News, Politics

OJ Jallow Launches Ferocious Attack On Lawyer Darboe

Omar Jallow (left) and Lawyer Ousainou Darboe (right)

(JollofNews) – As the political bickering in the Gambia’s coalition government continues ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, Omar Amadou (OJ) Jallow of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has launched a ferocious attack on Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) accusing him of being more concerned about the survival of his party than the peace and stability of the Gambia.

Agriculture minister Jallow said Foreign Affairs Minister Darboe has put the interest of his party ahead of the Gambia. He accused his ministerial colleague of being the cause of the division and bickering in the heart of the coalition government.

Party leaders of the Gambia’s coalition government are embroiled in a bitter political infighting following their failure to agree on a common platform to contest the parliamentary election.

Explaining how the problem started at a weekend rally in Abuko, Mr Jallow said : ” As the coalition parties had signed an agreement to governed the country for only three years before holding fresh general elections, I  suggested to my fellow party leaders that we should put up independent candidates for the parliamentary elections just like we did in the last presidential election in the interest of peace and stability.

“I made it clear to them that in my position as leader of the PPP, I will never hesitate to sacrifice my party for the interest and security of the Gambia. As leader, I am more interested in the political stability of the Gambia and the safety of Gambians and my children.”

Mr Jallow added: “Sadly, my suggestion was flatly rejected by Lawyer Darboe on the grounds that his party, the UDP, would die if it does not contest the election. He [Darboe] insisted that he will put up UDP candidates for the election and this is the cause of our problem.”

Mr Jallow said he is struggling to understand how the UDP leader could love his party more than the Gambia.

“How can you have more love to your party than country?” he asked. ” I want Gambians to know that the PPP is under the leadership of the coalition government of President Adama Barrow and we would not never have been in this turmoil today if other party leaders have accepted my proposal.”

The people leader said being in a coalition government would not result in the death of any governing party.

“We have seen a coalition government in neighbouring Senegal which was in power for eight years without  any of the governing party dying,” he said. “The PPP was banned from active politics in the Gambia from 1994 to 2001 and but it is still very alive and kicking today.”

67 Comments

  1. Its embarrassing…!!! OMG///

    Can someone give these senior citizens a pair of boxing gloves ?

    I feel so sorry for Gambian’s really !!!

  2. Mr Darboe never change ,, Darboe +Barrow trip to Paris will remain in the history black mailing Sarahule community in Paris saying TR hey have to speak mandika or all Sarahule speaks mandika ,so the more than 6 million Sarahule speaker’s living in Paris will act

    • =peace# maths is not your strong point is it? How did you get the figure of 6 million Sarahule in Paris. The Gambia has a total population less than 2 million yet you stating on record that the Sarahule population in Paris is 3 times the population of Gambia. Try and get your facts right instead of making ridiculous claims.

      • No one gets misinformed nowadays. I Like your “stop this shit” thing

      • #Buba sanyang
        u have problem there is more than 20 million sarahule across West Africa namely Mali g/Conakry g/bussau Senegal s/Leon n Gambia with has d less
        there is more sarahule in France than madinka u think u know sarahule but u don’t know shiiiit about us
        go back to school when the man said million sarahule u think he is wrong no u don’t

        understand English if the guy say million Gambian sarahule then u can open u mouth please read what d man say

        • raxi,there may be 20million sarahule in West Africa but that does not mean there are 6million sarahule in Paris. We are talking of Paris the capital of France not France as a whole. The population of Paris including it’s suburbs is just over 10million so 6million sarahule means over half of the population in Paris are sarahule. Can you proof that? Even if you mean the whole of France, 6million sarahule is nearly 6% of the population. So instead of being sentimental try and get your facts right. I have taken your advice and went back to school and came back to you with facts. I would suggest you do the same.

    • Lol@=peace#, Gambian population is NOT even 2 millions. I do not know how Sarahule community in Paris made up to 6 millions? I do not think you did your home work well…

  3. Shame just a shame we don’t need both of them Poor gambia in boat without direction, good time for senegal to control 100% the gambia security and business, a country without leaders pay the price

    • Well Jammeh might as well come back and take the reign again! The dust will settle gradually and people will go about their normal businesses. Plurality at work. OJ’s opinion is his and others have their own about the coalition and about Darboe- the favourite punchbag. The voters will send their NAMs to NA on 4th April. No body should allow fear engulf them.

      • To UDP PARTY LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTERS: A Mirage Or Appearance of Democracy Does Not Make A Democratic Dispensation. To use the United States as many of your travelling companions for UDP have as a cheap shot at Hon. Halifa Sallah is not only wrong but intentionally misleading. First, the United States did Not Have a Memorandum Of Understanding going into any of the Modern Recent Elections in the United States. Second, the United States unlike the Gambia does not Operate on a Parliamentary Political System.The United States is Not only a Representative Democracy, but Allocates the Lower and Upper House aka the House of Representatives and the Senate’s Votes by Proportional Representation from the Population of a given State and Congressional Constituancy. That is due to the Connecticut Compromise which sought to Level the Political Field between the more Populous States and the Lesser Ones. Do we have this in the Gambia or British Parliamentary System from which the Gambia Copied its Existing Political System? Not at all. For any Honest and individual of sum amount of Integrity to try to Equate American Political System, goes to show the length and width some would Compromise their Ethics and Morals to Argue the Unjustifiable. Why engage in such “intellectual” Dishonesty? Simple. Ethnic Group Based Party Politics, Not Ideological or Policy Based Platform as a is in the United States. Another Significant difference between the United States and The Gambia, is the Electoral College. Remember I mentioned Representation Government being a Defining feature of the United States Political System, the Electoral College is the Institution that Directly Electes the United States President. The Popular Votes, which Hillary Clinton Won by a Whopping Votes of almost Three Million and Still Not Win the United States Presidency is Not the Determinant Factor. It is the Electoral College Votes that the United States President gets as Pledged by the Constituancy, Counties, Precients and States. Coalition Alliance was an Amalgamation of Eight Parties including UDP which all Agreed Upon and Signed the MOU to Work together as One to Contest for the Presidency and if they Win, they would Govern as a Coalition Alliance Government for a Period of Three Years. How then can a President who was a UDP Member and not just any Rank and File Supporter, but infact, an Official in the position of “UDP Party Book Keeper/Financial Manager” as reported by Adama Barrow himself, but had to resign from the UDP Party in order to be run for the Coalition Alliance Presidency be impartial in Cynical and Opportunistic Ethnic Group Based Party Politics AKA Tactical Alliance. How is Tactical defined in this case? Alliance with whom and for what? UDP was already in a Tactical Alliance within the Coalition Alliance Government with Seven Parties. Why break that Tactical Alliance and Illegally break some might say, the MOU that gave the Same UDP Candidates Contesting under the so-called Tactical Alliance Parliamentary Elections, their Cabinet Positions? Answer, Ethnic Group Based Party Politics. It seems to me, that if the MOU is Binding and Enforceable, and I believe it to be, all Cabinet Positions Occupied by UDP Candidates, Mai Fatty and Hamat Bah and other Members of the Current Tactical Alliance Should Resign. They have by Virtue of Nullifying and Voiding the MOU, have in the Spirit and Letter of the MOU Retroactively Nullified their Legitimatimacy. In a True Parliamentary System, the Coalition Alliance Government Cabinet Should or Would be DISSOLVED and Elections Held within the Proscribed Constitutional Mandate. They Owed their Cabinet Positions to the MOU and inturn to the Coalition Alliance that they Now Step on After Tearing it into Pieces and using it as Means to an End of UDP and Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo Ethnic Group Based Party Hegemony. Any Violation of the MOU, is a Violation and Rejection of the Coalition Alliance Government’s​ Presidency. Adama Barrow being a Part and Parcel of the UDP Party would not feel that way. However, if he was from another Party Whoes Position is being Undermined in a Malfeasant and Potentially illegal manner, he and his Party and Party Supporters would Cry Foul Against UDP and Mai Fatty and their Supporters. An MOU is Not a Toilet Paper to be Used and Discarded by Any of the Signatory Political Party’s Leadership. In fact, this is a Significant Test of the UDP Regime of Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty and their Fronted President, Adama Barrow’s Commitment to a Democratic Dispensation and TRUELY​ Broad Based Governance, and the Truth and Evidence is, UDP and Mai Fatty and Ousainou Darbo with Adama Barrow Failed the Gambia and Gambians. They failed the Accountability, Honesty, Due Diligence to the MOU and Coalition Alliance and to the Democratic Dispensation so fought for by all Gambians and Ethnic Groups. UDP’S Succeess, is a Direct and Commensurate Setback to a Free and Democratic Gambia. Gambia is More than
        The Sum Total of One individual Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.

        • Yours is void of any objective reasoning. Swerved widely off the topic. Beating the bush would not empower the arguments against a socalled Darboe/ Fatty allegedly fronted by president Barrow.
          The topic in discussion, is OJ’s attack on Darboe/UDP for his proposal of coalition going into the NA elections as a united block filing independent candidates. It was one of many options. 6 out of 8 coalition partners rejected OJ’s proposal. Halifa withheld pdois vote. These are facts. Anybody can go about and blame the UDP for bullying the other parties. The evidence is not out there. UDP has no military to force her option on coalition partners. My take is that many here and with them OJ are afraid of the aftermath of NA elections. An unfounded fear based on the assumption that UDP, by virtue of being a socalled mandinka party, will sweep the polls. I say calm down. Do we want electoral democracy or do we prefer a tyranny to inhibit ethnic association?

