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Lawyer Darboe Should Resign- A Need For Political Reforms in The UDP
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Lawyer Darboe Should Resign- A Need For Political Reforms in The UDP
Lawyer Darboe Should Resign- A Need For Political Reforms in The UDP
Whiles Gambia's political dust is settling
gradually, it is imperative for the main opposition UDP led by human
rights lawyer Ousainou Darboe to consider effecting political reforms in
their party. Such a move would bring public confidence into the party
and also to dispel the widely held notion that the UDP is a one man
show. Having said this, it is our contention that Darboe should
consider steeping down and allow someone within the party to lead.
Considering his age and political experience Darboe would be doing a
great justice to himself and the UDP if he gracefully resign as a party
leader. Resigning from the leadership don't mean retiring from active
politics. Perhaps, if the party selects another leader that would make
a difference in their quest to occupy the state house. Having failed on
three consecutive terms of winning the Presidency, the UDP executive
should be bold enough to replace Darboe since he fails to take the
initiative by himself. As stated earlier, this positive call for
Darboe's stepping down might be greeted with mixed reaction, but it is
our firm belief that the UDP should embark on a political reforms if
it is interested in ruling the Gambia one day. A reform that will
sharpen the party's image for good. A reform that will bring electoral
victory at their door steps in future elections. Darboe is not a
sellable candidate. He got to take a back seat for now and allow others to
lead. Common sense should have dictated to him that he is not meeting
the expectations of his supporters. Three defeats is enough for a
lawyer turned politician.
Political Experiment
Legal
pundits have argued time and time that Darboe might not be qualified to
run the next elections in view of old age. Unless the constitution is
amended Darboe's poltical career appeared bleak. To avoid unnecessary
problems in the future, it is high time for the UDP to start working on
replacing a spent force like Darboe. The party's Youth Wing could be
used as political experiment. Rambo Jatta or any other youth wing
leader could be selected as a flag bearer. This suggestion might sound
funny but it is time for the UDP to do away with this notion that
Darboe is their savior. He is not. If he was, he would have won the
support of our people over the years. Africans don't learn from their
mistakes. Our people tend to believe in one man show a lot. Calling for
radical reforms in the opposition or ruling party should be seen as a
positive call and not otherwise. For the UDP to keep Darboe means
denying their supporters regime change. Darboe is the not the right
person who can bring change in the country. He should be honest with
himself and call it quits before it is too late. Darboe would be doing
great disservice to our present and future generations to come if he
fails to step aside and allow fresh young blood to lead that party.
The UDP party needs total reforms. The current UDP executive need to
be restructured. Correct me if I'm wrong since the launching of that
party no changes had been effected in the UDP executive. The same old
guard continues to run the show even though they are failing on a daily
basis. Besides, the expullsion of Lamin Waa Juwara, nothing significant
had occured in the UDP over the years. The same faces all the time. No
political development, no changes, nothing. Very sad indeed.
From
the party's propaganda secretary, national secretary, youth wing
leader, yai compins and so forth need to be replaced or redeployed.
Such a reform would go a long way in building the image of the UDP. The
UDP should convene a national conference without delay to pin point the
party's shortcomings and successes. The party seems to be more
interested about winning elections when it is not ready to do what it
takes to win an election. In the absence of political reforms nothing
can work. If I were to rate the UDP campaign manager and the party's
leader I would have rated them below expectation. The current
electoral results don't tell well for a major opposition party bragging
that it commands the biggest following in the country. The expectation
of many were shattered following Darboe's sharp drop on his electoral
performance. If the said results are to go by then Darboe and his team
must work harder to recover their initial 30 percent results in the the
previous elections.
Darbo's Election Rejection Was it Too Hasty???
Many
Gambians applauded the UDP leader for not conceding defeat this time
around. Darboe okayed a BBC proposed interview to reject the election
results. In that interview he accuses the IEC chairman of conniving
with the government to steal the elections. But election observers from
the Commonwealth and other agencies have a different view all together.
They said the election results represent the will of the people even
though they lamented about the lack of level playing field in some
instances. Now the election results are behind us, Gambians are not
certain about what line of action the UDP leader intends to take. If
he intends to challenge the elecoral results in the courts, let him
forget it. Jammeh owns the courts. Going to court also requires money
and time. The next available line of action is a peaceful national
showdown to voice their total rejection of the election results. The
chances of the latter is very slim consideing Darboe's
chicken-heartedness. He believes in politics of diplomacy which is very
good, but peaceful showndowns also matters when dealing with despots
like Jammeh.
At his recent press conference Darboe declared
that the battle for our country had just started. He never explained
what he meant by that. To many, Darboe was trying to signal his
opponent Jammeh that he was not giving up for his mansa dream. That he
was determined to contest future elections despite his declining
popularity.The UDP led alliance are faced with a lot of problems these
days. While they rejected the election results on the basis of fraud
and intimidation, the same party is saying that it will contest the
legislative elections due soon. By contesting the said elections mean
legitimizing the results of Presidential elections. It makes no sense
for Darboe to reject the election results and turn around and say his
party would take part in future fraudulent elections. Remember, that
the electoral register remains the same. The same voters who paved for
Jammeh's victory would vote come the legislative elections. Boycotting
the elections would also be suicidal for the opposition UDP as it will
give Jammeh the chance to introduce one party state. There wouldn't be
any opposition members in the national assembly if such a situation
arises. The UDP led alliance is caught between the sea and the devil.
They either reject the elections in its totality or legitimize it by
contesting the legislative elections. The ball is in their court.
Darboe got to go for now. The UDP needs a new leader with a vision.
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Posted on Sunday, October 01, 2006 (Archive on Monday, November 27, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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