The People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has issued a memorandum clarifying the status of the wife of Halifa Sallah.
Find below the said memorandum verbatim:
MEMORANDUM FROM THE PDOIS SECRETARIAT
Dear Editor
ON THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF HALIFA SALLAH’S WIFE
I would like you to publish this memorandum for the general information of your readers.
As conveyed to you earlier the view expressed by Lafia Touray La Manju that Halifa Sallah’s wife is a Permanent Secretary is incorrect. As the administrative secretary responsible for monitoring and clarifying all issues affecting PDOIS I offered to link Lafia to Halifa Sallah so that he could ask him to clarify the employment status of his wife. Since that has not materialised and he continues to give the same wrong information, we have no option but to clarify a private matter in the public space.
All interested readers should visit the website of the following organisation:
Educational Research Network
for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA)
Once it opens click the site executive Secretary. One is bound to find the following details:
ERNWACA Executive Secretariat
Friday 1 April 2011
The Executive Secretariat ensures the general coordination of the programs and the activities of ERNWACA. It facilitates the internal and external communication of ERNWACA, organizes the strategy sessions and the Board of Director’s meetings of ERNWACA, develops and updates the activities of the network.
THE PDOIS POSITION ON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
The PDOIS Central Committee seizes this opportunity to clarify its position on Public employment.
There is a clear distinction between party, government, public service and state.
In a Sovereign Republic, a party serves as a tool to form governments in order to exercise control and direction over the public service in particular and the affairs of the state in general.
A Government relies on sovereign national wealth coming from all tax payers and public enterprises and resources owned by all citizens. Hence all citizens have a right to benefit from such sovereign national wealth.
This is clearly stipulated in all Republican constitutions, including the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia. It reads among other things:
“Every citizen of The Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right, without unreasonable restrictions-
(a) to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in The Gambia. “
The Public Service should not be a partisan service. A public service must have teachers, nurses, accountants , Doctors , Lawyers, Educationists , Administrators and other personnel who should be employed and paid according to their professional qualification and should not be subjected to any form of victimisation or discrimination.
In our view, such professional and technical staff who are professionally trained to render advice on such matters are supposed to work for the public and not for a party. Public servants should have security of tenure up to retirement age.
PDOIS stands for the separation of party and state and a distinction between political office in the public service and professional and technical office in the public service.
The Gambian people should deem any government unfit to govern should it deprive any Gambian a job in the public service because of political affiliation. A PDOIS administration shall exercise zero tolerance to discrimination, injustice and victimisation. It will guarantee security of tenure irrespective of party affiliation.
No Gambian would ever have any justification to legitimise injustice or victimisation. The just person must support justice everywhere and oppose injustice anywhere it raises it’s ugly head. Gambians are better served if they focus on how to put an end to all injustices confronting the people instead of comparing scales of victimisation and finding rationale for discrepancies in the perpetration of injustice against one group of citizens or the other.
Section 169 of the Constitution states that No public servant shall be victimised or discriminated against either directly or indirectly for having discharged his or her duties faithfully and according to law or be removed from office or reduced in rank or otherwise punished without just cause.”
Hence PDOIS is ready to join hands with any human right defender to expose, condemn and call for redressing any victimisation of any public servant based on the political affiliation of relatives or loved ones and further join hands with anyone to campaign and remove any administration which perpetrates such injustice.
Suwaibou Touray
Administrative Secretary
Ends
As all can see, this statement does not clarify the employment status of Halifa Sallah’s wife but only denied that she is not a permanent secretary. What then is her employment status???
Look guys, Gambia is a small country and I know for sure that Halifa Sallah’s wife is working in one of the ministries and had been a senior official there for a while now. She rose to the rank of deputy permanent secretary and eventually permanent secretary. Unless she is demoted recently or Halifa forced her to relinquish the position after I started writing on the matter, this is her last known employment status.
This none sense about employment in the public service must not be partisan is only theory in today’s Gambia and we all know that. In practice, if you are a known supporter of the opposition or a spouse of a real opposition figure, you get the sack or bullied out of the job.That is why Ousainu Darboe’s wife was bullied out of her job as principal of Hotel School. That is why Amadou Sanneh’s wife was sacked. Landing Jallow Sonko’s wife also lost her job to the culture. She was a senior civil servant at the then ministry of education. Ebrima pesseh Njie’s sister was also sacked from the IEC because of her blood relation to a prominent UDP Banjul politician. It takes Halifa Sallah’s wife to be an exception because Halifa Sallah is a tacit regime collaborator. This is the truth.
If PDOIS or Halifa Sallah himself wants to deny that his wife is a permanent secretary, then they must also tell us what Madam Sallah’s employment status is in the ministry then, and also a statement that she has never been a permanent secretary while married to Halifa Doudou Sallah. Let them do this and let people ascertain facts from fictions and glib.
I have no interest in talking to Halifa Sallah. I rather be provided with the contact number of the family of the late Shygle Nyassi so that I pay my condolence and express gratitude to them for his (shyngle) sacrifice in the struggle against the status quo.
Let PDOIS or Halifa provide the employment status of his wife in the civil service. That is the issue. Glad that they are not denying she is working with the regime in the civil service. For most people, this is inconceivable given what obtains in Gambia today. She is the wife of a (supposedly) opposition leader for God sake!!! Do I have to tell anybody what that means in today’s Gambia?? Well, ask the spouses of Lawyer Ousainu Darboe Jula sankarangka Boro Ming na ning Kartong Ming na.
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Yours in the service of the truth
Lafia Touray la Manju
Let’s take this to the gauch, PDOIS. You cannot continue to think that you can hoodwink an entire nation with subterfuge and glib.
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Lafia la Manju, where are you even from ? what you are doing is not journalism. you are supposed to dig into the affairs of public officers of the state who have their hand in the state coffers instead of accusing a national diplomat who have sacrificed everything for the interest of the Gambia. if you fear the consistencies, literacy, commitment and dedication you see in these leaders, you better join them because the whole Gambia is confused by the action of the last two presidents in the Gambia.one from AFPRC and the recent from UDP. these people are chosen blindly and later we realise that they are definitely clueless about how a country operates. Gambian are not fools to choose anyone who is not trustworthy, determined, dedicated, learned.
Gambiansambians trust Hon. Halifa, Hon.Sidia, Hon. Sam Sarr, Hon.Suwaibou Touray, Hon. Ousman Sillah etc, etc, etc.they have never betrayed the country since the birth of PDOIS.
Mr Manju, please go and find another job if you think you have nothing to tell the Gambians as a journalist but to lie against great personalities and their families.
This is madness. Halifa’s wife is not a PDOIS matter, beside why not just respond to Lafia as a comment instead a full blown official letter. This is madness indeed. Aren’t there better things in the whole dictatorship that PDOIS bureau should be focusing on? Lafia is commenting as Lafia, he doesn’t have to tell anyone who is, just like everybody else, including me. Why then attempt to even contact him or request his questions. Look guys, people owe no one any obligation to tell them who they are. PDOIS need to chill out. I come here every day to read articles and read comments. I am not the least interested who is behind what comment. I don’t know who Bax is, I don’t know who Dawda is, I don’t know who Kamalo is and I enjoy some of their comment and whilst I don’t like others. I enjoy Lafia and his persistence but also don’t like some of his comments. Only Dida, Suwaibou, Abdoulie darboe and few others write with their name.
