Gambians for the mess he put us

(Another desperate commentary on Halifa Sallah)

By Demba Baldeh Seattle WA

It is disgusting to read Pa Saikou Kujabi’s article on Halifa Sallah 
featured on Freedom newspaper on Wednesday August 16, 2006. The article 
is another indication of how ill informed and desperate some of these 
sedo-UDP/NRP old hand supporters are with current political events in the 
Gambia.

Pa saikou’s article is so revealing of his political immaturity and 
ignorance about political events in the Gambia.  It is embarrassing that 
he seemed to live in another world when Yahya Jammeh and others took 
over the country in 1994.

I first of all want to say that Kujabi has no credibility whatsoever to 
allege that Halifa had and continue to help Yahya Jammeh stay in power.  
Where and how can you justify your allegations about Halifa when every 
Gambian knew what role Halifa played during the transition period and 
continue to play in our political history?

Where were you Mr. Kujabi when Halifa and Sedia Jatta were arrested by 
the Jammeh regime early 1995 and put to trial for publishing the 
Foroyaa newspaper and continuing to engage in party politics?

Where were you when Halifa was offered a ministerial position by the 
Jammeh regime and he openly refused base on the fact that Jammeh did not 
seek the mandate of the people before taken over power?

Where were you when Halifa wrote numerous open letters to young 
lieutenant Jammeh defying him for constitutionally overthrowing a government 
that was elected and urged him to hand over power to a transitional 
civilian government?

Where were you kujabi, when openly Halifa was so instrumental in 
advocating peace, stability, and educating Gambians the need to control their 
own destiny to avoid a future military overthrow of an elected 
government?

Most recently Mr. Kujabi, who wrote an open letter and challenge Jammeh 
when he alleged that the opposition was working with the Senegalese 
government to destabilize the Gambia government? What do you think Mr. 
Kujabi, led to the arrest and detention of the opposition leaders early 
this year?  Was it not Halifa who wrote and challenge Jammeh on his 
assertions? Do you call that helping Jammeh to stay in power? You better 
not…

Did you mean to tell your readers Mr. Kujabi that when you read what 
Halifa writes you don’t understand his English?  Or are you one of those 
people who are so old schooled you cannot understand between modern 
politics and the old way of doing politics by appealing to your ethnic 
base? Your article reminded me a similar lack of understanding, when one 
of the audience during one of NADD’s meetings ask Halifa if his politics 
was not above Gambian standard.  I refer you to search for the response 
Halifa gave by watching the NADD Seattle Meeting video.

The only thing your commentary revealed is you and your like’s 
frustration on your inability to rally Halifa and others behind an empty 
program to replace the Jammeh regime with another status quo regime.  You 
have also managed to highlight the fact that Gambians across the globe 
embraced the NADD idea because it is the only unifying political platform 
that will not only change the Jammeh regime, but also replace it with a 
system that will accord all Gambians of a level political playing 
field.

Some of your allegations and analysis are so ill conceived that even 
your own party supporters would want to distance themselves from your 
writings. You absolutely failed flat when you mentioned without any 
quotation from Halifa’s analysis of the kombo east by-elections that Halifa 
alleged someone sent money from the U.S to the electorates to not vote 
for NADD. This allegation is absolutely false and it only fits in the 
politics of tribalism and nepotism to which, Halifa can never be 
associated.

Furthermore Mr. Kujabi, you have succeeded once again in proving that 
people like you are the many supporters of the UDP who are leading your 
party into political suicide.  You have failed like many others to 
acknowledge that your party made blunders by being all over the map on the 
issue of opposition unity. First, they lack trust, second they made a 
mistake; third, I may add, they are the biggest and most disorganized as 
they cannot even represent what they stand for.

Finally, without a question, Halifa remained the most principle and 
consistent politician Gambia has ever witnessed.  He is one of the best 
hopes we have to restore sanity and lead our people to the promise land 
of political and economic emancipation.  He commands respect and carries 
himself with utmost dignity in whatever he does.  If I may add, even 
without being President or holding a cabinet position, he remains one of 
the most effective politicians in educating Gambians of their rights to 
command their own destiny.

Unlike you Kujabi, and your party, NADD and its supporters believe that 
the goal is to move Gambia from its present predicament to a 
sustainable democratic and strong economic future. Unlike you and your party, 
NADD stands for a government of National unity led by an able and humble 
leader. Unlike you and your party, NADD originated from a representative 
of all sectors of Gambian political spectrum. Unlike you and your 
party, NADD clearly advocates a transitional government that will put in 
place viable and sustainable institutions of democracy that will eradicate 
absolute Presidential powers and restore civility in our government.  
Unlike you and your party Mr. old school, NADD counts on all Gambian 
voters regardless of ethnic origin and tribal lines. Unlike you and your 
desperate camp of losers, NADD believe the fight for political freedom 
will not end with this September elections.  NADD 
is for those who believe in planting the seeds together, nurturing them 
together, and finally harvesting them together for all Gambians to 
enjoy the fruits of their years of sacrifice.  If you belong to a camp of 
political opportunist, who signs secret contracts without the peoples’ 
mandate, who hide when the sun sets in fear of their lives, then 
Gambians don’t deserve you and your agenda.  History will be the ultimate 
judge.
Peace

“Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandhi