(JollofNews) – My Gambian brother Madi Jobarteh who has “consulted and exchanged ideas privately” with Madam Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang for a long time, and whose very determination to oust Yahya Jammeh has been inspired by Madam Tambajang, has felt compelled to write to her and ask her not to accept the position of Vice-President.
I am compelled to respond to brother Madi Jobarteh out of respect for the obvious honesty and sincerity with which he writes his letter.
Brother Madi’s main point is that Madam Tambajang, who is 67 years-old should not accept the position of Vice-President because the constitution stipulates that the Vice-President should not be aged above 65. Brother Madi refers to “our” Constitution.
With respect to brother Madi, I have to say that the 65-age stipulation is a null and void insertion into “our” Constitution by a bandit intent on robbing Gambians of their constitutional rights. The Constitution that Gambians voted for never set an age-limit for an office holder – quite rightly too because there is no reasonable justification for barring any adult Gambian citizen from any office in the land on the grounds of age.
Let us be clear about this. Many of the amendments in the present Constitution of The Gambia are bastardisation of The Gambian Constitution to serve one individual: the Dictator Yahya Jammeh. Specifically, the 65-age limit for the Vice-President and President were inserted into the Gambian Constitution to prevent Lawyer Ousainou Darboe from contesting the Presidency against Yahya Jammeh.
In my humble view, an amendment to The Constitution that is intended to deprive a Gambian of a right conferred by The Constitution is null and void – unless that amendment is approved by a referendum of The Gambian people. It is for that same reason that the National Assembly’s extension of Yahya Jammeh’s term – strictly based on the terms of The Constitution – became null and void: because the National Assembly’s actions intended to deprive a Gambian, Adama Barrow, of a right conferred by Constitution. Again, in my humble view, Adama Barrow’s right to ascend to the Presidency, as guaranteed by The Constitution, overrode the National Assembly’s right to extend Yahya Jammeh’s term, again guaranteed by The Constitution – because Adama Barrow’s right had been approved by a referendum of The Gambian people.
I would there argue, respectfully brother Madi, that Madam Jallow-Tambajang’s right to the Vice-Presidency has been approved by a referendum of The Gambian people (through a vote for the Coalition she leads). Yahya Jammeh’s insertion of the 65-age limit for nefarious purposes, is on the contrary unconstitutional because it aims to nullify a right conferred on Gambians’ by the Gambian Constitution – without the assent of The Gambian people. The National Assembly’s actions are also unconstitutional – and that is what a Supreme Court would have decided if we had a functioning Supreme Court.
I therefore advise Mommy Jallow-Tambajang (with much respect to my brother Madi Jobarteh) to ignore my brother Madi Jobarteh.
CORRECTIONS!!!!!!!!!
It has just been pointed out that the 65-age stipulation WAS in the Constitution voted for by the Gambian people in 1995/1996 (I think). So I stand corrected on that and ACCEPT that it strengthens Brother Madi’s case. Nevertheless, that Constitution was presented by the JUNTA that Hon Halifa Sallah has argued was unconstitutional and treasonable. So I wonder what Halifa would say now about the 65-age stipulation (I noticed recently he has avoided giving his personal opinion on this). I would also still maintain that a Supreme Court would strike that age-limitation out as being discriminatory. Personally, I would argue that any adult Gambian citizen, recognized as such by law, should not be barred by age from any office in the land.
Apologies again for the error brother Madi – you have a much stronger case with my mistake rectified.
Stimmt: the constitution was made to serve the Gambia well, and not the other way round: Gambia was not created to serve the Constitution. So if the constitution in its present form is not serving the Gambia, well, the offending pieces must be amputated to let the rest of the body function as normal. It of a question of whether we want to rule-base, or principle based society? In the quest for political and socio-economic progress, do we want to adopt an approach based on greater flexibility and pragmatism, or one based on rigid adherence to ideology?: This is an important issue to be tackled heads on, because whilst the former is risky and requires courage and great leadership to implement, the pay-offs, as exemplified by once seemingly without-any-hope- whatsoever nations like Singapore, South Korea, can be very high indeed. Both these countries started with as little as less than $1 a day with very little or no natural, or human resources, to propel themselves to high-income countries within a decade. The latter, on the other hand whilst delivers a safe, sure, uneventful and stable society, also can leave its citizens poor, always living on <$1 a day, and aid dependent – all because they lack the leadership with courage to be flexible when it matters: to be pragmatic enough to know when to dump what no longer works and reach out and embrace the sometimes scary abyss, and take the plunge.