PDOIS need to stop this over sensitivity. Halifa’s wife employment is for Halifa to comment on personally not using anything pdois. It means, he is personalising the party.
It is a good thing that a statement has emanated from PDOIS to clarify the employment status of Mr Sallah ‘ s wife..The insinuation that was being made was that she is a Permanent Secretary in a government department, (which is not a crime, even if it was true)..It would appear that she is employed by an International Organisation (NGO) that covers West and Central Africa and NOT by The Gambia Government, as falsely alleged by Lafia…
This allegation has been consistently made for a long time and it was incumbent on the PDOIS to address the issue and make.the necessary clarification. …Continued silence would have created a certain perception in some minds…
For those who object to PDOIS’s statement to address the broader issue of employment in the country, perhaps you need to be reminded that political parties are like “businesses” with “merchandise” to sell and must grab every opportunity they are presented with, to “market” their “products”.. PDOIS is therefore right to use this opportunity to present its position on employment as guaranteed by the Constitution….PDOIS did NOT say that this is the reality in the country but only what will happen under a PDOIS Government. There should be no problem with that…
Without attempting to put words in anybody’s “mouth”,I think the attitude that should be displayed here, should be total condemnation of Lafia for dragging Mr Sallah ‘s wife in his shameless and disgraceful escapade against Halifa and PDOIS ,and for openly and wickedly wishing that she should be sacked from.her job…
PDOIS has existed before Yaya Jammeh and has always conducted it’s politics in the same way…It has continued to expose the weak policies of the APRC Government in all areas, and has always presented an alternative to what it criticises, just as it had done with the PPP Administration….That is the role of a genuine opposition party regardless of whether some see that as “collaboration”…
Believe me but I dont like Lafia Touray La Tribalist.
He is a tribalist and all tribalist are unknowingly mentally retarded people. Cant you just tell your man to step down and give chance to the young.
If defending mandinkas against insults and political diatribes amounts to tribalism, then I am happy to wear that tag as a proud mandinka. But this is not the subject under discussion here. Thus, I will advise you to stick to the topic under discussion in order to avoid an unnecessary distraction. On the other hand, if you are interested in talking about tribalism or branding any mandinka with an opinion a tribalist, I suggest you open a separate topic where proud mandinka sons and daughters like myself will meet you there for a good razzmatazz.
As you know, I am determined to confront this growing trend of mandinkaphobia head on and will be pleased to take you on in the right forum or under a relevant topic of discussion.
Thanks
Lafia Touray la Mandingo
Kongira
If defending mandinkas against insults and political diatribes amounts to tribalism, then I am happy to wear that tag as a proud mandinka. But this is not the subject under discussion here. Thus, I will advise you to stick to the topic under discussion in order to avoid an unnecessary distraction. On the other hand, if you are interested in talking about tribalism or branding any mandinka with an opinion a tribalist, I suggest you open a separate topic where proud mandinka sons and daughters like myself will meet you there for a good razzmatazz.
As you know, I am determined to confront this growing trend of mandinkaphobia head on and will be pleased to take you on in the right forum or under a relevant topic of discussion.
Thanks
Lafia Touray la Mandingo
Bax, I am shocked that you think that Gambia politics is like businesses or selling merchandise. No. you are dealing with lives of our fellow country men and women who are dying, oppressed and driving out of their country everyday by this brutal regime. This is why PDOIS is not taking the Gambian suffering seriously. They have busy selling newspapers, books and running schools not interested in part of any solution to the Gambian problem of removing the dictator. PDOIS has always been an obstacle of any progressive idea that is put forward. If the idea is not coming from them then they are against it. Too much writings and no solutions is their way. Gambian people are sick and tried of endless writings and should focus on solving our national problem. Please let us stop playing games.
Bax should not belabor this issue any further. Lafia’s malicious intent is not the wife of Halifa supposedly working for the Gambian government, his intent maliciously is to cast a doubt as to whether Halifa is opposed to the current regime.
Anything that closely resembles that Halifa is sympathetic to this current government will be exploited to its fullest to try and tarnish his impeccable political statute. For all the wrong reasons they have now found their target in the person of his wife.
Lafia has been on this campaign for years now. He sees Halifa as the main obstacle that is preventing the UDP party from coming to power. They just do not know how to deal with Halifa.
Halifa has written a lot almost on every political issue that concerns the Gambia, but instead of going after him on his political views and on PDOIS’s programs, policies and objectives they instead focus on the trivial. He is an ‘ayatollah’; he is this; he is that. I haven’t read Lafia using the “ayatollah” label for sometime now. That one is no longer in vogue.
Gambia this is the problem we are facing. Just imagine if Lafia was to be the minister of justice in a UDP government. Oh my! Oh my!
Janjanubureh
October 9, 2014 at 3:01 PM
“Bax, I am shocked that you think that Gambia politics is like businesses or selling merchandise.”
What is the definition of politics? Why do we have political parties? What do political parties do with their policies. their programs and their political objectives. Of course like merchandize they sell it to the people. The use of the word “merchandize” here is a metaphor.
“No. you are dealing with lives of our fellow country men and women who are dying, oppressed and driving out of their country everyday by this brutal regime.”
Do you want to blame Halifa in particular and PDOIS in general for this dismal situation. The last time I checked Halifa is not a member of this current government. Neither do any of the PDOIS members. Why do you have to apportion blame where it does not remotely reside in? We are not responsible for the situation you have described. All we can do is offer prescriptions. You want to take the pill that we prescribed,
“This is why PDOIS is not taking the Gambian suffering seriously. They have been busy selling newspapers, books and running schools not interested in part of any solution to the Gambian problem of removing the dictator.”
Are you part of any solution? Tell us what is your solution.
“PDOIS has always been an obstacle of any progressive idea that is put forward.”
What is the progressive idea? I would like to hear this one.
‘If the idea is not coming from them then they are against it.”
What is the idea coming from others? You have to educate us so that we may know.
“Too much writings and no solutions is their way. Gambian people are sick and tried of endless writings and should focus on solving our national problem. Please let us stop playing games.”
What are the solutions. Bring them on.
Independent Confirmation. ..! Independent Confirmation…!
Mrs Ida- Jallow Sallah ( I assume that’s Mr Sallah’s wife) is indeed an employee of ERNWACA and described on their website as the ” REGIONAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY”….
I hope our friend, Lafia, will.have the courage to admit that his “sources” are not as reliable as he may think…and desist from making such insinuations in future. ..
It is very easy, in this day and age, to be exposed, discredited and humiliated..thanks to the Web. ..
Thanks Kamalo.Thank you Bax.
UDP = Un Democratic Party! Petty politics. Lol!
Where are the policy statements, party position (advocacy), programmes, strategies and tactics from other political parties; in contrast with PDOIS that covered all burning national issues, sovereign rights and welfare of nation (for all its citizens)?
PDOIS cannot be gag because its a dynamic party with dynamic leaders! LONG LIVE PDOIS!
What is bothering this LAFIA whose has sheer jealousy. Which Gambian politician past present and future wife has a Doctorate Degree whether Honorary or Academic? To justify your persistent lies you would have done yourself good by stating in which Ministry she works as a Perm Sect. To show respect to academic performance you must address her as Dr. IDA JALLOW SALLAH a woman of substance who is not only married to HALIFA per se but also married to The Gambia as whole.