        • @Sidi, Jammeh’s might have been taught his art of hypocrisy and lying by you. I bet there is nothing on earth as boring as yourself. What I am doing now is called; personal attack on one’s character….If you like to call it that. You wouldn’t even believe if I tell you I didn’t go thru your skyscraping rubbish rubbish rubbish.

    • #peace=, but what’s all your mess about. Seems like you are one dead enemy of the Gambia and her people…..Or is it because of your terrible scores in English? I wouldn’t think you ever sat in a maths class. It pays sometimes following others with your dictionary at hand. Your bad English may not be a problem but the amount of crap in it is a serious problem because it laughs at the Gambia’s democratic process.

  4. Is this the worth of our struggle to remove the former government? Are we seeing the same corrupt heads revisiting us again? If they don’t want to unite and fight corruption and developed the country, we just have to let go all of them. We can have fresh young ideas to rule the country. This is shameful, instead of talking about what will take the country forward, they are fighting for personal gain.

    Remember: Our unity, peace, security and justice is the lasting foundation to our development and the reinforcement of our democracy. We must do everything to defeat CORRUPTION, without which we are bound to fail

    • Remember: Our unity, peace, security and justice is the foundation to our lasting development and the reinforcement of our democracy. We must take all efforts to defeat CORRUPTION, without which we are bound to fail

  5. Sarahules community from Mali Mauritania Senegal Gambia and guinea are same community in Paris total 6 million peopleI and 3rd spoken language in France anyway I can see you have no idea about . Respect is the best way to follow

    • =peace# Show me facts. Six million is more than half of the entire population of Paris and it’s suburbs. Check your facts again.

    • From which office or source did you get that figure from. Algerians all of France didn’t make up that number. You are not just a shameless liar but a reckless and ignorant one as well. You need to be told; shut the gas off. It hard to breathe in around you. Damn!

  6. UDP leaders led by Darboe and Barrow have taught their poor conduct and disrespect towards the Sarahule community in Paris , Warning

    • 6 million Sarahules in Paris…ha ha ha! What and idiot in resourceful people’s business.. Francois Hollander is Sarahules too. Come on tell me I am wrong. You what….People will have to stop bribes giving and taking in the Gambia. Corruption will be dealt with severely.

  7. Where were you all when Darboe and CO where humiliated and put on cuffs and sent to jail. I don’t agree with what Darboe is doing but we have to be careful what we wish for. Most APRC party militants are disguising themselves to write fake stories about people. Why would anyone wish jammeh to even step his dirty foot in Gambia. What we should be discussing instead is how to ban the stupid APRC and put the likes like Mayor colley in jail. Please let us unite as one

  8. Peace and Sidi
    When a c country is full of tribal disease, this is he case. Ask Gambians which is the largest tribe in senegal? Certainly, Mandinkas are not but is there any thing like tribe in senegal? No no cares about that. It is your output that Matter and when it comes to Senegal internal interest, all support to one another regardless of who is involved.
    He in the Gambia, this tribal self esteem has began pre Independence and thru to the 80’s expressed broadly in a self-closed tribal idiom (TERRY KAFOO) and it a clear fact that the the UDP led tribal party does not regard any other party or individual party leader not in thier tribe and would smear gasoline on any one trying to lead.
    If not Barrow is Mother to father Fula and Grandparent- Mother Serehule and can speak it fluently .Why ask for a serehule meeting to speak in Mandinka when the Leader (Mr President) is also partly Serehule? . All what was needed was an interpreter but becose of the dominating ploy on him, they claim his Mandinka from Father and all of us vividly know that all Barrows are fulas. The mandinkas themselve have never accepted them as are tribemen and hence called them TOTANKAS: Barrow Manasee, Tonanko

    My Dad , OJ, you cannot change their mind set. We are all witness to this, i had two encounters and was very disappointed but not surprised: During a muslim congregation session, one Mandinka scholar was asking another and i quote” Kee’ I heard that “Suruwadingo” in serekunda refering to Halifa is the one trying to break the coalition by not accepting to take any position” Sad, he would refer to his tribesman Kee- Man but an elderly Man and very respectful person like halifa as Suruwanding. In a taxi, a young lady was chatting with another on our way to westfield and an old man in the car soon joined their conversation and to every one disappointment, he dammed the young girl by saying i quote” Don’t you know that Gambia is owned by Mandinkas”. This is how far indoctrination is put in and so the UDP &GMC cannot escape the circle of partisan tribal domination and it should not surprise any one if OJ is saying this: He is very right. He part was banned for 2 decades and has not died. The message is clear but a blind folded in tribal and partisan people will never see that. So the defensive mecahnism to justify the unjustifiable will always be expected. Sidi and Peace i think we need a divine intervention is this new republic that is totally failing the people and yet want to to keep our mouths shot for them to perpetrate their TERRY KAFO. Impossible , We will expose any attempt