MADI JOBARTEH and DIDA HALAKE have also debated this on MADI JOBARTEH’s FACEBOOK and here are some of the comments:-
Madi Jobarteh to Dida Halake. It speaks volumes to hear you call Yaya Jammeh a Dictator today after having spared no effort to entrench him. It is therefore extremely scary to see you wish to identify with the deepest aspirations of the people of the Gambia. I am sure Mrs Tambajang will not fall for folks and ideas like yours. The rest of your argument only exposes your inconsistency and dishonesty and unworthy of my time.
Like · Reply · 1 · 3 hrs
Njundu Drammeh
Is this the Dida Halake who used to be at Jammeh mouthpiece Daily Observer and then special advisor to Yaya Jammeh, the guy he now refers to as dictator? Really? Pata PJ, you want to see a cherry picker? Look no further…
Madi Jobarteh to Njundu Drammeh Indeed he is the same Dida who wrote about Yaya Jammeh in a book about Pan-Africanism! I wonder how on earth any African can ever consider even faintly that Yaya Jammeh is/was a Pan-Africanist. But Dida Halake thought so! Yet he thinks he has enough advice for Tambajang and Barrow only to ask them to violate the law. Sometimes one wonders how we can be so brave, if that is bravery indeed.
Dida Halake to Njundu & Madi, this is what your “Human Rights” amounts to? Perosnal attacks instead of addressing the issues? Of course, Yahya Jammeh, like Haile Selasie, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Touray and Robert Mugabe, was a Pan-Africanist and they all turned into DICTATORS – and I have admired the PAN-AFRICANISM of ALL of them, while CONDEMNING their Dictatorships.
BUT, please address the ISSUE if you want to move The Gambia forward! The fact that you are attacking me personally instead of addressing the issue shows the deficiency in your own “ACTIVISM” on “Human Rights”.
Further Madi, someone has noted above your “obsession” with AGE and another has said the Good Lady may infact be “64”. That is what you need to address. Why the obsession? Whay does it matter if the Good Lady is a year or two above the age limit? I am sorry but Pata above is right!
To address your personalised attack: 1) How is editing the Observer for 8-months “entrenching” Jammeh? 2) What do you think of President Barrow meeting Amadou Samba who in his own words “managed Jammeh” for 22 years? 3) What about the Heroic Fatu Camara who did so much to fight Jammeh (not least with GAMBIA HA DECIDED) and yet served Jammeh as Press Officer twice – even Chairing a Cabinet Meeting for Jammeh? Please address the issues – if you can – and avoid personalised attacks … afterall, we are in the era of DUE PROCESS which means that personalised attacks sent incognito by officials in The Gambia to Freedomnewspaper DO NOT NOW SEND PEOPLE TO MILE 2.
Melville Robertson Roberts states on a FACEBOOK that Mrs. Fatoumatta Tambajang was infact born in 1953 – which makes her 64. So all this is the proverbial “Storm in a Tea Cup”.
A RESPONSE TO THE FAIRWEATHER CONSTITUTIONALIST ABD THE DANGERS INHERENT IN THE COALITION GOVERNMENT VS. ETHNIC POLITICS:
Maxs, Of course you would like UDP/ “Nterri Kaffo” “Stacking the Deck” within the new Government. However, it is a Sign of Danger, and Problems to come. The Make up of the Cabinet Positions in a Coalition Government is not a Decision that a President Should Not Unilaterally Make. It is by Advise and Consent/Consultan-tation. In a Truly West Minster Parliamentary System with a Coalition Government, any Member of the Coalition Partners can Precipitate the “Fall of a Government” by Triggering a “Vote of No Confidence” Motion and if that Motion Passes, the government would have to be Dissolved and Fresh Elections held. All GAMBIANS who care and are Concerned about Stability and Constitutional Democracy should be Alarmed and Worried about the Seemingly Authorcratic and Unileralist Decisions that Appears to be benefitting the UDP. The Seeds of Division and Ethnocentrism are raising its Ugly head again. It would germinate unless the Gambian Citizens and Political Leadership Steps up and Clearly and Unreservedly Resist and Push back against such Undemocratic Moves in the Wrong Direction. The Vice Presidential pick is a decision that would hunt and hang around the new Government’s neck and would be known as the Seed that “Destroyed” the Coalition Government. It is a Clear Violation of the Constitution Under which President Adama Barrow, the Coalition, and ECOWAS, AU, UN Resolutions and Articles were Debated, and Implemented during the Political Impass. “Fairweather” Constitutionalist, may regret that the Vice President who is Constitutionally Not legible to be appointed due the age limit, had the Interest and respect for Democratic Constitutionalism and Reject the Appointment. The President and Mr. Fatty may have their Political Agenda. But if she is as she has been portrayed as the “mother of the Coalition”, then as an Elder, she should Set an Example for the younger ones and Reject a Clear and Present Decision to Violate the Constitution they quoted Clause and Section to make a case against former President Yaya Jammeh’s government. I fear and shudder about what the future potends for The Republic of the Gambia and GAMBIANS. The Gambian people who Sacrificed everything, did so for a Democratic, Constitutional and Law abiding Government. They don’t want another form of Oppressive, Unileralist, Self-centered and Self-serving Politicians. Gambia is more than the Sum Total of any Individual, Ethnic group or Region. One Gambia, One People, and One Destiny.