Madam Ida Jallow-Sallah, the wife of Halifa Sallah, was only recently appointed as the Executive secretary of ERNWACA in March 2014 and had earned her nomination and backing to the post from the government of The Gambia.
ERNWACA or Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa is a multi- national organisation involving the education ministries of various govts in west and Central Africa.
Madam Sallah and Minister Fatou Lamin Faye attended ERNWACA’s 8th strategic session on the 16 Dec 2013 at Hotel Mande, Mali.
Madam Sallah was confirmed in her current job in March 2013 and was inaugurated on the 15th March 2013.
Prior to the above, Madam Sallah had spent almost a decade working at the Ministry of Basic and secondary Education (MOBSE) in The Gambia while the wives of the opposition figures in the country are been sacked or bullied out of their jobs in the civil and public services.
Madam Sallah was a high flyer at the ministry and was a close associate of Minister Fatou Lamin Faye. She (Madam Sallah) started her career at the ministry first as Senior Education Officer,, SQUAD Unit. She then rose to the rank of Principal Education Officer (Amie Samba-Sonko couldn’t keep that position at the same ministry because of her husband’s political leaning) and later permanent secretary No.2 responsible for the coordination of French programmes at the ministry.
Now, who in his right mind would believe that Yahya Jammeh will allow the wife of a true opposition leader to have such a high flying careers in any of the ministries of his government??? The only reason Madam Sallah was an exception is because her husband, Halifa Sallah, is a regime collaborator. This is/was a reward for him to keep the opposition divided, period.
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I have never call anybody Ayatollah. That has theological connotation and this is not about theology but politics
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Lafia, good work. So Dr Sallah was a career civil servant. Thanks bro, Halifa will sadly be buried in the people centre. For whatever reason even if UDP back Halifa for 2016 he will not get 6% of votes. He is a total no no. Let his Wife continue her work. Let us focus on PDOIS and their ciber propaganda. People dont just like him.
Lanfia Manju Touray don t stop brother so long as you know what you are saying about Mr Sallah is factual and that you are saying it with an open heart and good faith, i say keep coming. The gambian public deserve to know the facts.
On the issue of tribe, again i say you are doing very great morro. There is nothing in your writings that implies even remotely that you are promoting mandingkaya above and over other tribes. All humans are equal and created by the only ALLAH but its also very true that in today’s gambia, mandinkas are not been treated fairly. it must be said……So do not stress if others call you names. I will call you manding kele mansa…….haha
Good luck to all…….
“I have never call anybody Ayatollah. That has theological connotation and this is not about theology but politics”
Aha! you are paying attention. I deliberately put that “ayatollah’ comment to elicit a response. I know you wont ignore it. This is a characteristic trait of how you conduct your debates and exchanges. Of all the material things that one would say, you will selectively choose the comment that you can manipulate and twist so that it will appear as if you know what you are talking about.
Of all the material things that I said in that piece the only thing you can response to is the “ayatollah” comment. Go to the archives of the Bantaba and search for the name Nyarikangbanna then you will know where the “ayatollah” reference comes from. While you are there you can read the other diatribes in similar fashion that is geared to malign the character and name of Halifa.
This is what it comes down to. Encouraging and goading Lafia to publicly say things that are not true about a private citizen just because you want to get at that person’s husband who is a renowned politician. One who you do not seem to agree with I might add. Is this the new political trend? I hope not.
It is Halifa you have an issue with. Deal with him. Yes, it is never ok to bring spouses and other family members in our political infightings. We can have a civil discussion of the ISSUES without dragging anyone else who is not part of our political discourses into the fray. What we are doing is healthy as long as we are only dealing with the issues.
Our exchanges and discussions should be tempered with civility, maturity and respect. We do not have to be angry. At the end of the day we are all Gambians and should be each others keepers. I try to be very careful with my choice of words so as not to appear very offensive but factual.
I also want to take exception to Lafia’s tribal expressions. This is the first time I would assume that I heard an educated Gambian coming out and stating publicly that he is proud of his ethnicity. And the way he demonstrates this allegiance appears as if there is a war going on among our tribes. There is no such war. Gambian tribes are at peace with each other; heck, you wouldn’t even know who is what or what.
The majority of Gambians do not have any tribal loyalty. They are born into one and that is it. Many Gambians speak all the major ethnic languages very fluently to the point you cannot distinguish who is who if not for the surnames. Even that is deceiving.
Tribalism is an intellectual construct. It is only educated people who engage in such, and when there is a conflict among them, usually political and economic, they drag the rest of the innocent majority into their fights for control, in most instances of the political order. My opinion.
Balla, you mentioned Dr Ida Jallow-Sallah’s PhD. Well Dr Boro Susso too is phD. He was sacked from the university of The Gambia simply because he is a friend of lawyer Ousainu Darboe. And he brought a case to the employment tribunal for unfair dismissal, the magistrate refused to hear the matter. The matter was then taken to the High Court which ordered the magistrate to hear the case. He still refused because of fear of political reprisal. Dr Suso’s file is still gathering dust at the Kanifing Magistrate Court. And here we have Dr Ida Jallow-Sallah, a high flying career top civil servant at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and wife of an Opposition Leader in Yahya Jammeh’s Gambia?? Does that make sense to even donkeys of The Gambia??? Come on, my friend. Wake up!!!
Kamalo, I have every right to dispel false accusation against my person. You accused me of calling Halifa “Ayatollah” and I have never done that. That is why I responded. Anyway, this is petty. Accuse of everything or confuse me with as much ppl as you want, you won’t get me down this lane any more as it is an unnecessary distraction which is perhaps just your strategy.
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And for everybody’s information, Madam Ida Jallow- Sallah candidature to the position of Executuve Secretary of ERNWACA was supported and approved by the government of The Gambia. The Honourable Minister Fatou Lamin Faye led the lobbying campaign for Madam Sallah in the sub-region and Central Africa. All is part of the reward package for Halifa Sallah. This is the truth and this PDOIS cyber junkies would not like anybody to know let alone talk about. I happened to defy the odds much to their loathe.
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“I also want to take exception to Lafia’s tribal expressions. This is the first time I would assume that I heard an educated Gambian coming out and stating publicly that he is proud of his ethnicity. And the way he demonstrates this allegiance appears as if there is a war going on among our tribes. There is no such war”- Kamalo
People in power are using the national radio and television to insult and issue threats against Mandinkas. That is a serious concern for me as a mandinka and I will not tolerate that attitude from anybody. If there is any issue, it is between me and those people for they cannot continue to take it out on mandinkas. We are not responsible for anybody’s low self esteem in The Gambia. Why then do we have chronic mandinkaphobics among our midst. Call me anything or even insinuate that I am a tribalist, I will never spare those people from my criticisms and I will take every trouble for it in defense of the Mandingo pride and honour against insults and political diatribes.
There is no issue between the tribes in The Gambia. We all own The Gambia and have co-existed and inter-married the longest.
You are only pursuing your strategy of distraction.
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Kamalo, I have every right to dispel false accusation against my person. You accused me of calling Halifa “Ayatollah” and I have never done that. That is why I responded. Anyway, this is petty. Accuse of everything or confuse me with as much ppl as you want, you won’t get me down this lane any more as it is an unnecessary distraction which is perhaps just your strategy.” Lafia.
Lafia, the use of language is like genetic fingerprinting. There is style; there is the usage of words for their suggestiveness (for good or for ill), and if you are accustomed to one’s manner of writing the voice becomes quite distinctive. Anyway, I agree with you. We will treat this one as petty.
