senegal had to go 2ru fire n smoke to uproot Wade in 2012.
Lafia, wow, the response is top draw. I was in the Provinces for a week and some days. The UDP youths farm in Nianija harvest preparation and a meeting we held in Soma. In all honesty, your comments are spot on. What is important is for Gambians to work in harmony and with genuine intentions.
The pdois elements have been rattled and they will keep throwing hot air as usual, but the aim on the ground is to organise a solid countrywide youth gathering, this way, the energy we are trying to gather will come to fruition.
The problem with the UDP is that they don’t make a big meal out of their activities. The party executives don’t believe in hype and making too much noise, since the Yaya Jammeh who is our problem remains in place. Just read what Bax, Gambia and some mad pdois boys are drumming.
Halifa Sallah’s false pretence and Ndongo Serrekunda deception is wide open here in Gambia. He pretends not to want limelight and name, all false. That man like name more than anybody, this is why, he will create concrete road blocks whenever there is a genuine opposition dialogue. A man who lacks support and command can only be someone in an unfair, trouble political situation like the Gambia.
Halifa and his boys in pdois knows fully well, after the dictatorship, they will find it extremely hard to compete, hence, they will want the current state to continue for as long as it takes. Remember they don’t produce any MP during the first republic, and with an open and free political climate, they will remain journalist in foroyaa rather than politicians. Their fears are unwarranted and callous.
They run a business in foroyaa, and their newspaper is booming during this dictatorship.
The good thing you Lafia should remember is that, UDP executive don’t talk about pdois, from the youths to women and the senior executive.
The Gambia is strangled by yaya Jammeh and everything need to be done to end that, focusing on pdois will distract that work. One thing, pdois is far comfortable under the current system, far comfortable.
Thanks Lafia, keep it up
Thank you Musa Kora for informing us about the activities of the UDP youths in The Gambia. I am already proud of the women wing. My donation is on the way.
Long live the UDP and God bless The Gambia.
Lafia, I hear Suwaibou was talking about elites and accusing other politicians of being elites. What a load of rubbish nonsense. Who are more elitist than the gang in people bureau? These men are so elitist, outsiders hardly get into their clique. The false air of simplicity is utter disgraceful. They want to be opinion leaders, (elitism), they want to have opposition unity talks their way (elitism), they want to indoctrinate the gullible (elitism), need I continue. Let Suwaibou stop the falsification and cheap attacks, it doesn’t suit you. Who was contesting for the other Wulli for PDOIS in past election? An elites of Suwaibou’s calibre. What was Sedia Jatta’s attitude to questions he dis like, rubbishing the questions and questioner, elitism.
Let them stop the pretence.
Bax, you are misrepresenting facts again. Every honest reader knows it is PDOIS who keep bringing UDP into their analysis and media propaganda. As Musa Kora said, UDP officials hardly ever talk about PDOIS. This fact is online. UDP supporters tend to react to Halifa’s write ups where he mention or spoke ill of the UDP. In fact it was SS Daffeh and Suntu Touray who mainly respond to Halifa. Don’t use lies to mask PDOIS deliberate strategy. UDP have no reason to speak about pdois, none, since the UDP always sees APRC as their main problem. Lawyer Darboe or other UDP officials never go out of their way to campaign against fellow opposition. PDOIS do that, I went to their rallies where they speak more against fellow opposition than APRC. DOn’t assume that just because you have more time to comment people are blind. I can remember vividly, when SS Daffen and Suntu started taking Halifa to task did he stop his bias commentaries.
Mr Halake is right, when it matters Gambians don’t unite. If you are a fringe and marginal organisation, work in harmony with the one that can end the problem. But if you are hostile to those people and became immune to reason, what do you expect? If UDP main organ ignore pdois, the militants outside may not. Wasn’t it Halifa who wrote the code of conduct to pdois indoctrinated lunatics, wasn’t it him who rubbish the actions of DUGA, wasn’t it him who go after people on Maafanta. SO stop misrepresentation. You cannot fool people.