By Sidi N. Bojang.
Luntango Suun Gann GI: I am not sure what to make of the statements attacking Hon. Halifa Sallah. If you meant it as an insult to Halifa Sallah, it only Demonstrates your Continued Cowardice and Opportunistic Manuevering Inherent in your Personality and make up. You can kiss and lick all the boots and rear bumpers of the current Power in the Gambia for personal and ulterior motives, however, Objective and Independent Thoughtful, Non-Ethnically Tainted GAMBIANS, know the Personal and Political Sacrifice Hon. Halifa Sallah Continue to make for all all GAMBIANS. Like the Constitution, Halifa Sallah is Killimanjaro and the Oceans Standing Between The Republic (the Gambia and GAMBIANS) and those who would with “Good” intensions Send it to Hell. Why do you have to Resort to such Crude, Rude and Condescending platitudes. You might say, why “Push back” against your statements above and engage in a similar act.The answer is, someone has to, because you appear to be Obesessed and Fixated with Hon. Halifa Sallah. Are you a Straw man or Agent Provocateur? If you have Nothing Constructive to add to the Gambia’s Transition and Development, Buy a Padlock, Britain has a lots of them. Do the Gambia and GAMBIANS a favor and Use it Generously and Deliberately.
My Statement on Halifa was actually very generous, so I don’t know what you have reading (or smoking!) Sidi K Bojang. But it is nice to see you crawling out of the woodwork after all these years. I think I considered your writing pretencious and redundant in 2007 – and it still is! As for “MAX”, the point he makes at KairoNews is rather scary if it is true and would seriously reflect badly on Halifa and here it is:
MAX:
“Halifa is the only one who was willing to meet the dictator but thanks to brilliant thinking of other leaders, they refused to meet the devil who planned to kill the leadership.” Max on KairoNews.
Dormu Rewwum Gambia (aka Luntango Suun Gann Gi):
This is the first time I am hearing of this. If it is true, it just underlines my point about Halifa NOT being a team player. Meeting Jammeh, on his own terms at State House while he SQUATED on the Presidency, would have been a serious error and thank God the other Coalition Leaders refused.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MONUMENTAL MISJUDGEMENT – ON THE PART OF THE COALITION AND A DISASTER FOR THE TRANSITION. Think about that Sidi K Bojang.
Halake, it is Sidi N. Bojang not “K”. Speaking of Smoking something, Hmm, I wonder who would fit that diagnosis. Item, in your attempt to Subvert and Ursurp Mr. Madi Jobarteh’s thoughtful and balanced response to the Unconstitutional Backdoor Manuevering Inherent in the Appointment of Mrs. Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang as Vice President, your being Under the influence of something could not be hidden. You gave Mr. Jobarteh and new last name, “Bojang” and gave him the female Pronoun, “She” instead of “He”. In the incoherent response to my response to your earlier Hatchet job on Hon. Halifa Sallah, you again subconsciously could not hide your Continued troubled State of mind and Substituted my Middle initial “N” with a “K”. Seek professional help. You appear to need it. You are easily Rattled and easily given to a State of Flux. Free advise, Don’t be too thin skinned. Inhale and exhale slowly and then allow yourself to think before doing anything.