Be rest assured that I am not curiously interested in who you are; however, I am interested curiously in how you think. That is why I am engaging you.
I am a little concern though about your public declaration of allegiance to an ethnic group. Although it is your right to do so, the dynamics of our social and cultural ethos makes it abundantly unnecessary. As educated people who are supposed to arouse the burning passion for a national identity, the unintended consequences of such ethnic loyalties should always be uppermost in our minds. Just a word of caution if it means anything to you.
Halifa Jallow-Sallah is my fellow tribesman. Get off his case Touray Manju, or we will deport all you Tourays back to Mali when we re-establish the Fulani Empire! Anyway, what is wrong with our Comrade Leader ensuring that Comrade Halifa’s Socialist Household is looked after through the employment of Madam Comrade Halifa? Have you forgotten that Comrade Leader Jammeh is a Socialist and a Moja member too?
By the way La Manju, I found this quotation and got it translate to me. I like it!!
“My savvy Pal Dida Halake has hinted to this fact umpteen times. The LUNTANGO/GANN GI in the name of DIDA has become truly Gambian! Or has he been so all along? A FELEH KENDINGO KETA SAA MUTA NYO TI!! DIDA BOKA NA CHI NDAP LI!”
I will be a candidate for the Serrekunda East constituency one day! Will you vote for me, my Mandingo Warrior friend?
Kamalo, it is unfortunate that some of you PDIOS fanatics think that you have answers to all the problems in the country. Why don’t you respond to the issues I am stating rather than trying to define what is politics and other nonsenses. I don’t need any lectures from you.
Hahaha! Dida, well let the socialist household be well looked after. That is not my problem but the guy cannot continue to pretend he is opposition. He simply cannot continue to think that he can hoodwink a nation.
I don’t have to tell you the contrast in respect of the real opposition figures in the country because you already know.
On the mandinka history, well may be I should introduce you to the study of mandinkology so that you can understand how we defeated oppression under Sumanguru Konte and expanded from a tiny principality of Kangkaba in Mali to cover the entire west African region. We easily step our feet along The Gambia river basin and established kingdoms all over. The European traders and colonialist were mainly signing treaties with mandinka kings. Tumani Bojang, king of Kombo signed a treaty of lease over the Banjul Island while Mansa Burungai Sonko of Nuimi was collecting taxes from European merchants entering the river gambia from the Banjul Mouth. The Mandingo history is rich and it takes a study of mandinkology to cover it all.
Let the mandinkaphobics crunch in agony. That is the reward for blind hatred.
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Guys, I have been advised not to respond to mandinkaphobic sentiments expressed under this topic because it is been noticed that certainly people are just hell-bent on causing distraction from the subject under discussion. They are no different from Yahya jammeh who sit on television and call mandinkas unpatriotic; Bakuding Kurungolu,
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Halifa Sallah’s wife has every single right to work with the Government or any other organisations available in the Gambia. She can even oppose PDOIS while maintaining her marriage. Who is Lafia Touray to dictate who should work with APRC and who shouldn’t? The PDOIS administration shouldn’t even be bothered to clarify their position to Lafia Touray? Instead, they should be focussing on the National interest of the Gambia, this is just one man’s show..
I have tried to verify this claim that Darboe’s wife was hounded/sacked from her job without success…I have tried several online sources to no avail…I cannot believe how such an event can escape the attention of the media…Could anyone suggest where this story might be found..
Or could lafia provide this audience with verifiable evidence to substantiate his claims…For example…What years did she occupy the position she was forced from…?
I am sorry for some of the errors above. Please read as self esteem. I have limited access to a computer and is doing any editing.
“Guys, I have been advised not to respond to mandinkaphobic sentiments expressed under this topic because it is been noticed that certainly people are just hell-bent on causing distraction from the subject under discussion.”Lafia.
Lafia, I am among those who are responding to this subject under discussion. I do not have any mandingaphobic sentiments and do not even know what the hell you are talking about.
What makes you arrogate your mandinka phobic sentiments to other people who do not share in your deluded sense of importance or superiority to anything much less talking about tribes? I have zero interest in these tribal postulations.
People like me have a social and political orientation, a consciousness, that is beyond the parochial confines of tribe and tribal politics. We find it tasteless.
The romanticism of past tribal kingdoms and the glory of “the Britannica rules the Wales” should belong in the history books, libraries and national museums. This century is for those who want to build strong democratic institutions and make the people live in the present and the future and not in the past.
You can continue with your new talking point if that is what pleases you and your “guys.” I will contribute as much as I could.
NB. Please excuse any errors from these postings. I have limited access to a computer and cannot do any editing.
Janjanbureh
October 11, 2014 at 1:06 AM
“Kamalo, it is unfortunate that some of you PDIOS fanatics think that you have answers to all the problems in the country.”
Janjanbureh, I do not consider myself as a PDOIS fanatic. In fact I do not see anything to be fanatical about PDOIS.
PDOIS is a political party. It has a political objective to be elected to power in the Gambia. It has a party platform that firmly establishes its principles, its programs and the policies it would pursue if ever it were elected to power. It has a manifesto that spells out in detail its governance objectives and all the policy areas and considerations that it will pursue whenever it is elected to power. It even has a “contract with the Gambian people” detailing what it promises to do if the people elected them to power, and failing which the people can boot them out of power. All these are public declarations and are in the open; they can easily be access by a click of the mouse.
I just happen to share their political ideals and the vision that they have for the country. I don’t know how that makes me a fanatic. If there is the impression that they have answers to all the problems in the country, it is so because as an opposition political party that is waiting to be elected to power, they run a sort of “shadow government”. They have a contrary position and policy alternative to everything that the government does.
“Why don’t you respond to the issues I am stating rather than trying to define what is politics and other nonsenses. I don’t need any lectures from you.”
I thought I answered your queries. I will take a second look and try to answer in detail. I didn’t know that I appear to be lecturing you. My bad.
Yankuba Jobe, this is not about rights and nobody contested Madam Sallah’s right to do anything.
You need to try and understand the topic first before you jump in.
Anyway, thanks for your comments.
Ends
October 10, 2014 at 8:24 PM
“I also want to take exception to Lafia’s tribal expressions. This is the first time I would assume that I heard an educated Gambian coming out and stating publicly that he is proud of his ethnicity. And the way he demonstrates this allegiance appears as if there is a war going on among our tribes. There is no such war”- Kamalo
‘People in power are using the national radio and television to insult and issue threats against Mandinkas.’
Did I hear you say people in power? Yes, people in power. So your beef is with the people who are in power. The best way to fight them is to throw them out of power.
What makes this situation more insidious is the fact that some of those people who are in power are Mandinkas, and they partake in this insult and the issuing of threats against the Mandinkas. However, most conscientious Gambians have expressed their outrage to this ill-conceived provocation. What more do you want people to do?
There is ample sympathy and affirmation that this is not part of the fabric of our social cohesion. This social cohesion celebrates the virtues, traditions and mores that assert our different ethnic or tribal experiences. This use of the national radio and television to insult Mandinkas was totally out of order and without taste. Most Gambians and the majority of Mandinkas see it that way.
It is dirty politics, which should make us all reaffirm our commitment that the politics of dirtiness should never again be part of our national conversation and experience. This is what PDOIS is firmly committed to do.
