Gambian opposition politicians are said to be very easy going, down to earth and kind. To the extent the socialist party of PDOIS have leaders – Sidia Jatta and Halifa Sallah – who wear what locals referred to as ‘asobi‘ or same colour dress. The UDP leader is also a simple and down to earth man but he enjoys wearing fine dresses. Lawyer Ousainou Darboe graces occasions of his party supporters every weekend, and makes efforts to be presentable.
The NRP leader Hamat Bah on the otherhand is seen as a flamboyant person who also dresses well. The leader of GMC Mai Ahmed Fatty is another humble dresser. The PPP head is also a humble and easygoing political figure. Omar Amadou Jallow drank from the honey pot in the Jawara but he has proven his worth.
However, we have to add that PDOIS leadership have started enjoying fine clothes too. Halifa Sallah was recently spotted in a fine ‘dowme‘ dress. The question that we need to ask is how to measure the simplicity, approachability and humility of our politicians?
Arrogance, fame, elitism and community standing can easily go in a man’s head. The President of Uruguay always amazes people. Read his story below and see whether his conduct will not surprise you. You do not darw compare him to the Gambian dictator who dresses in very expensive attire and drives in convoys of expensive fleet of vehicles. President Jammeh is so obsessed with luxury that he snatches latest cars from their bonafide owners.
Who is more down to earth among the Gambian politicians? My buddy Sedia Jatta is married to a young lady and is easy going whilst enjoying Wulli; Sam Sarr comes from a wealthy land owning Serrekunda family; Lawyer Darboe is a successful provincial pride who has fine residences; Hamat Bah is a business man while Halifa Sallah was born with silver spoon in his mouth.
All these true patriots have continued to sacrifice their precious time, energy and resources all these men sacrifice their country and its people. Have they come closer to President Jose Mutica?
Culled from Huffington post
A hitchhiker was caught off-guard when a world leader offered to give him a lift.
Gerhald Acosta was looking for a ride on his way home from his job at a paper mill plant in southwestern Uruguay, earlier this month. He later explained in a Facebook post that though several cars passed him, an SUV with a government license plate pulled over, according to RT.com. Upon getting inside, Acosta realized that Uruguayan President Jose Mujica and his wife, Sen. Lucia Topolansky, were in the vehicle.
“I know this woman. It was Lucia, with Manuela the dog, and Pepe (Jose) in the front seat,” Acosta told El Observador, according to Fox News Latino. “I couldn’t believe it. The president was giving me a ride.”
The president and his wife had been on their way to their residence when they picked Acosta up, according to El Observador. The hitchhiker said that Mujica was concerned about why Acosta, who had to return home unexpectedly, needed a ride.
Acosta said that though the ride was a brief one, he was moved by the couple’s gesture.
“When I got out, I thanked them profusely because not everyone helps someone out on the road, and much less a president,” he told El Observador.
While Mujica’s decision to pick up the hitchhiker was a kind one, the leader is widely known for his acts of compassion. During a television interview in Montevideo last November, Mujica paused to give money to a man in need.
The leader has even been nicknamed “the world’s poorest president,” thanks to his decision to donate 90 percent of his salary to charity. When speaking about the money he actually keeps, Mujica told El Mundo, according to Univision’s translation, “I do fine with that amount; I have to do fine because there are many Uruguayans who live with much less.”
Thanks for sharing guys, the logic is, if you rule in peace, you will live in peace. Yaya Jammeh rule in chaos and violence, so he cannot even slow down let alone give a lift to passers by. The question is, how many Gambian opposition politicians even own a car?
The logic is, Haruna, Africa needs Poor Presidents like Uruguay’s Mujica and our own Sankara.
People need to understand that Darboe was brought up in the Household of PS Njie, a Wollof Politician, who is said to be a finest dresser in Banjul during his days. He usually buy his suits in London and Paris. And of course he taught him well.
Thanks
Unfinished legacies for opposition. Good observation. But isn’t Suntou taking a dig at Halifa and Sedia, both men depicted as enjoying life. Interesting!
Halifa born with sliver spoon in his mouth?? I don’t agree with that. Yes, he was much loved by his father, Dodou Sallah, because he was named after his father’s Marabout, Seriegn Babacarr Sey, Halifa General of the Tijania Brotherhood in Senegal. Out of great respect for this man, Halifa was said to be spoiled with love and does no wrong in the eyes of his father, an ardent UP militant, who called him “kelefa”.This is said to have culminated into a large degree of self importance in Halifa’s own mind, which people around him today mistook for principle. It is not.
His family background is neither rich nor educated.
Thanks
Where is the humbleness in our present creed of opposition leadership when they cling to their individualistic egos, in aura of selfish individualistic; or party gains at expense of Gambians being murderously butchered by the kanilai devilish and; its murderous syndicate…??? I beg to differ in opinion for now UNTIL we have our house in order politically…. The Gambia, including the opposition leadership, is being dragged in the gutter by the murderous tyrannical kanilai devilish murderer whilst our opposition leaders got all the support to stop it at the very moment by either temporally uniting behind the largest opposition party or unanimously selecting and rallying behind a candidate to selflessly reclaim the motherland bloodlessly; level the playing field and go on in their separate ways, instead of hangings on each other’s throats, when none of them are the enemy… Gambia is bigger than individualistic egocentrics…. God bless Gambia; Ameen.