    • Means O.J in the past collaborated with a Teri kafoo PPP party government of Sir Dawda Jawara…
      Senegal despite claims has an enlightened political process, Grand Yoff, Parcelle, Tenguege etc.. have there Jola, Tukulor, Serer etc.. version of Teri Kafoos and their is absolutely no problem with this in Senegal.
      One grave problem with Gambians is that, the food they eat and the clothes they wear tends to define them. In such a predicament of a people, they become characterized by greed, arrogance, ignorance, contempt and hideous hypocrisy. People have not considered their ethnic belongings as merely dumb cultures and traditions but indeed as food to eat and clothes to wear thus a superiority complexity and inferiority complexity somewhere here and somewhere there. If people lack in themselves skills to improve their own livelihoods and that of others, then they become really offended by being called a Mandinkandingo, Suruwaringo, Fulandingo etc. Damn! This stupid primitive thing. Damn! Too many intellectuals and too many academists yet a lot of gunky idiocracy of a small country. Excuse me! Oh God please shed some light in their hearts. Amiin.

  9. Buba Camara, in Senegal the largest tribe are the Wollofs. I don’t need to tell you that Wollof is the dominant language in Senegal unlike Gambia where each tribe speaks their own language. I wonder what you would have said if Mandinka was the dominant language in the Gambia. Buba, in the Gambia different tribes dominate different parts of the country. It is therefore not uncommon to hear Mandinkas in Banjul and Serekunda speaking Wollof and Wollofs in Brikama or Sukuta or Gunjur speaking Mandinka. Instead of addressing every issue in the Gambia from a tribal angle we should try and be objective in our analysis. Lets make people accountable for their individual actions because whenever we bring a tribal dimension into issues we inadvertently let unscrupulous individuals go scot free. Personally i consider people who anyone spew tribal hatred as idiots. Buba, you me and other educated and enlighten Gambians should lead the way in making people accountable for their actions by not allowing anyone to hide behind their tribe. Let us criticized individuals for their failings and criticize Party policies and stop seeing tribe in every issue. If you take a closer look at the Parties contesting the National Assembly elections in the Gambia, you will see a pattern in all of them except PDOIS. And that pattern is a certain tribe will be more dominant in each of them than other tribes. Therefore we should not be accusing any Party as being tribalist.

  10. Baba, let’s separate objective analysis from from subjective assumptions stated as facts and applicable to all people belonging to an ethnic. True Senegal has a different political consciousness than Gambia. That has historical reasons than the composition of the ethnic groups in the country. Well …the Casamance problem is a testimony that Senegal also has it’s own challenges with the minority ethnic groups. Since independence this issue persist even though we assert that Senegal is more “mature”. I think that wollof hegemony as a language -at least around Dakar- was achieved and the other ethnic groups are OK with it. The Jola in the south are not at peace with this hegemony.
    Back to the topic. My fear is that the approach taken by OJ to denounce Darboe and in so doing implying a tribal motivation by UDP, will not help his intentions to put Gambia first. You cannot present your version of the future of the coalition as the only viable version. Self-righteousness is very dangerous. This is why Jammeh manoeuvred himself to the offside. By putting mandinkas in one pot or implying that they have the same mindset only help in building a myth that should not have started had Jammeh being a good leader. It is a myth to portray all mandinka as having homogeneous mindset. I hope Halifa will not do as OJ lest he endangers his serrekunda seat. Let him appeal to all and stay away from this self-defeating Rhetoric about mandinka tribalism. Even if it were to exist, how do you eradicate it? Through enlightenment or through persecution as was unsuccessfully tried in the last 22 years?

    • How does the criticism of Ousainou Darboe imply tribal motivation by the UDP ? I don’t get that. Please explain.