However, this does not rise to the level where you should be the only Mandinka making public declarations of allegiance to your Mandinka ethnicity. I assume you are not the only Mandinka who is hurt by those awful statements from the radio and national television. Other may have been but you did not hear them ranting about their Mandinka pride. I strongly believe that they are more positive and receptive towards working for a complete overhaul of the dynamics that dictate our power relations. To them they can find a willing partner in PDOIS. I know they are out there.
The problem is you are painting all Mandinkas with the same brush. May be there are, and I believe that they are in the majority, some Mandinkas who do not share your strong passion for a Mandinka pride that is totally uncalled for.
“That is a serious concern for me as a mandinka and I will not tolerate that attitude from anybody. If there is any issue, it is between me and those people for they cannot continue to take it out on mandinkas.”
Well, you know who you have a problem with as a Mandinka. Those people who are in power and among them some other Mandinkas too. As you rightly stated your fight is with them.
“ We are not responsible for anybody’s LOW self esteem in The Gambia.”
Why should you? I don’t know of any Gambian who has a low esteem of himself/herself. Not the ones that I associate with. I am sure this is true of other Gambians too.
“Why then do we have chronic mandinkaphobics among our midst.”
May be that is what you have in your mind. I do not know of any chronic mandinkaphobic among Gambians. Why do we have to be afraid of Mandinkas anyway? . Why? Why?
‘Call me anything or even insinuate that I am a tribalist, I will never spare those people from my criticisms and I will take every trouble for it in defense of the Mandingo pride and honour against insults and political diatribes.”
Good for you. Just know who your enemies are. Those Mandinkas and non-Mandinkas in power.
“There is no issue between the tribes in The Gambia. We all own The Gambia and have co-existed and inter-married the longest.”
I absolutely agree. This is my position.
“You are only pursuing your strategy of distraction.”
No. I am not distracting from whatever is your agenda. I will meet you wherever you want to go.
Thanks
Kamalo, what I am trying to explain is that PDIOS is running a business using the Gambian political situation. They are busy making money and have no interest been part of any immediate solution to Gambian problem. By the way, after 27 years of selling programs, principles, contracts, ideas and there is not much takens. Isn’t time to look at the products and find out why people are not buying it. Either you rebrand the products or get rid of the leaders or come out with a new products. PDIOS never listens to the majority wishes and continue to be main obstacle to any progressive ideas put forward. The three Amigos feels that their ideas is what matters. A whole government cannot be run by three people whose ideas are outdated and very stubborn with their beliefs.
Janjanbureh, you speak for me here. re-brand the product or let the marketing managers be sacked. I cannot agree more. It is troubling to see pdois too relaxed with the current system, I am not saying they don’t hate the dictatorship, but there is no urgency on their path.
Everything fabricated and alleged against private life of Mr & Mrs Sallah are lies, malicious vile slanders and deception by Lafia Touray La Manju; for the gullible. Disgusting and pathetic!
Janjanbureh On your own opinion and false allegations as if you know better than other citizens? 1st Point to reflect more and in contrast with your poor analysis of Gambian politics and credibility of PDOIS: What do you make of demise of PPP; a party that ruled 30 yrs democratically elected, before toppled its last general elections shared over 65% of results, when declared toppled took flight and after ban on political activities lifted got the chance to participate in elections like any political party to woo electorate (canvass for votes & win hearts and minds) but never recovered its popularity & authority in Gambian politics; in fact never participated under its own platform or banner; in contrast with your statements against legacy of PDOIS? 2nd Point is: What have UDP achieved politically or its legacy (a political party existing by default and fortunate to inherit PPP, NCP, UP & GPDP militants or former members of these old parties; with veterans & strong networks nationwide); in contrast with PDOIS?
1. Editing “GPDP” above for “PPP, NCP, UP & GPP.
2. 3rd Point: How come PDOIS survived in 1st republic & still surviving; when others (especially NCP, GPP, NLP) dead?
Lafia Touray; you might be right! English is not my mother tongue. I am a fluent Mandinka speaker that might have been the case i prematurely jump in to your discussion without proper understanding. I am neither a UDP supporter nor PDOIS, I’m just trying to warn Gambians to refrain {desist} from personal attack, be Ousainou Darboe or any other political leaders in the Gambia. Our problem is Yaya Jammeh, therefore, let us focus to deal with that dangerous threat to our national security. May the Almighty Allah guide you,me and the rest of the Muslim Umma from hypocrisy and aggression. Ameen…
Ameen, Yankuba Jobe.
Thanks
Janjanbureh. ..
Firstly, since you continue on your “PDOIS is a business” line of argument, I want to point how you misunderstood my earlier comments about political parties being like “businesses”….
The likeness of what I said and how you interpreted it is as follows…
Bax said…” The water in the jar tastes like strawberry. ”
Janjanbureh proclaimed. ..” Bax said there is strawberry in the jar. ..” As you can clearly see, I did not say that. ..
Genuine political parties have programs and policies which they present to the people (electorate) to win their votes and get into government. …They do not rely on sentiments of one sort or the other, to win votes, which is the most common practice in many places…They have to persuade the electorate that their programs, policies and ideas are superior to all other parties, especially the one in government….In that respect, and metaphorically speaking, they have to “sell” (present) their “merchandise” (policies, programs and ideas ) to the people, to be elected into government. …I hope you understand this…
Secondly, political parties need funds to operate and these funds are not ” manna that descends from.the sky”…They have to be generated and accumulated…Parties can either rely on internal sources of funding or external ones, and often those who fund political parties (eg corporations, organisations or wealthy individuals) do so with the anticipation that they will reap the benefits when the party gets into government. …And such parties, once in government, do feel obligated to reward their benefactors. .
Therefore ,PDOIS using its initiative to general funds internally, should be an assurance to the electorate and the people, that it will not be obligated to any individuals or entities when it is in government…A firm bases for treating all equally…
Continued
Thirdly, in the context of our elections and in so far as winning it and getting into government is concerned,being the ultimate objective of all parties, the votes that the UDP wins is irrelevant and meaningless ,( if it is does not win the elections ) and has no legitimate basis to be considered for any period other than the one it belongs to and is relevant to. ..
Fourthly. ..People who are familiar with the culture and traditions of Gambian politics, know that many associate themselves with.parties on considerations that have nothing to do with policies and programmes. ..
And since PDOIS has chosen not to partake in the traditional, corrupt and misleading politicking culture, one could say this has impacted seriously on its share of votes, especially when other considerations are taken into account. ….such as people who may have voted for PDOIS, deciding to vote for UDP because they see the elections as a “two horse” race..etc….
A new factor has also surfaced since the failure of the parties to agree on a coalition format…The relentless slander, lies and innuendos against PDOIS, by a small element of aggrieved people within the UDP Membership, supporters and sympathisers, who feel that PDOIS is an obstacle to their efforts to reclaim their “inheritance”, which has been “stolen” from them by Yaya Jammeh. …
These, in my view, is why PDOIS continues to attract far fewer votes than it should have…But on the positive side, one can say that time is on the side of PDOIS ,for it is still at the building and consolidation stage…
Finally, I challenge Lafia and his “mates” to tell us what the UDP or the other parties are doing to oppose Yaya Jammeh, ( which makes them “real opposition”) that PDOIS is not doing, which makes it a “collaborator”..
