Has President Jammeh Made Any Arrangements With the IEC? Darboe Queries in Weekend Interview

By AllGambian

On UDP/NRP Coalition and NADD

The UDP/NRP coalition was scheduled to hold a rally in Sinchu Alagie village and other satellite villages in Kombo North Constituency this past weekend. Another rally is also said to be in the offing in Brufut village. According to Mr. Darboe, the UDP and NRP officials have started talks to formalize their coalition for the presidential campaign. “It is not likely that the UDP will call it a day with the NADD alliance. The UDP is a member of NADD the alliance that was established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed back in April 2005″ said Darboe.

Commenting on the widely rumored breakaway of the Alliance for Patriotic Reconciliation and Construction (APRC) party militants in the making, comprising of Mayor Lye Conteh, Buba Baldeh, and independent Mayor Pa Sallah Jeng of Banjul (capital city of The Gambia) on forming an alliance with the UDP/NRP coalition, Mr. Darboe said that he heard about the same rumors too but he has not been informed by anyone of their intentions. He, however, went on to say that the breakaway militants were strong members of the APRC and they carry a lot of influence in their respective areas. Any support they command is certainly coming out of the APRC camp which will further strengthen the opposition parties.

On Fractured Coalition and Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh

On his resignation from NADD, lawyer Darboe said “there are others who think it is a political blunder. On the other hand, there are those who think it is the right decision at a crucial time. In fact, the view of the majority is that Mr. Darboe has done the right thing. I’ve always looked forward to a unified front in the opposition camp. You don’t have to insist on one formula only. We should debate on other alternatives so as to come to an agreement on a viable option.”

On the status of Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh, Mr. Darboe said, “Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh contested the last parliamentary election under the NADD ticket and he is a member of the NADD executive. He will lose his seat in parliament if he resigns from NADD. Kemeseng had to contest under the NADD ticket as a result of our membership in NADD. Before NADD, we all knew Jarra West constituency (the constituency represented by Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh) is always a UDP stronghold and it is still considered so.”

On Reconciliation Moves

Observers and opposition figures wondered why it took president Yahya Jammeh’s APRC this long to sign the inter-party Memorandum of Understanding. The APRC refused to sign the document when the British Commonwealth envoy, General. Aboubacar Salami was in Banjul for that purpose; to ensure violence-free elections.

Mr. Darboe, a prominent human rights lawyer cum politician said, “It was a move long overdue; I don’t think it should have taken this long for the APRC government to sign that document. It shouldn’t have taken the mediation of president Obasanjo (president of Nigeria) for it to happen. We should let the world know we are capable of settling differences among ourselves. I applaud president Obasanjo for his leadership initiative. This is what is expected of a respectable African statesman. I don’t want to be skeptical with the whole reconciliation move. I expect the APRC to play by the rules of the MoU signed at the coconut residence.”

On 41st Independence Anniversary and Jawara

Mr. Darboe said, as an opposition leader in the country, he wasn’t invited. That Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh was not invited either because he too did not attend. He went on to say that he could not speak for the other opposition leaders but hinted that he believes that they would have attended if they were invited to the occasion.

On president Jammeh’s declaration of victory in the impending October polls, Mr. Darboe said, “President Jammeh is in a state of paranoia and had to resort to making such statements in order for him to assure himself.” He blasted president Jammeh for playing partisan politics on a national day, condemning the statements as inappropriate and inopportune. He further queried whether president Jammeh has made any arrangements with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) because such statements will put that body in a funny position.

Commenting on the APRC propaganda spinning on former president Jawara’s (first president of The Gambia) attendance at the independence celebrations, the lawyer cum politician said, “I don’t see how Jawara’s presence could be a solution for our many problems in the country and a solution to the failures of the APRC. It is not in anyway helpful for the APRC.”

On Accusations of “Tribalism”

Responding to questions on his presidential ambitions as based on “tribalism” agenda, this is what the UDP leader had to say, “People who lack argument and have nothing to offer are the ones playing tribal cards. We all know Mr. Hamat Bah is a Fula (one of the tribes in The Gambia) and he endorsed me being a Mandinka (a major tribe in The Gambia) as his candidate. We all know Mr. Shyngle Nyassi is a Jola (a tribe that president Jammeh comes from) and he has been a very strong UDP militant. I am not against president Jammeh because he is a Jola. I oppose him for legitimate reasons. I want to make it clear that I am very proud to be a Mandinka and to belong to the “Jula” (a caste among the Mandinka tribe in The Gambia) creed. What has my tribe to do with my eligibility to seek the presidency?”