Hassan…
You should back up your claims with at least a statement from PDOIS that specifically attack UDP or “speaks ill of it” or provide a reference…As far as I’m aware, and I have followed happenings for a long time, Halifa’s “write ups, as you called it, has always been in response to criticisms against PDOIS…If you have anything to the contrary, I would be.interested to know where to find it…
You should also be mature enough to.differentiate between the UDP and it’s members…That way, you don’t misrepresent people or misunderstand what is said….Otherwise, you shouldn’t be taken seriously…
I.have.not stated that UDP as a party has been engaged in anything against PDOIS…What I stated was the people.who have been engaged in this malicious campaign against PDOIS, since 2006, have either identified themselves as UDP members, supporters, sympathisers or those who align themselves with the UDP coalition proposal. ..
I.have also stated that the UDP’s failure to release a statement to disassociate itself from.these attacks against PDOIS, is at the least, very disturbing and at worst, could amount to complicity. …
Regardless of how you view PDOIS code of conduct to its membership, it is abundant testimony that the party distances itself from.the online activities of some.of.its members and.at the same.time, reminds them.of their obligations as.members of the party…
This is the sort of thing we want to.see from the UDP to dispel.any doubts about their complicity in the activities of their members, in particular and supporters in general…
You cannot tell me anything about the position.of Halifa with regards to the DUGA incident, because I followed that very well…Again, you have failed to state how Halifa went after people on Maafanta..I know that at point, he responded to Fatou Jaw Manneh ‘ s article about PDOIS. ..But you have to tell us what you mean, if you are truthful. ..
It amazes me how some.of.you complain about other people’s”time”, as if contributing in online discussions requires so much time…If you don’t have “time” that’s not my problem…
I don’t know who is a “fringe and.marginal organisation” that is required to work in harmony with the one that “can end the problem”.
May be you need to.more specific but I will tell you something…Nothing can be more delusional.than thinking that the UDP can “end the problem” of Yaya Jammeh by itself..And working in harmony in my view, should be guided by common and shared objectives, rather than the furtherance of one party’s interests..
And please, mind your language next time…I.take liberty with Lafia because he’s an old adversary of.mind…I can’t remember ever engaging you…
Bax, you contradict yourself a lot. Why do you say that you know everything going on online concerning PDOIS. Then again you want Hassan or anybody for that matter to give you statements or evidence on some of the events. What do you need Bax? Stop confusing yourself.
Well first, I didn’t claim that “I know everything going online about PDOIS …” That’s a FALSE STATEMENT….
Second…If.you are going to allege that someone said or wrote something, you must be prepared to back your allegation up so that you don’t leave people in doubt…
Third…If you want to be taken seriously Janjanbureh, produce the “contradictory statements, side by side, to proof that you know what you are saying..
Even if I had claimed that I know “everything going online about PDOIS”, how can asking for proof for an any allegation be contradictory. .?
Friends and foes, thank you all for your comments. I hope we will find reason to unite against Jammeh after all these. Pdois cannot continue to play double standard and expect a pass from everybody.
I am reserving my comments in anticipation of a rejoinder from the PDOIS Secretariat.
Thanks
Give us a break Mr behind the mask Lafia Touray, at first I thought you were an opposition but after a clear analysis of your of what you wrote, one can come to the conclusion that you are trying to divide the opposition.You are pro Jammeh Mr Lafia Touray.
@ Kemo. I agree. I think this particular attack on PDOIS is completely uncalled for. It does not deserve the long-winded response from my in-law Bax.
Just to expose the deceit my in-law…
None of d self acclaimed UDP supporters are responding to my Questions. U only coming up with more unsubstantiated allegations to direct d debate from facts to fictios
Like i said b4, d Gambia n d oppositions’ problem is not Darboe, UDP, Halifa o PDOIS. Rather, our problem is YAHYA N APRC ONLY. I therefore advise that we direct our collective energy, time, knowledge n resources in bringing Yahya down.