Bax These are straightforward questions noted above as follows;
VALID QUESTIONS:
1. What have UDP (among other opposition parties) achieved politically or what are its 18yr legacy in Gambian politics (UDP being a political party existing by default and fortunate to inherit PPP, NCP, UP & GPP militants or former members of those old parties; with veterans & strong networks nationwide); in contrast with PDOIS?
2. Similarly other opposition parties (especially PPP & NRP); what have they achieved in contrast with PDOIS that educates its people; in sovereign citizenship, civic education, politics and all spheres of national development.
Dawda, you are missing the point. My argument is that PDIOS after many years in existence cannot convince even 5% of the Gambians to vote for them but after every elections they will give lengthy analysis about why most Gambians didn’t vote for them. They never admit theirs failures but always blaming the electorates for not voting for them. PDIOS as a political party needs to revamp its programs, ideas and activities because there are few takens and even among those few converts some end of leaving the group after seeing the light. Instead of growing the members the party end up losing old members.
Dawda saying that my political analysis of The Gambia was poor shows that some you still didn’t want to admit the realities of the Gambian political situations. You have partly answered number 2 for me by saying that some of the members of PPP end up joining UDP. Of course because it was banned with other parties NCP and GPP. Comparing PPP situation to PDIOS dilemma is complete absurd. PPP as a party was a bigger threat to the military regime of Yaya Jammeh therefore it fought the party tooth and nail to damage it. Now PPP party has support throughout the country and some of those structures joined the UDP to continue the struggle for democracy and rule of law. That is why the UDP is the new threat to military-cilivian dictator led by Yaya. PDOIS has never been a threat to APRC or the former regime because they don’t have any teeth to bite. UDP party has been denied everything including having jobs, denied permits, harassed daily, imprisoned etc because they are the biggest threat to the current regime. Please let us stay in ground and discuss the issues as they are and stop bringing philosophical argument which is the PDIOS way of doing business.
Thank you Ms Daffeh for the comments. It is sad that PDIOS never admit to their political failures but always have weird justifications for everything else as if most Gambians don’t know what is going on. They have to change their ways or dump in the dustbin of history. Honestly cooperating with other parties including UDP to save the Gambian people from the mess we found ourselves in or sit at the corner and play with themselves. PDIOS has dogmatic belief that nothing can happen without their blessing. Inshallah, Gambia will free again with or without their participation. May God bless the great country of The Gambia. Thanks.
Bax, onjarama Mawdo. It does not matter whether the water taste like strawberry or there is strawberry in the bottle. It has to have strawberry in water or in the bottle so let try to make simple and not too philosophical.
Dawda said PDOIS educates its followers on politics, civic and other national development issues. I don’t think they been doing a good job in it too because the products which the ones I am seeing here are not impressive at all. My advice is to go to respectable institutions of higher learning instead of PDOIS institute. Indoctrinating young individuals to believe in one way of thinking instead of having an open mind and only making decisions when all facts are presented. After regime change, we might have set up re- educational camps to help in educating these PDOIS by-products. In politics you have to compromise for the national good not my way or the highway. Time is against us folks. From the frying pan to the fire.
Janjanbury, I am not impress about what PDOIS civic education products are exhibiting here either and I totally agree and share your concerns. These people need proper education from respectable institutions of Higher learning.
Keep it up, sir.
Thanks
Lafia i was waiting to read your answers to the salient questions raised by Bax, such as the sacking of Darboe’s wife and what the UDP or other parties are doing to oppose Jammeh which PDOIS is not doing and hence branding them collaborators. But because of you are untruthful in your insinuation against PDOIS and Halifa for that matter, you deviated from the questions. There is no known Gambian who goes by the name Lafia Touray La Manju and you are just what the Gambian intellectual heavy-weight Halifa Sallah will describe cyber warrior and the day you expose yourself is the day you will be reduce to floor-mat notwithstanding whoever you are and what you stand for.
“Kamalo, what I am trying to explain is that PDIOS is running a business using the Gambian political situation. They are busy making money and have no interest been part of any immediate solution to Gambian problem.”
Janjanbureh, I don’t think your statement above reflects the truth about the Gambian political situation nor the position and disposition of PDOIS as a political organization in that situation.
First, why did PDOIS come into being? PDOIS did not come into being as an accident. Unlike the UDP, which came into being by default because all the first republic parties were banned after the coup, PDOIS was created as a deliberate and purposeful political vehicle that addresses the problems and ills inherent in the Gambian political situation.
So PDOIS is not using the Gambian political situation to run a business, but instead the Gambian political situation is used to educate and to inform. It is used to guide the process of change.
Just look at the message content of the Foroyya, which I am sure, is one of the PDOIS businesses you are alluding to.
Foroyaa is a newspaper that informs, educate and advocate on behalf of the people. It has not deviated from this essential social and political responsibility as a vehicle of change, and to amplify the voices and concerns of the people.
And whatever monetary gains are realized from its production and distribution, I am sure it is used to support the many social and political activities that PDOIS is involved in as a political party. It also consolidates the party’s independent disposition and frees it from being under the control and allegiance of any other entity.
What are the immediate solutions to the Gambian problem? We have our national elections every five years. As a responsible political party PDOIS has participated in this exercise routinely except where in the instance of the “boycott” of the parliamentary elections they have not participated. So what are the immediate Gambian political solutions you are talking about? Can you kindly give details.
“By the way, after 27 years of selling PROGRAMS, principles, contracts, ideas and there is not much takens. Isn’t time to look at the products and find out why people are not buying it.”
Do you really understand they dynamics of our political situation? Why PDOIS or any other opposition political party is not winning in national elections? I am not talking about an opposition political party having a majority share of the opposition vote like the UDP which is meaningless anyway, but winning outright an election against the incumbent president. I will come back to this in your response to Dawda.
.
“Either you rebrand the products or get rid of the leaders or come out with a new products.”
Does the UDP have a better product? Can you share with us here the products that the UDP have that are sellable? They are not in a better position than PDOIS because for 18 years now no body is buying their product either. May be they too need to rebrand their product of get rid of their leader.
“ PDIOS never listens to the majority wishes and continue to be main obstacle to any progressive ideas put forward”
You keep mentioning this progressive idea. What is it? Can you share this progressive idea with us here.
“The three Amigos feels that their ideas is what matters. A whole government cannot be run by three people whose ideas are outdated and very stubborn with their beliefs.”
Would you mind telling what these ideas are and what makes them outdated? And what are their stubborn beliefs? The reason I am asking all these questions are because you are not saying anything substantive.
You are the intellectuals behind the UDP party, the ones that went to all these reputable universities with your strings of degrees, yet you cannot discuss any substantive issue on PDOIS’s agenda, its programms, it policies etc. We will talk more on these in your response to Dawda.
“Dawda, you are missing the point. My argument is that PDIOS after many years in existence cannot convince even 5% of the Gambians to vote for them but after every elections they will give lengthy ANALYSIS about why most Gambians didn’t vote for them.”
Janjanbureh, its seems you do not understand the voting pattern of the majority of the Gambian electorate. This is the reason why after every election PDOIS gives an analysis of the vote and determines how the electorate voted and why. This is a scientific approach to understanding the dynamics of the vote and why people vote they way they do. What are the factors that influence their vote?
“They never admit theirs failures but always blaming the electorates for not voting for them. PDIOS as a political party needs to revamp its programs, ideas and activities because there are few takens and even among those few converts some end of leaving the group after seeing the light. Instead of growing the members the party end up losing old members.”
