The Kombo East by-election as predicted here has been won by the ruling APRC. It doesn't take a psychic to predict that one. The final vote tally was:
Jung Conteh (APRC) 3,365
Lamin Darbo (UDP/NRP) 2,814
Momodou Lamin Touray (NADD) 1,109
The results manifest what most of us loudmouths have been saying for quite some time, that the opposition divided as they are today will be drawing from the same pool of supporters albeit the bigger slice. The same fate awaits them at the presidential polls come October.
The reactions of the opposition figures to the election results are so telling. Lamin Waa Juwara, who never misses a chance to run his mouth at UDP/NRP alliance didn't disappoint this time either. Here is what he told the point:
I will like to think that every member of the opposition learned a lesson, but not if you subscribe to what Juwara has to say. In his demagoguery, he passed that lesson on to the UDP/NRP alliance. Everything is jolly with NADD huh? Juwara is smart enough to know that you can only bluff your opponent from a vantage point of strength. The results don't bode well for NADD. The UDP/NRP alliance has twice as much support as NADD and trailed the ruling party by a few hundred votes. That counts for something. No?
Waa and other NADD supporters keep calling on the UDP/NRP alliance to come back to NADD. What you never heard them say is for NADD to join the alliance. What is so hard about that? If unity is all they want, then joining a much bigger group is the way to go.
In his reaction to the election results, Ousainou Darbo is reported as saying the following:
What is Mr. Darbo smoking? Defeat for the APRC? In what sense? Is this some kind of twisted logic taught at law schools? But I guess he is just trying to massage the pain of defeat that the opposition clearly suffered. A win is a win is a win...capice.
However, Mr. Darbo did come around to acknowledging what critics of a divided opposition have been saying all along when he said the following:
I hope these guys get pragmatic and soon. They've already realized that they needed each other to win in October. It will take a pragmatic attitude on the part of all concerned to come together for a country. Obtuse adherence to Ideology and ego has only gotten us so far.
Jung Conteh (APRC) 3,365
Lamin Darbo (UDP/NRP) 2,814
Momodou Lamin Touray (NADD) 1,109
The results manifest what most of us loudmouths have been saying for quite some time, that the opposition divided as they are today will be drawing from the same pool of supporters albeit the bigger slice. The same fate awaits them at the presidential polls come October.
The reactions of the opposition figures to the election results are so telling. Lamin Waa Juwara, who never misses a chance to run his mouth at UDP/NRP alliance didn't disappoint this time either. Here is what he told the point:
An executive member of the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) has said the pull-out of the UDP and the NRP from the alliance led to their defeat in the 14 May by-election in Kombo East.
Mr Waa Juwara, who was speaking to The Point yesterday in a telephone conversation, said the defeat will teach the United Democratic Pary (UDP) and the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) that NADD is the only solution or answer to countering whatever scheme the ruling APRC party may employ in any elections.
“The UDP/NRP alliance has learnt a lesson that they alone cannot do it,” Juwara said, adding that unity is strength and power...point
I will like to think that every member of the opposition learned a lesson, but not if you subscribe to what Juwara has to say. In his demagoguery, he passed that lesson on to the UDP/NRP alliance. Everything is jolly with NADD huh? Juwara is smart enough to know that you can only bluff your opponent from a vantage point of strength. The results don't bode well for NADD. The UDP/NRP alliance has twice as much support as NADD and trailed the ruling party by a few hundred votes. That counts for something. No?
Waa and other NADD supporters keep calling on the UDP/NRP alliance to come back to NADD. What you never heard them say is for NADD to join the alliance. What is so hard about that? If unity is all they want, then joining a much bigger group is the way to go.
In his reaction to the election results, Ousainou Darbo is reported as saying the following:
Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) yesterday said the 14 May Kombo East by-election was a defeat for the ruling APRC party, as the majority of the voters in the constituency voted against the APRC...point
What is Mr. Darbo smoking? Defeat for the APRC? In what sense? Is this some kind of twisted logic taught at law schools? But I guess he is just trying to massage the pain of defeat that the opposition clearly suffered. A win is a win is a win...capice.
However, Mr. Darbo did come around to acknowledging what critics of a divided opposition have been saying all along when he said the following:
However, when it was put to him that some people are of the belief that the opposition could not win the election because they are divided, Mr Darboe said “it is an argument that one cannot brush aside”.
I hope these guys get pragmatic and soon. They've already realized that they needed each other to win in October. It will take a pragmatic attitude on the part of all concerned to come together for a country. Obtuse adherence to Ideology and ego has only gotten us so far.
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I'm not saying this is what NADD should do, all I'm saying is that this is what I would do. I absolutely will not let anyone back me into a corner and expect me to come running back to them. I believe in compromising, but if we can’t compromise, you will certainly not get your way.
An African born Black man told me recently he has never seen a woman that subscribes to this type of position. He thinks my position is unreasonable although it has served me well. I believe there are consequences for every actions and I don't mind accepting or giving out those consequences.
The only reason Waa is sticking with NADD is that his party's base is non existent. So Nadd is a platform for him to push his infantile grudge against darbo.
You further state:
'I absolutely will not let anyone back me into a corner and expect me to come running back to them. I believe in compromising, but if we can’t compromise, you will certainly not get your way.'
That is exactly how UDP/NRP folks feel. Therefore Waa's constant rambling and call for them to join NADD will not yield much. Maybe level heads like Halifa will come to their senses.
Cynthia didn't stay on the Gambia post after her name was drag through mud. But she expects Darbo to stick it out even when he (darbo) knew that there are elements in NADD undermining him and dragging his name through the mud. If that is not double standard on Cynthia's part,I don't see what it is.
And, don't you really think it was time for me to leave? If things had gotten that bad for all of those things to be said about me falsely and me retaliate excessively vicious, don't you really think I stayed too long? Now, if I had left sooner, I don't think anything would have ever happen. Even with that, I can live with my choices because in the end, none of us were really hurt. Can you say the same thing about Waa and Darboe?
FYI - I'm the first one to admit that I can be extremely selfish and self-centered. But then, my actions will not hurt ~1.5 million people. At most, my actions may hurt 2 or 3 people. This is what you should keep in mind when you indict me in this manner.
"And, don't you really think it was time for me to leave? If things had gotten that bad for all of those things to be said about me falsely and me retaliate excessively vicious, don't you really think I stayed too long?"
That is exactly my point. Why will anyone stay in a relation personal or otherwise when other people are tarnishing your image day in day out. Words like traitor, tribalist, you named it were hurled at Ousainou by people who didn't have their way. The man is human and for all I know he is not a saint. At a certain point he and his supporters decided to call it quits. Hamat bah came to the same conclusion. You don't hear them calling him those awful names. The NADD project failed not because of, but despite of Ousainou.
When you had kebba Foon (mr. tribal man) and gang running around trying to dictate what folks on the ground should or shouldn't do then the project is bound to fail. What did you resign from the STGDP by the way? That should tell you the mind behind those pushing for reform in the Gambia. They came to this project with their choosen leader in mind and when UDP called their bluff, they went beserk. They were not honest brokers. Now like Bush, who ever disagree with them is seen as unpatriotic.