  11. “Personally i consider people who anyone spew tribal hatred as idiots”( buba Sanyang)
    Then there are many idiots since spewing tribal hatred is common place in the gambia and a known fact which cannot be mashed by so called intellectual eloquence. It a socio-cultural construct that is never taught in the four corners of a modern classroom and the worst case idiot is the conscious one who is harboring it but sneakingly piercing it to its prey in the cover of an intellectual genius

    • Buba Camara, like i said before, i consider people who spew tribal hatred as idiots. Because there may be many idiots does not mean that we cannot change things. You and i can debate and analyse the root causes of tribalism till kingdom come but that will not bring in any changes. What will usher in change is you and i and others to commit ourselves to rise above tribalism and challenge wrongdoing irrespective of who may be involved. OJ has accused Darboe of putting Party interest before national interest. I think we should all take it from there and make Darboe accountable for his actions, show our disappointment in him and make it resoundingly clear to him that we the Gambian people will not accept such selfish behavior any longer. Darboe should be isolated and rebuked. OJ had not mentioned and tribal motive for Darboe’s actions so how can anyone conclude that OJ means Mandinkas. Whilst we are debating tribalism, our politicians are doing their own things without anyone taking them to task. Buba i have written an open letter to President Barrow yesterday i would suggest that you read it and critique it and contribute your expertise towards it. That is what will benefit Gambia and Gambians.

      • Blaming Darboe or udp alone is a Convenience. 6 out of 8 coalition partners rejected the independent candidate proposal forwarded by OJ. Why can’t OJ point sword at all of them instead of going after Darboe alone. He should tell his frustration to adama Barrow and if adama Barrow wishes, fire Darboe from the coalition. But taking his grievances to the public is not going to help OJ. In the contrary. It will surely end up giving udp undemand publicity and in the eyes of UDP supporters just another victimisation attempt. It is spillt Milch and let the president device means to avoid such misunderstanding in the future.

        • I think the majority was with those who supported the independent option initially, and that was why only three parties announced the formation of a party led tactical alliance. The 6 out of 8 (in support) may be an attempt, after meeting President Barrow, to keep the alliance together because some wouldn’t compromise on their party’s position. Unfortunately, even that concession was not enough to avoid division, as coalition partners put up candidates against each other, even the three advocates of tactical alliance.

          • Fact remain that 6 out of 8 voted against the independent candidacy formula supported by OJ. How the vote came about is a mere speculation. I don’t have protocol of the meeting only that at the end of the discussion a vote was held to have a decision. I won’t brush aside your claim but I think basing our accusations on speculations or pointing fingers at one out of 6 equal personalities does not help the course.

  12. Back to the topic. My fear is that the approach taken by OJ to denounce Darboe and in so doing implying a tribal motivation by UDP, will not help his intentions to put Gambia first. You cannot present your version of the future of the coalition as the only viable version. Self-righteousness is very dangerous.( Kemo Kinteh)
    If this was not the only viable option, why collate in the first place to oust Dictator Jammeh. Was it not the most viable option? Self righteousness is in they who saw the coalition as a main boat, sprang on it to cross the sea only to wreck it midway for an option that will lead to disaster- Holding on a bamboo log a similitude of the “tactical coalition”

    Baba, let’s separate objective analysis from from subjective assumptions stated as facts and applicable to all people belonging to an ethnic. (kemo Kinteh).
    If you have done social research methods, you should know that opinions are never generalized and hence its limitation but they signal an indept understanding of an issue. So do not be emotional, all the online news media are not doing a emprical research to come -up statistical rigour analysis and hence generalise, they the use opinion and judgment to infer to some issues.

  13. From My understanding:

    The combined parties that formed the coalition promised to put party lines aside and choose Adama Barrow as the collective Presidential candidate to lead for a transition period of Three years, from the Jammeh regime to a full democratic dispensation.

    Did they not consider the position regarding the National Assembly elections? Or was there conditions agreed.

    The electorate on the other hand voted for the coalition to oust the incumbent.

    This was also based on a three year transition period.

    OJ is right to say put Gambia first and put up independent candidates.

    Once the transition period is up of course each will go there separate political ways.

    Did the coalition partners and signatories not foresee this National Assembly situation?

    What matters is what the electorate voted for;

    That was the coalition, Adama Barrow and the three year transitional period.

    If I am in error please advise.

    Tribalism has no place in politics or Gambia///

    Remote opinion .

    • Mike….
      No written agreement was reached about the National Assembly Elections, but the general consensus was that ALL parties would put party politics aside for THREE years.
      What we see today, which is shamelessly being justified by many, in the guise of a functioning democracy, is a betrayal of the gallant efforts that many put into the coalition project for change.
      It is sad that tribe has taken a very prominent place in our politics, but I think this is only an attempt to mask the lack of serious policies to address the many challenges that the country faces. Whilst we are occupied with this tribal brouhaha, the politicians and political office aspirants will escape the questions that we need to ask about how they wish to address the deficit; unemployment; the massive debt; quality education; affordable health care; reliable electricity; chronic farming problems; etc. All these distractions create a very convenient reprieve for our politicians.
      Our job should be to reject this approach to politics and redirect our discussions back to the main issues.
      Let the party’s and their supporters tell the nation how they intend to turn our situation around when we give them our mandate.