“FOR D GAMBIA OUR HOMELAND
WE STRIVE N WORK N PRAY
THAT ALL MAY LIVE IN UNITY
FREEDOM N PEACE EACH DAY
LET JUSTICE GUIDE OUR ACTIONS
TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD
N JOIN OUR DIVERSE PEOPLE
TO PROVE MAN’S BROTHERHOOD
WE PLEDGE OUR FIRM ALLEGIANCE
OUR PROMISE WE RENEW
KEEP US GREAT GOD OF NATIONS
TO THE GAMBIA EVER TRUE”
PLEASE TO ALL PDOIS MILITANTS AND SYPATHISERS LEAVE THEM TO TALK! ITS THEIRS, AND ONLY A DOG BARKS IN HIS OR HER COMPOUND!
LET’S IMPOSE SELF-RESTRAINT AND LEAVE THEM!
“Bax, you are misrepresenting facts again. Every honest reader knows it is PDOIS who keep bringing UDP into their analysis and media propaganda.”
Hassan, may be your honest readers are the UDP supporters, militants and members. They are the only ones who can support your erroneous claims that PDOIS keeps bringing UDP into their analysis. You wouldn’t state, however, how UDP came to part of such analysis. Also, PDOIS does not engage in media propaganda. What we do with the media is to expose your lies, fabrications, distortion of the truth and facts, and to set the record straight.
“As Musa Kora said, UDP officials hardly ever talk about PDOIS. This fact is online. UDP supporters tend to react to Halifa’s write ups where he mention or spoke ill of the UDP. In fact it was SS Daffeh and Suntu Touray who mainly respond to Halifa.”
May be UDP officials are not talking about PDOIS, but certainly they are talking about PDOIS through their principal character, Lafia, who claims to be privy to everything that goes on in the UDP executive. Sometimes his utterances are so bold and with authority that one would only contend that he indeed is privy to what goes on inside the UDP executive. He is also very close to Lawyer Darboe. His exchanges with other UDP supporters and members on the Gambia-l speaks volumes about his close proximity to the corridors of power within the UDP executive.
These are the very people who are roaming the online discussion forums and other internet outlets to castigate PDOIS; and to cast aspersion on the party and its leadership. All because PDOIS will not do their bidding.
And those two people you mentioned with their different aliases are always in the forefront of the campaign to ridicule and denigrate PDOIS and its leadership. They are the ones who are right here that we are having this tit for tat.
It is an insult to say what they write about PDOIS and its leadership is a reaction to Halifa’s write-up. They do not have the intellectual capacity to react to anything that Halifa writes about; not on the political situation in the Gambia, the economic situation in the Gambia and the social and cultural realities in the country.
“Don’t use lies to mask PDOIS deliberate strategy. UDP have no reason to speak about pdois, none, since the UDP always sees APRC as their main problem. Lawyer Darboe or other UDP officials never go out of their way to campaign against fellow opposition. PDOIS do that, I went to their rallies where they speak more against fellow opposition than APRC.”
If PDOIS has a deliberate strategy which it does, it wouldn’t be one that will be wasted on the UDP that has no conceptual orientation or the logical basis that would necessitate PDOIS to formulate a strategy against.
Just listen to their political meetings and the people who speak in these gatherings and what they speak about, you will then be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt who indeed has the capacity to influence and dictate the course of political events in the country.
If PDOIS is not that power to be reckon with, I wonder why UDP supporters and members are behaving as if the survival of their party is inextricably linked to what PDOIS does. No wonder also that they think they cannot win the Gambian presidency without the support of PDOIS. They wouldn’t admit it but they desperately want PDOIS “to fall in line and support the UDP”, the biggest opposition party in the country. All these malicious campaign is about “falling in line” behind the biggest opposition party. But we know better. And they should take this to the bank. The evolution of the third republic will be a battle for the minds and hearts of the Gambian people. We will never cede our responsibility to this eventuality.
“DOn’t assume that just because you have more time to comment people are blind. I can remember vividly, when SS Daffen and Suntu started taking Halifa to task did he stop his bias commentaries.’
