An appraisal of a democratic opposition strategy

                       NADD; a choice for collective engagement.

I believe most of us have accepted the each others right to self determination and association as a part and parcel of our struggle for the democratic transformation of the indidual Gambians and the nation as an entity.Some of these party leaders that made up the NADD leadership were reluctant to join the Alliance from the onset. They were virtually dragged into it by their respective executives and since they are the leaders of their parties, they had to follow the wishes of the majority in their executive committees.

NADD's strategy was to produce the relevant documents binding them, take them to the masses for approval and then give the masses the opportunity to influence the selection of the future leadership that would carry through the final ejection of the Jammeh/APRC regime.

                     Standard bearer debacle

Because of the fact that NADD's work amongst the masses was delayed for too long, when the time came to move forward, the question of a standard bearer became paramount so many and the NADD leadership was forced to handle it urgently in order to continue with the basic programme with the people.

Realising that they may not fit the criterias that are to be set for the leader of such an Alliance, the only thing left for Darboe and Bah was to find discrepancies that could be found either based on the technicalities governing the Alliance and or the well known bad personal chemistry among the members of the leadership.

Waa Juwara became one of the scapegoats and the other is the fact that NADD was registered as a party and not an alliance. We all know that, this blunder could be attributed to those who were responsible for the registration for their naivety but also the weakness in our national constitution that does not have a provision for the registradition of an alliance of different parties that could fill present candidates for election.

                            Populism

Knowing fully well that most of the Gambians were yearning for change and NADD has become the beacon of hope because they see the unified stance from the side of the opposition, Darboe and Bah had no way out but to use these well known technicalities and personal grievances to withdraw their respective parties from NADD.

They also understand from the other executive members of UDP and NRP that the best thing for the Gambia is NADD as an alternative to Jammeh and the APRC and this could also mean that anyone of the five party leaders could be the flag bearer for the well stipulated transition period.

Now the new strategy is to create confusion, accuse the rest of the NADD leader in a baseless way and seek public approval to form a new alliance of their their two parties with the two of them being the guarantors of success and in this way they can realize their leadership ambitions.

                   Alternative strategies for success

The Darboe resignation from NADD is to create freedom of manouvre and the Brikama meeting was the testing ground to see if the strategy is viable. This is why they have to maintain their membership in the UDP and NRP respectively as personal guarantees should incase their go it alone attempt fail then they can always reconcile with the rest of the group. That's why Darboe is saying that; he is still a member of the NADD Alliance but not the NADD party.

I assure can you that, if they find that they could muster enough support as individuals among the populace then they just call it a day with NADD and go it alone as planned. The other strategy is to use the resignation and mobilize some king of support from the UDP/NRP membership in order to show the rest of the NADD members that Darboe is best best candidate because he still commands a greater mass following. In this scenario, they have already set set the tone by Bah asking the other parties to come and join their new Alliance in which the two of them dictate the terms of the game.

The third option is to show the rest of NADD that they are the worthy leaders in the eyes of the people and the others would eventually succumb to their demands and strike a compromising deal with them by giving them the leadership position.

                            NADD and people’s steadfastness

Now, it is left to NADD with the support of the representatives of the UDP and the NRP to be steadfast and move ahead with their programme and the grassroots members of the UDP and the NRP should also give full support to NADD knowing that it is our only chance to dislodge the present regime in the coming elections and to create a new political culture in cour beloved country. The progressive Gambians should just ignore Darboe and Bah while exposing their every attempt to deceive the people and lead them to dis-unity and creating and advantageous position for the Jammeh / APRC regime.

                                   Freedom of choice

Members of all political persuasions shall learn to accept every individual  right to freedom to choice. To decide whichever political or cultural idea they want to subscribe to without fear of any kind. This is a fundatamental democratic right that MUST be respected. However, every one of us deserves the right to challenge the choices that are made by either individuals or groups the inevitably affects our rights to decent living in peace justice and and freedom.

NADD members and supporters should not be bugged down by an ideal that the original members of the coalition are the guarantors of success, on the contrary, it is only those who are selflessly convinced and adhere to the NADD programme with unwavering conviction and consistency that can guarantee NADD’s success.

                     General mobilization and conscientisation

Now that there is nearly a national consensus to block the tribal card, every one of us must become a mobiliser and support the endeavors of the NADD leadship based on a common and progressive transformation programme that is congruent to the aspirations of the general masses with the involvement of the general masses and not just the elite. After all this is a transitional phase to usher in democratic pluralism and just governance in the Gambia. It is not the final action for the popular democratic movement. People should support NADD based on clear understanding, conviction and the freedom of choice but not some selfish interests or sentiments of any sort.

There are many voters who are undecided, disgruntled or suffering political apathy and those who are not part of NADD but are vital components in this phase of the democratic transformation who need to be engaged to form a common platform. They can even be encouraged to stand as independent in their respective areas of influence.

We should admit that so far most of the work NADD has been engaged in is done by the leadership, due partly to the foot dragging tactics we have suffered from but this cannot be an excuse for nonchalancy. The people should be given the chance to make their legitimate demands on NADD.

 The people’s hope for a peaceful, just and democratic transformation must be upheld forever.