  14. Bambo.
    I have been saddened, ashamed and embarrassed each time I read how the political events unfold in The Gambia and more hilariously disturbing to read other people’s attempts to justify it cheaply and ploy to make everyone else see sense in a senseless action! One do not stop in the middle of journey (say in a desert) and change the wheels (transport) while it’s functioning just because you are not the driver! An old saying ‘all passengers in a ship have one main goal of reaching the shores safely’ Gambians seemed to hold on to this very firmly believing they the voters and those they voted for have one main goal (Gambia) but the recent political events between and among those voted is clearly refuting this one goal mantra!
    However, I do get some form of being consoled by the wisdom and selflessness of the likes of Sidi N Bojang, Peace, Buba Camara and Mike Scale for objectively analysing the disappointing behaviours of some members of the new government in The Gambia and those who support and even try to glorify it.
    For those in the later group please be aware that it is one thing to turn one’s computer on, put personal or group interest down in a way to resemble an intellectual analysis of genuine lover of one’s country but it is another thing to succeed covering fully one’s innermost motives for uttering statements that are not just far from truth but in fact enemical and distroctive to the larger society including the person or group fretting on such a course! It is obvious for all to see from the action of a few that Power and over ambition for bigger power is tearing The Gambia apart at least politically. The message being sent across by the actions of players is polarising the society in a new way.
    Very very disheartening it is that seening/knowing all these and smelling what is being done behind the scene in the name of Gambians, yet others choose to defend the beginning of the destruction of The Country by abandoning the only means of transportation (the coalition) that safely brought us all (including those who are digging/drilling the grave to bury the ship -transportat) out of high seas/rough sea with a very cheap explanation that doesn’t fall in exposing their real intentions at the expense of the whole!!!!! The Party exists because there is a population/society called The Gambia , if you truly love that society PLEASE do not put its parts against each other for your personal needs or gains, this is no rocket science no the sonnets of W.Shakespeare for anyone to appreciate. Is it? The 45 to 50 thousand refugees from Gambia certainly was not composed of one tribe, all tribes suffered, does that explain something to supporters of what O. Darboe/M. Fatty have become recently. For H. Bah, am looking forward to read your take on the events you are a part of either passively (due to same reasons that put O J on the wrong pages of drivers of the coalition machine) or otherwise!
    As I wrote before ‘are some in a hurry to be at the top position and could not wait for 3 years they sole to Gambians?
    The fact that tribal line of politics does not lead to progressive development for all, in fact Lessons from every tribal or religious based conflicts around the world does not necessarily affect the minority, rather it leave victims on all sides (in every tribe) and therefore it’s quite dangerous and self defeating to support or defend such a cause even if driven by one’s tribesmen.
    Gambian voters should be reading between the lines to establish who is who based on one’s content and not for bearing a certain surname or originating from a certain region of The Gambia!

    • Bambo, can you quote for me where OJ associate Ousainou’s actions to tribalism? No where did he accused Ousainou of tribalism. Instead he accused Ousainou of putting Party interest before national interest. Which is very selfish of Ousainou and he should be rebuked for that. Inspite the fact that OJ did not mention any tribal factor in his accusation, Sidi Bojang and Buba Camara jump to the conclusion of tribalism. And you agree with them. Yet you want to see an end of tribalism. Bambo that is been disingenuous at best and hypocrisy at worst. I would gladly join Sidi and Buba in condemning Ousainou for his selfishness and jeopardizing the democratic process in the Gambia, but i would equally challenge anyone who wants to make every political issue a tribal issue. Apart from PDOIS, all other Parties are dominated by one particular tribe than the others. Why is Sidi and Buba Camara not calling members of the other parties tribalist? Bambo, can you explain to me why Mandinkas in Kiang are labelled tribalist for supporting UDP yet Jolas in Foni are not labelled tribalist for supporting APRC? Even in developed countries people support parties based on socio-economic status or regional or even on race and relegion. Let us make individuals accountable for their actions and stop vilifying whole communities.

  15. Bourne, i have asked =peace# to produce evidence to back up his statement but i won’t hold my breath because i know he can’t. He is shameless.

    • Buba, wonders won’t cease to amaze Gambians. The most amazing thing is, he goes by the name #peace=. He said 6 million Sarahules of Paris…..6 million?

