The defeat of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic, Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) by the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) in the Lower Saloum by-election has proven the ruling party members fears of losing an election in a level playing field hence the urgency to tighten laws in a bid to eliminate potential political threats. The crushing defeat of the APRC candidate backed by the entire state machinery and resources clearly signal that the unstoppable Wind of Change has started sweeping in the country. The landslide victory of resource scarce opposition candidate in a country that symbolises political oppression should inspire the opposition to unite against President Yahya Jammeh and his cabal.
Modou Bamba Gaye on Thursday stunned the nation after he had polled 2, 764 votes as compared to Kaba Touray’s 1, 618 votes. The defeat dashed the ruling party’s hopes of retaining a seat that became vacant after the occupant Pa Malick Ceesay was expelled from the party. He now faces corruption and economic crimes charges.
The NRP leader’s statement that “the results are clearly indicative of the people’s desire for a change in the 2016 election”puts the opposition in a bright spot. This however does not mean the opposition leaders should fold their hands and expect Manna from Heaven. We understand their daily challenges and struggle but they must not relent in the fight to uproot one of Africa’s worst dictatorships in the 21sr Century. The only winning formula is unity to achieve a common goal and whoever becomes an obstacle to that must not be forgiven. We cannot afford to have another five-year mandate of a President who publicly declared owning the country and uses his sweeping powers to decide who goes to jail or survives. Another Jammeh era heralds doom for everyone, including those bunch of nincompoop APRC deputies who blindly enacted a law to disenfranchise poor Gambians and mortgage our country to the rich class.
Ends
Congratulations are in order for the people of Lower Saloum, and so I wish to say a very big “congratulations” to the people of Lower Saloum…
Well done the NRP for having faith in the power of the people and emerging victorious against all odds….
This is.not just a defeat for.the APRC…This is a “crushing” and “humiliating” humbling of.the APRC and a clear signal that change through the ballot is possible…
It is also a testimony that when people want change, nothing can stop them…What better incentive, motivation and encouragement could there be for a strong unified opposition, than this early pre-2016 “elections present..?”
The message from Lower Saloum is LOUD and CLEAR…I hope all concerned and interested have taken note…
The people of Lower Saloum deserve my thanks, because despite the arrogance with which the APRC conducts its campaigns they have decided to ignore them and voted for the right person in the right time to teach Jammeh that he does not own the people and Gambians that they can change their country when they want to.
The more this is done the less Jammeh will stop dismissing NAMs from his party with impunity and treat Gambians anyhow.
BRAVO TO THEM AND NRP FOR JOB WELL DONE!!
Peaceful change a REAL possibility! Bajaw & Maxs should listen to daddy Dida! Here is my comment on the Opposition’s chances just JUST THREE DAYS AGO!
Luntango Suun Gann Gi, 4th August 2015, KairoNews:
“Indeed Kamalo, at long last we agree. The opposition’s ‘predicament since the demise of NADD’ is LACK OF UNITY. Only a SINGLE Opposition Presidential Candidate and only ONE NAM opposition candidate in each constituency can effectively challenge the APRC. As long as the Gambian opposition cannot offer a United Front, the APRC juggernaut will continue winning.”
Chew on that, Maxs & Bajaw! (sorry my in-law, can’t resist winding up these small boys).
I am very cautious about this victory . I want to suggest that it could be a bait for opposition parties for 2016 election . However , the unity of opposition parties are absolutely necessary for effective electoral victory . Jammeh and his criminal regime are very well ahead of opposition parties because they dictate to them the political climate . Mr Hamat Bah has huge responsibility to help effect change but it seem to me he has been legitimizing dictatorship.
On the other hand , if this is true victory , then opposition parties needs to come together and form united front with complete and total support of all party leaders . They can put up strong challenge and this particular leader should be ready to sacrifice his life , should be inspirational , charismatic and visionary. He should be able to appeal to majority Gambians regardless of tribe or region. I think the current leaders should give chance to a strong woman or individual who is not very entrenched into politics but should have good national recognition and respect.
I think Bax and Dida needs to be cautious too before blowing huge trumpet .
I welcome this result but with caution. The APRC regime is on a charm offensive at the moment, this could be a token gesture to make the international believe that there can be free and fair elections in the Gambia, come the general election it will be a totally different affair. The regime will put all their machinery in gear to ensure that they firmly stay in power.They need friends because they are cornered and this like the prisoner release is their way of trying to appear legit so that the donor countries can release funds. We most not be fooled by their clever tactics, a rogue regime is always full tricks, hope the EU and America don’t fall for it.
Dida, I am actually older than your murderous evil kanilai god…
It’s shameless lie to refer to me like you have; please respect yourself…
This development is indeed heartening & encouraging signals for our opposition leaderships to unify to finally take upon the Murderous kanilai EVIL Killer Devil…
Gambians must NOT be complaisant by this win alone; this is the time to stay steadfast, redouble our efforts to ensure the country is truly delivered from tyrannical decadence…
God helps & bless collective endeavour to salvage Gambia; Ameen.
BAJAW, Bajaw, Bajaw, It is NOT “this win alone” Bro!!! It goes back all the way to NADD in 2006. A UNITED Opposition will give my beloved APRC a good run for their money. I said, nay, STATED, so as above and earlier:
Luntango Suun Gann Gi
July 31, 2015 at 3:27 PM
Bax, instead of all this blah blah, why don’t Gambia’s Opposition unite and have a single manifesto and a Shadow Cabinet – Uhuru and Ruto did that and they were two bitterly opposed and powerful tribes.
NOW you guys are now saying that Jammeh won Upper Saloum for the NRP!!!