This is why I am saying that you do not understand the voting pattern of the majority of the Gambian electorate and the factors that determine the way they vote and why. This has nothing to do with PDOIS blaming the electorate; they never did in the first place. And this has nothing to do with PDOIS’S programs, ideas and activities. The Gambian electorate has never voted on these principles or on the programs, ideas and activities of any other opposition political party for that matter.
This is the situation of the Gambian political reality. The P.P.P was the predominant political party in the country. It led the country to Independence. It has consolidated its rule of the country for 30 years building patronage, loyalty and a strong grassroots organization and mobilization that involves the chiefs and alkalolus at the village and constituency level. At the national level it has emasculated all the other opposition political parties co-opting their leadership and reducing those opposition political parties to virtual irrelevancy and untimely deaths. Since Independence up to the time the PPP was forced out of power only the NCP, GPP, and few other parties with PDOIS survive.
The coup makers inherited the PPP political machinery with all its apparatus at the village, constituency and national level. This is why it was able to consolidate its grip so effectively and so soon after the coup. The UDP that was formed as a consequence of the ban on the first republic opposition parties and of the PPP itself also inherited the political machinery of the P.P.P with all its apparatus at the village, constituency and national level. This makes it the most predominant opposition political party in the country. But here is the problem:
In every election since 1996 after the coup, the APRC party ( which inherited the political machinery of the PPP with all its apparatus ) routinely thrashed the UDP party ( which also inherited the political machinery of the PPP with all its apparatus) because the APRC is in power and has more control and leverage than the UDP although both parties are benefiting from the political machinery and apparatus they inherited from the PPP. More over, the APRC has more money and can influence more opinion leaders, chiefs, alkalolus, business people, sycophants you name it. In this kind of scenario the UDP can never be a match to the APRC, not to talk about winning an election against it. What chance does PDOIS have in this picture?
“Dawda saying that my political ANALYSIS of The Gambia was poor shows that some you still didn’t want to admit the realities of the Gambian political situations. You have partly answered number 2 for me by saying that some of the members of PPP end up joining UDP. Of course because it was banned with other parties NCP and GPP. Comparing PPP situation to PDIOS dilemma is complete absurd. PPP as a party was a bigger threat to the military regime of Yaya Jammeh therefore it fought the party tooth and nail to damage it.”
I refer you to my analysis above. Your observation regarding the PPP vis a vis the APRC is wrong. The PP P was never a threat to the APRC because it was banned and ultimately destroyed. It is still struggling to recover.
“ Now PPP party has support throughout the country and some of those structures joined the UDP to continue the struggle for democracy and rule of law. That is why the UDP is the new threat to military-cilivian dictator led by Yaya.”
I refer you to my analysis above that is germane to this observation.
“PDOIS has never been a threat to APRC or the former regime because they don’t have any teeth to bite. UDP party has been denied everything including having jobs, denied permits, harassed daily, imprisoned etc because they are the biggest threat to the current regime.”
Well, crying about all these things doesn’t change anything. The fact of the matter is that UDP is not a match to the APRC. The Aprc is consolidating it grip more and more.
“Please let us stay in ground and discuss the issues as they are and stop bringing philosophical argument which is the PDIOS way of doing business”
We are waiting for you to bring up the issues. You are the intellectuals behind the UDP who have been to the reputable institutions of higher learning.
Kamalo, Does it really matter whether a party is formed by accident or not? What is point? UDP was formed due to fact that all credible parties were banned due to the fact they can win the elections from the new formed APRC. What did they not include PDOIS in the banned parties? Mr. Kamalo and the rest of the PDOIS graduate students, you see what I am talking about. It is simple, PDOIS was not a threat to the APRC and Yaya Jammeh because he knows that they cannot win him in any elections anyway. UDP party was formed by all Gambians from different parties with the desire to take their country back from these young reckless dunks.
UDP has memberships and structures throughout the country. Its has well defined programs, principles and diverse leadership from every level of the society. If there is ever a free and fair elections in the Gambia, UDP will be winner hands down from Koina to Banjul.
Kamalo tell me , why did the Gambians not flock to PDOIS after all parties were banned? Did the Gambians have any confidence with PDOIS ? Please answer these questions for me. PDOIS reminds me more as cult than a political party because it indoctrinates its followers, only 3 people that control the party, run schools and sell newspapers to accumulate funds. Remember Halipha studied Sociology in college in the US. In sociology, they covered mostly societies, cultures, cults and languages.
Again, you said that UDP only receives 35% up to 43% but never wins the elections so what is the differences. PDOIS end up with 2 or 3 percent. The difference by friend is that UDP votes where suppressed and also stolen in most of the country to reduce their vote count. For PDOIS, they don’t have to do anything because they have no chance to get 5% or you talking about winning the election in the first place. Why bother?
Finally, PDOIS has to be responsive to the desires of the electorates of the Gambia and stop playing games and wasting our time. They believed that they have time one day they will get elected to power in the Gambia but for me, what most Gambians want is to solve our immediate problem of removing Yaya Jammeh from power. At that point, all political parties and interested individuals can sit down and come with a unified transitional government to govern until a free and fair elections can be held. South Africa is a good example where the African National Congress, South African Communist Party and Pan African Congress work together with other parties until they were able to remove the racist regime from power for the interest of all South Africans. Even now, the three parties are working together putting unified candidates in each constituency and sharing power according to support level of each party. Why can Gambia do that too? It is all about compromise and willingness to put your country first before party. Each of these political parties have programs, principles and goals just like PDOIS, UDP, NRP and GPDP but what matters is the national good.
have a bless day.
Janjanbureh. With your incoherent statements and pathetic fallacy examples above, made you look very disingenuous, confused or deluded person.
Hopefully Kamalo can make sense out of this confusing spin or non-sense; if he still have got more time to spoon feed you.
“Kaman, Does it really matter whether a party is formed by accident or not? What is point? UDP was formed due to fact that all credible parties were banned due to the fact they can win the elections from the new formed APRC”- Janjanbury
Hahaha!! Tell them my friend and also don’t forget; Halifa Sallah have also said that he rather have Jammeh continue as president than to have Ousainu Darboe as president. If it sounds pathetic, it is because it is pathetic.
Thanks
CHECK DEFINITION OF “ACHIEVEMENT” & “ACHIEVE” TO TRY AGAIN WITH CONVINCING RESPONSE TO THESE VALID QUESTIONS; NOT YET ANSWERED:
1. What have UDP (among other opposition parties) achieved politically or what are its 18yr legacy in Gambian politics (UDP being a political party existing by default and fortunate to inherit PPP, NCP, UP & GPP militants or former members of those old parties; with veterans & strong networks nationwide); in contrast with PDOIS?
2. Similarly other opposition parties (especially PPP & NRP); what have they achieved politically in contrast with PDOIS that educates its people; in sovereign citizenship, civic education, politics and all spheres of national development.
DEFINITIONS NOTED:
ACHIEVE; “verb
past tense: achieved · past participle: achieved
Define as “successfully bring about or reach (a desired objective or result) by effort, skill, or courage:”
ACHIEVEMENT; “noun
1.
something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort, great courage, etc.; a great or heroic deed:
his remarkable achievements in art.
2.
act of achieving; attainment or accomplishment:
the achievement of one’s object.”
Quote Janjanbureh:
“PDOIS has never been a threat”.
Never under the First Republic and never even under the 100th Republic. The rest is as once famously put by yours truly “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” hot air.