  16. Remember: Our Unity, Peace, Security and Justice is the foundation of our lasting Development and the reinforcement of our Democracy. We should take all efforts to defeat CORRUPTION, without which we are bound to fail

  17. Shameless Hippocrates is you Mr bourne ###

    • Are not not still ashame of your lies and blatant hypocrisy.
      Go learn and stop farting!
      There is no ‘peace’ in telling lies. You block-headed clown.

  18. I haven’t listened to the whole of OJ’s speech, but the little I heard did not mention tribe and should therefore, not imply any tribal motivations by either Darboe or the UDP. It was a genuine criticism of Mr Darboe, but I think the tone was harsh and too personal. Such attacks neither help OJ’s cause, nor the coalition’s. We need to be more civilized than these personal attacks in our politics.
    My own feeling is that OJ’s frustrations, based on his personal experience, through interactions he has had with all party leaders during these difficult times, got the better of him and that’s what spilled out into that unfortunate statement at Abuko.
    And I think in OJ’s frustration with Mr Darboe, lies a crucial piece of information that we shouldn’t miss, if we want to form an informed opinion about the “behind the scene politics” that is at the root of this fiasco. We must have the courage to say truth to our political leaders when they are wrong, because if we don’t, then we cannot guarantee ourselves from slipping back into another era of poor governance and misuse of power.
    The fact that “Tactical Alliance” may have already failed, is a vindication of those who proposed the independent approach. All we can hope for now is that the electorate deny the APRC any significant presence in the NA

    • Thanks for the balanced analysis. Even though you showed more understanding to OJ’s frustration, I accept that each of us have our sympathies lying somewhere. Which is normal. I also very much hoped that Halifa will continue to be true to himself and not be taken by emotion whatever comes. It is very tempting to address a personal feud in public. The consequences for a candidate vying for a seat is evidently more delicate than non elective office like a minister.

  19. Bax, am glad someone else is seeing things as i see them. I quite agree with you that public outburst like this does not help both OJ and Darboe. What i cannot understand nor condone is people twisting OJ’s statement into a tribal issue. No where did he accused Darboe of tribalism so for anyone to say so is really dishonest. I have stated earlier that whilst we spend all our waking day arguing about tribalism the politicians are getting away scot free doing whatever they want.

  20. Bax:

    Thank you for confirming my understanding;

    I totally agree with your synopsis///

    I have some sympathy for the members of the coalition, knowing what has transpired for opposition politics before this Great achievement to form a coalition in the first place.

    There are many important issues to address;You have named most of them.

    What is disheartening, is the public disagreements, which assist no one including the combined political parties. Of course President Barrow has several international engagements in pursuit of aid and loans and finance. Meanwhile we are left in this child like competition at home, needing The President to come down hard. Let us pray he has the will and the leadership to bang heads together/

    The alternative is unthinkable.

  21. BTW;

    My reference to “tribalism and politics” is in response to some unsavoury comments being suggested.
    Such comments only serve to cloud the real issues.

  22. Bambo
    I do not quote O J at any point or mean to say O J uttered the word ‘tribal’ against O. Darboe or anyone else for that matter. I stated my agreement with What O J said about one choosing party interest over national interest and his party was banned for 2 odd decades but still alive and kicking clearly invalidate any argument that some parties fear extinction if they do not participate via party ticket in the coming NA elections! You can have a second reading of it to find a line …… a party exists because there is a society/population called The Gambia and if one truly loves that society one should not take a cause that will put it’s parts against each other! I said this due to what is happening in The Gambia, instead of coming up with new policy or development initiatives our political leaders failed to stick to the 3 years programme the coalition set itself on and not only going their separate ways but verbal infighting as put before us all in the public space. O J and Darboe were once put on this vary medium with a statement similar to ‘one word for O J and Darboe’ which was very encouraging and uniting. To read the opposite of that recently is not just disappointing but concerning frustrating for any well meaning Gambian or friends.
    At other points I stated issues of politics based on ethnic origin not because O J said so but because it is happening and mentioned in the public space more than once! I will raise my hands up to own up to my misgivings and give you credit for correcting me if any of my statements suggest that it’s from O J, but for now what I appreciate from your response(correct me if am wrong) is to try to play down the presence or at least diffuse the discussion on tribalism in the current political dispensation to direct focus/attention on more worthwhile issues which is a good thing. However even though I share the feeling to keep tribe out of issues, I do not have to wait for O J to say it before I say what I think or believe is right neither do I want to pretend that this ugly beast is not present in our midst and already influencing actions which are not helpful to the common good. As I believe you are a regular follower of development in The Gambia, am sure you would have seen/read and will see more pieces clearly of tribal sentiments or glorification of it. We should attack it head on to show a united front against it.
    Finally you asked me to quote where O J used tribalism, obviously not I can’t and have not stated/suggested anything like that. If I had, please you go on and quote the line I wrote to indicate this. If you have misread my piece or I stated my point in an ambiguous line that is one thing but if you move is another of point scoring, you can please enjoy it, as it does not benefit us both.

