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Breaking News:Hendry Gomez nomination rejected by the IEC-Halifa defends Freedom Newspaper-Darboe sunubs us?
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Breaking News:Hendry Gomez nomination rejected by the IEC-Halifa defends Freedom Newspaper-Darboe sunubs us?
  Yesterday's
nomination of Presidential flag bearers went well without any incident
of violence. But one of the Presidential aspirants Hendy Gomez received
the rudest shock of his life, as he was pinalized by the Independent
Electoral Commission for not meeting the qualifications to contest the
elections. Gomez was disqualified for his non residence in the Gambia.
Under the Gambian constitution people vying for the Presidency must
reside in the country for at least six months or more, but Gomez failed
to meet the said constitutional requirment, which brought a major set
back to his Presidential dream. Frustrated and emotional Hendry Gomez
was told by the IEC Chairman that under the current situation he was
not elligible to be admitted as a Presidential candidate. His
nomination papers were thus rejected by the IEC. Angered by the
political development, Gomez told reporters that he was not going to
team up with the APRC since the IEC refuses to recognise his
Presidential bid. The rejected leader of the Gambia People's Democratic
Party said he prefer to support the opposition than the APRC. Gomez in
recent time was seen at the state house having private talks with
President Jammeh. His rejection came as a big shock to him and his
handful of followers who escorted him to the IEC yesterday for
nomination.
Henry Gomez in hand-shake with President Jammeh.
Mr.Gomez who is resident in Germany was said to
have been sponsored by the APRC to create his party. The idea of the
GPDP they say was intended to legitimize the APRC government in the
event the opposition boycott the said elections. Gomez has always
denied such claims. He said his party was independent and was never
sponsored by the President. Gomze later walked out the IEC with heavy
heart as his dream of becoming a President shattered. He was heard
accusing the IEC of discrimination and unfair treatment. It is not
clear if the disgraced GPDP leader will challenge the decision of the
IEC in court. But some constitutional lawyers who spoke to this paper
said the IEC was right for pinalizing the politician. They said parties
such as the GPDP are ghost parties whose leaders hardly stays in the
country. When Gomez's party was first announced in the Gambia, this
reporter made intensive investigations to locate the party's address or
secretariat, but to our dismay the IEC at the time was even unable to
funish us with the address of Mr.Gomez's party. Gomez later came in
the open to declare that he was the leader of the party. Lawyer Lamin
Camara was in charge of his legal issues at the time.
Halifa Sallah registered a case for Freedom Newspaper!
Shortly
after his nomination as NADD flag bearer, Halifa Sallah told reporters
that the arrest and the continued detention of the Freedom Newspaper
subscribers was unconsitutional. Sallah who said his party will not
tolerate provocation from the APRC maintains that the state has no
rights whatsoever to continually detain the Freedom Newspaper
subscribers. Mr.Sallah who was applauded by his jubilant followers
numbering in thousands said the government of the Gambia was hell bent
on curtailing the freedoms and liberties of its people. The Serre
Kunnda MP said he sees no rationale for the arrest and detention of the
Freedom Newspaper as they committed no crime.
Has Darboe snubs the Freedom Newspaper???
The
Freedom Newspaper contacted the NRP/UDP alliance Presidential flag
bearer for comments, but Darboe said Hamat Bah was in charge of the
party's communications issues. Darboe said all interviews should be
channeled to Hamat Bah. This reporter agreed and requested for Bah's
number, which took Darboe about five minutes to make it readily
available. Before closing the phone conversation, Darboe was asked if
he was going to volunteer two or one line comment about Monday's
nomination, the politician still remained adamant on his stance that
all interviews must pass through Hamat Bah. We contacted Hamat Bah on
the number given to us by Lawyer Darboe, but the said number was
unreachbale. We are not aware of any acrimonious relationship between
the Freedom Newspaper and Mr.Darboe to warrant such a snub. We respect
his decision that interviews should pass through Hamat Bah, but as a
politician vying for the Presidency, he should be more open to the
press. We wanted to talk to him and not Hamat Bah. If Darboe is not
willing to face the press he should call it quits as politician. In
this era of global democracy, politician avoiding the private press
must have something to hide. We are not instituanating that Darboe had
something hide, but his latest treatment of the Freedom Newspaper is
the least healthy for a man seeking for the Presidency. Darboe should
have been running after us for interview and not us. He should have
used a day like the nomination to send his messages to his supporters
both at home and abroad through the Freedom Newspaper. But Darboe
misses a golden opportunity accorded to him free of charge. The Freedom
Newspaper wants to give equal treatment to all parties. We are an
independent paper. If our editorials on Darboe angered him, then we
cannot help it out. We stood by all what we said and have no regret of
criticising Darboe. Darboe should be tolerant if he wants to be taken
seriously by the Gambian voters. This attitude of pick and choose which
paper he should talk to will never do him good.
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Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 (Archive on Monday, September 04, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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