If these are the people who can take Halifa to task then the UDP has a long way to go to make their impact in Gambian politics. These are the very people who are here and I am giving them the run for their money let alone to talk about Halifa. The Lafias and the Musa kora’s will first have to get pass us before they can even dream about taking Halifa to task. No wonder Lafia is so full of it because he is under the delusion that he has the intellectual capacity to take Halifa to task. What a joke.
“Mr Halake is right, when it matters Gambians don’t unite.”
Why are Gambians not uniting? You people know what the problem is; you know where the problem lies, yet you wouldn’t touch it with a ten inch pole. And you want to find scapegoats. Pathetic.
“If you are a fringe and marginal organisation, work in harmony with the one that can end the problem.”
Who is calling the shots? Not you. The fringe and marginal organization has the capacity to influence and dictate the course of political events in the country. And it has. You cannot dictate how we can work with you. If we work together, sure, we can end the problem.
“But if you are hostile to those people and became immune to reason, what do you expect? ”
Don’t give us a character that is not ours. PDOIS is the most matured, principled and reasonable political party in the country. All what we do is govern by reason and the national interest.
“If UDP main organ ignore pdois, the militants outside may not. Wasn’t it Halifa who wrote the code of conduct to pdois indoctrinated lunatics, wasn’t it him who rubbish the actions of DUGA, wasn’t it him who go after people on Maafanta. SO stop misrepresentation. You cannot fool people.”
Your distortions and misrepresentations are pathetic to say the least. You are the ones misrepresenting and fooling the people. If you can. Deception is no longer possible.
“Friends and foes, thank you all for your comments. I hope we will find reason to unite against Jammeh after all these.”
Typical what the wollof would call; daha garnar wah sa sohla. You find the occasion and the medium to spew all your hatred, character assassination, malicious campaign, denigration and what have you to your hearts content, and now you hypocritically called on those people you have publicly lied against to unite with you.
After all what you have said you are now the ones who mean well and have the interest of the country at heart, and all others should be charitable and follow your exemplary lead. What is the basis of that unity?
Lafia, you are an unapologetic PDOIS hater. In your ill conceived mind PDOIS is the impediment that has been standing in the way of the UDP to get to the Gambian presidency.
You have been the most vociferous in castigating PDOIS in its refusal “to fall in line” behind the UDP in your party-led coalition agenda and its equally promise of forming a coalition/alliance government when ever elected to power. This shows that PDOIS is undoubtedly a political force to be reckon with despite your annoying efforts to prove otherwise.
“Pdois cannot continue to play double standard and expect a pass from everybody.”
This is the kind of empty statement that is sickening. Double standard. What is the double standard and against whom? Be rest assured that we are not going to “fall in line” behind any other political party. I will borrow your quote: “I believe in unity but I do not believe in a dumb unity” something to that effect, I will have to check the Bantaba under your other pen name to get the right quote.
“I am reserving my comments in anticipation of a rejoinder from the PDOIS Secretariat.”
I hope the PDOIS Secretariat give no more attention to you.
Thanks
Gosh!! This is it; a clear testimony that Halifa Sallah is a controversial figure. Already, I am vindicated.
Thanks
“Vindicated” on what? Peddling web of lies, false fabrications, rumour mongering, smearing campaign, distortion!
Dawda, don’t grab defeat out of the jaws of victory! The Mandingo Warrior has been TKOed on this one LOL.
This lafia character is a very divisive character and a big ethnocentrist. The only time hear him contribute to the Gambian discourse is when he throws stones at the PDOIS.
He also has the nerve to call Halifa a tribalist.
The interestindig part is 99% of the people that approve of his comments have specific “last names”.
I will stop visiting kaironews if this guy is continues to be given a platform to tear apart genuine people while ignoring the real dreadful plight of Gambians, just like I have boycotted confused pa nderry
Bye Bye Gomez!! Your depression has undoubtedly gone above the legal limit.