That is no to say PDOIS has no value: it is very good at explaining the Constitution to the Kings – and to their subjects. The people and their Kings will always appreciate PDOIS – the Think Tank of The Gambia.
‘Kamalo, Does it really matter whether a party is formed by accident or not? What is point? UDP was formed due to fact that all credible parties were banned due to the fact they can win the elections from the new formed APRC.”
Janjanbureh, when we infer that the UDP was formed by default, that it was an accident of history, we mean that it was formed mainly in reaction to the overthrow of the P.P.P government. And it exists for one and only one purpose to wrest back power from the coup makers then, and the APRC government now.
Those who formed the UDP came from all the aggrieved first republican parties that were banned from political activity in the country, and it was a strategic objective of winning back power to continue the status quo not under the P.P.P but under their new political creation, the UDP. This is still the ultimate mission of the UDP.
This is different from a political party that has a mission and a vision that is well articulated, and is seeking to control political power as a process of change. This change will fundamentally alter the dynamics of power and it relation between those who govern and the people that are governed. This is the difference
“What did they not include PDOIS in the banned parties? Mr. Kamalo and the rest of the PDOIS graduate students, you see what I am talking about. It is simple, PDOIS was not a threat to the APRC and Yaya Jammeh because he knows that they cannot win him in any elections anyway. UDP party was formed by all Gambians from different parties with the desire to take their country back from these young reckless dunks.”
This is the reason why the UDP is still trying to take back the power that was stolen from the PPP to continue the political hegemony of the PPP, which has now been inherited and consolidated as the political hegemony of the APRC. So it has a long battle to fight.
As it stands the UDP is not a threat to the APRC as witnessed by the unfolding political events in the country. If the UDP loose the 2016 elections it will be further marginalized and like the first republic opposition parties will be consigned to political irrelevancy.
.PDOIS never harbored the illusion that it was a threat to the P.P.P nor a threat to the APRC. It knew from the word go what it is dealing with. It relies on the people to democratically take power and is still working hard to earn their trust.
“UDP has memberships and structures throughout the country. Its has well defined PROGRAMS, principles and diverse leadership from every level of the society. If there is ever a free and fair elections in the Gambia, UDP will be winner hands down from Koina to Banjul.”
This is not reflected in the political reality that is on the ground. UDP has been loosing grounds to the APRC in every election cycle. We can revisit the election results for the last 3 to 4 elections cycles. Constituencies that were bastions of UDP support have been eroded. The demographics that used to and would have favored the UDP have shifted. So I wouldn’t be too optimistic.
“Kamalo tell me , why did the Gambians not flock to PDOIS after all parties were banned? Did the Gambians have any confidence with PDOIS ? “
Janjanbureh, I have explained to you the nature of the political structures and political culture that has evolved in the country over the years, and has disproportionately favored the PPP then, the APRC now and to a lesser extend the UDP. These are the dynamics of our political reality. And neither PDOIS or the UDP can change it on their own.
“Please answer these questions for me. PDOIS reminds me more as cult than a political party because it indoctrinates its followers, only 3 people that control the party, run schools and sell newspapers to accumulate funds. Remember Halipha studied Sociology in college in the US. In sociology, they covered mostly societies, cultures, cults and languages.”
I thought you are the intellectuals behind the UDP party who are supposed to deal with political concepts and ideas of change and transformation, and the role UDP can play in this process. But then you have reduced that intellectual bearing to talking about “cults” and “indoctrination.” You people are not serious.
“Again, you said that UDP only receives 35% up to 43% but never wins the elections so what is the differences. PDOIS end up with 2 or 3 percent. The difference by friend is that UDP votes where suppressed and also stolen in most of the country to reduce their vote count. For PDOIS, they don’t have to do anything because they have no chance to get 5% or you talking about winning the election in the first place. Why bother?”
Janjanbureh, I am really disappointed now. I thought I was dealing with the real thing. Let your friend Lafia come to your aid. You are not making any sense.
“Finally, PDOIS has to be responsive to the desires of the electorates of the Gambia and stop playing games and wasting our time.”
PDOIS is an independent political party and it is not wasting your time. And the desires of the UDP are not the desires of the electorate, just to let you know.
“They believed that they have time one day they will get elected to power in the Gambia but for me, what most Gambians want is to solve our immediate problem of removing Yaya Jammeh from power. At that point, all political parties and interested individuals can sit down and come with a unified transitional government to govern until a free and fair elections can be held. South Africa is a good example where the African National Congress, South African Communist Party and Pan African Congress work together with other parties until they were able to remove the racist regime from power for the interest of all South Africans. Even now, the three parties are working together putting unified candidates in each constituency and sharing power according to support level of each party. Why can Gambia do that too? It is all about compromise and willingness to put your country first before party. Each of these political parties have PROGRAMS, principles and goals just like PDOIS, UDP, NRP and GPDP but what matters is the national good.”
When you decide to do away with your party-led agenda of a coalition or alliance, other opposition political parties will be ready to talk with you. If any time is to be wasted the ball is in your court.
It is your wildest dream. The PDIOS institute taught you all that baloney. UDP was formed by patriotic Gambians from all works of life. These cock and bull stories that former PPP members alone formed UDP to take back power is the PDIOS version. PDIOS leaders has been feeding most of you with lies and crazy stories to justify why people did not flock to join them.
Again, people have to create alternatives if there is none. They formed the UDP for all genuine Gambians who wants to have freedom and democracy. PDIOS is not accommodating and led by three left over communists with so much ego.
Dawda, UDP achieved more than PDIOS and all the parties combined. They have unified Gambians and give them hope that one day The Gambia will be free from brutal dictator called Yaya Jammeh. Secondly, they have helped in defending many innocent Gambians in the court of law and freeing most of them including your dear comrade Halipha and Amat Bah to name few. Thirdly, UDP been the most oppressed and victimized party which continue to stand strong and determine to fight without losing their cool. With the support level they have throughout the country they could have driven Yaya out of the country very easily.
Tell me what PDIOS had achieved other than indoctrinating vulnerable young kids to follow them blindly without asking any questions. Wasting their time saying you don’t need to go to college because PDIOS institute is a college. They all went to college and got their education why are they telling others don’t go to school. It is too late for some of you to be saved but please help others not to fall in the same trap.
Kamalo and Dawda, where is the beef? With all these programs, principles and objectives are their many takers. That’s the question. All of you combined including your big comrades cannot spoon feed me Dawda. May be PDIOS need to do a research about how the rest of the Gambians felt about them. That’s a good research topic for them to pursue since they don’t have a lot going on.
Janjanbureh. Let me babysit and spoon feed you on UDP as a strategic PPP redemption party and its legacy.
NOTE:
1. “Governor Ganyi Touray (Veteran PPP candidate): Yes I was one of the founding fathers of the UDP but Ousainou Darboe and Femi Peters were not founding members.”
READ FULL INTERVIEW OF THE FACTS FROM SOURCE. Observer newspaper reports a special revealing Interview with Governor Ganyie Touray underthis link; http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/interview-with-governor-ganyie-touray
2. What has UDP achieved; apart from party dwindling down (or downward spiral), massive defections to APRC, loosing popularity (without any stronghold any longer), with spend force and its present leadership crises pending to be resolved?
3. Finally you are challenge to present or refer us any where in UDP party manifesto; strategy, programme and policy radically different but comparative to PDOIS; to proof UDP is more credible or dynamic than PDOIS?