I am off to bed Bajaw, can’t deal with this crazy logic!!
ONE LAST THOUGHT:
Maybe UDP & PDOIS should stay out of the next election so that NRP can take on APRC head-on … we may just end up with a President Hamat Bah!
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Hamat Bah and the NRP for their well spirited campaign in lower saloum and of course for their victory.
Thanks
Dida, you are just a miserable self-enlisted MERCENARY on the MURDEROUS EVIL kanilai DEVIL’S services, pretentiously fooling some naïve Gambians who mistake & assume you as MERE debater…
You can NEVER EVER deceive ALL & ANY MATURE thinking Gambians, who can ALWAYS see & view through you & your INSINCERE shameless aid-abet lies peddling, for our Murderous EVIL kanilai Killer DEVIL…
Every Gambian & our sincere friends following on this forum, & anywhere else I have ever commented before, knows Bajaw’s unflinching stands on collective endeavoured unified opposition coalition, for successful reclaim salvage of our homeland…
Alternatively, a Plan-B approach, IF a unified merger fails to exterminate our Murderous Tyrannical kanilai Killer DEVIL…
EVIL kanilai yaya DEVIL, knows the NOBLE December attempt was real, out of blue, from where it NEVER assumed or suspected; except for the hypocrisy of the “informant US” traitors; while some of you may dismiss this call & pronouncements, EVIL Killer yaya DEVIL knows GENUINE Gambians WILL ALWAYS come after its stinky smelly backside, until the motherland is SUCCESSFULLY freed from tyrannical decadence…
Whilst it’s perpetual self aggrandizement for your Murderous EVIL kanilai god, & materialistic endeavours & gains for the lot of you in its mercenary terrorist services, it’s an INCUMBENT BIRTHRIGHT obligation, upon ALL genuine & even the naive Gambians; matters of life & death, to ensure to restoration of sanity, rule of law, justice & fair play in our motherland; NOTHING short or less…
God helps & bless collective endeavour to salvage Gambia; Ameen.
Lafia, it is our Leader’s Nation Clean Day. So I can just quickly say that we will change the law so that ALL ELECTIONS TO BE VALID MUST HAVE 3 or MORE SEPARATE PARTIES CONTESTING – the opposite of One-Party Dictatorships. Surely no one can argue with MORE choice for the voters!
Anyway, I am off to do my share of cleaning.
We patriotic citizens of Gambia do not need political correctness, nor do we need to be lecture how to expose and remove criminals with their leader in the name of (Yaya Jammeh ) from our country for good.
We owe unpologetically to ourselves and our children as well as our forefathers, The greatest enemy of clear language is insincerity.
So let me make something very clear to all of you collaborators , Our duty as men and women of the Gambia, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist, to fight by any mean necessary, with every resource at our disposal to remove Yaya Jammeh and all his collaborators form our country and send then all straight to hell. be back……………
We patriotic citizens of Gambia do not need political correctness, nor do we need to be lecture how to expose and remove criminals with their leader in the name of (Yaya Jammeh ) from our country for good.
We owe unpologetically to ourselves and our children as well as our forefathers, to fight and remove Yaya Jammeh and his criminal enterprise from our country, The greatest enemy of clear language is insincerity.
So let me make something very clear to all of you collaborators , Our duty as men and women of the Gambia, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist, to fight by any mean necessary, with every resource at our disposal to remove Yaya Jammeh and all his collaborators form our country and send then all straight to hell. be back……………
I believed, This victory of NRP is stage managed with sole purpose to steal time, and to distract and divert attentions, notion that this victory in Lower Saloum Is a clear signal that change through the ballot is possible is either naïve or stupid.
I do not see this by-election to be legitimate for the following reasons and therefore does not deserve anything:
1. It is conducted on an amended electoral law that is in contravention to the constitution in many sections eg, the deposit amount in the constitution is not the same. That should be changed 2ru a referendum as it is an entrenched clause;
2. The deposit amount of D50,000 is beyond the means of an average Gambian and therefore constitutes an unreasonable restrictions contrary to the fundamental rights in chapter 4.
3. The act (the new amendment) was procedurally flawed as it was unconstitutionally introduced by a wrong person.
4. It was not properly gazetted as the original version was changed and had alterations which were not on the gazetted version.
Based on the above, the law is a bad law as it is in contravention of the constitution and its as well procedurally wrong. Therefore, it is null and void just as the infamous Indemnity bill of 2000.
Constitutionality and rule of law are the basis of democracy and once those pillars are disregarded by APRC and Amat, no matter what the outcome, the end cannot justify the means.
My in-law, in the face of this “stunning” reality, even Foroyaa is admirably brief and to the point: THE VOTERS HAVE DECIDE. As a true democrat I for once unreservedly endorse the respectful viewpoints of KairoNews and Foroyaa. “Respectful” of the voters. Here in UK, fearing the results of the Labour Leadership elections, some have started abusing the voters too. Some have even suggested that we should have a Labour Party Coup led by the MPs “should the voters choose the ‘wrong’ Leader”!!!! Ah well, it’s all DemonCrazy!
This by-election is a sham and a setup by dictator Yaya Jammeh in collaboration with Hamat Bah. He is trying to woo the oppositions to join the flaw elections that favors him and also convincing the international community to accept that the elections are free and fair as always. Giving NRP one additional seat is the cheapest thing for Yaya Jammeh as long as he stays in power and control the majority of the seats in parliament. Hamat Bah is the Buthelezi of the Gambia. Please do not trust him a bit. He likes making loud noises, a political opportunist and will capitalize on anything popular but he didn’t mean any of it.