  23. Bambo, thanks for an eloquent intellectual engagement. You are right in thinking that i want us to move the debate from tribal issues to policies. I am not naive to think that tribalism does not exist in the Gambia in one form or another. However i want us to take people to task for their individual utterances and actions, make people individually accountable instead of vilifying whole communities. By vilifying communities we are providing some very nasty individuals with the opportunity to hide behind tribe. Bambo the reason i ask you to quote where OJ mention tribe was because of this statement you made “I do get some form of being consoled by the wisdom and selflessness of the likes of Sidi N Bojang, Peace, Buba Camara and Mike Scale for objectively analysing the disappointing behaviours of some members of the new government in The Gambia and those who support and even try to glorify it” Bambo i wanted to bring to your attention that Sidi Bojang and Buba Camara immediately made OJ’s statement a tribal issue instead of taking it for what it truly is, selfishness on Ousainou’s part. You will agree with me Bambo that selfless people do not turn political issues into tribal issues and vilifying a whole community for the action of certain members of that community. I will kindly ask you to read Sidi’s postings and you will realize that the great majority is a rant and vilification of Mandinkas irrespective of the topic in discussion. That is not objectivity or selflessness.

  24. Buba Sanyang and Bourne,
    Don’t make a mountain out of a molehilll. What’s the innocuous reminder about the 6 million Sarahule number in Paris? What matters is what that Barrow said to the Sarahules in Paris. PERIOD
    This is what the Sarahules have to take at heart.
    I have always reiterated that the”coalition” movement is a bunch of selfish people who will soon disintegrate and crumple. I was taken on by some weird and irrational “coalition” supporters and today they are lamentin, moaning at and groaning at the existence of their inept “government” in power with a half-educated watchman at the vanguard.
    More heady days will come as more feudal and personal interests come to surface.
    Whose political immaturity will convince you that Ousainou Darbo will make do with OJ or OJ with Mai Fatty, or Fatumatta Tambajang with Hamat Bah or Halifa Sallah with Mai Fatty and/or OJ?
    The juxtapositional personalities/characters of these elements is unworkable, because they are widely apart in their political vision and school of thought. The only sad and lamentable thing is the crude waste of time of the Gambian masses since nothing fruitful will be gained from this dysfunctional administration

    • Actually Babu Soli, a lot has been gained already:
      1. The EU has reversed its withholding of the much needed funds that were frozen due to Yaya Jammeh’s refusal to be a civilised, decent human being;
      2. The Common Wealth has indicated its happiness to accept Gambia back into its fold and for many young Gambians, this offers immense opportunities for personal development;
      3. The UK has indicated its readiness to update its mission back to a High Commission, thus bringing back to our doorsteps, all the services offered by a British High Commission;
      4. Senegal and Gambia are likely to sign a defence pact that will put a full stop to any future military coups, thus allowing us to consolidate our democracy, however imperfect it may be;
      5. There is already an era of freedom (in all its aspects) and the absence of fear from the population;
      6. Gambia now earns a respectable position within the community of nations and almost everyone, without exception, is willing to lend us a helping hand.
      Our opposition leaders have not covered themselves with much glory, nor did the coalition image any favours, but on the balance of things, and in view of these achievements, I can say that many Gambians will happily take our squabbling politicians any day, any time, than the blood thirsty, blood letting “canibalism” of Jammeh and his criminal mafia regime.

      • Bax
        I can’t agree more with you. Babu soli and his village idiot friend Sidi Bojang are suffering from conditions called myopia and amnesia respectively. They can’t see the giant leap taken by this government so far as you have clearly stated above, nor can they remember the dark days under Jammeh’s despotic rule.They live in cuckoo land where tyranny, rapes, tortures,disappearances, mismanagement and deaths can easily be swept under the carpet in defence of a so called lofty achievements of a monster. They don’t have the decency or class to acknowledge the wrongs done to the Gambian people and nation in the hands of Jammeh and his evil killers. They fed these pages with nothing constructive but innuendos and false narratives, reveled in jubilation whenever there is bad news pertaining to anything to do with this government. They are dooms day prophets who prophecised only doom for our nation.They are old skool protagonist who misunderstood the difference between good governance and bad.

  25. Next, we take a look at the salary of the newly hired Ministers. Stay tuned.
    Can Bourne, Buba Sanyang and Natty say something about this? The thief of the night running doggish in the day!
    Please read!
    Babu Soli

    Gambia: Breaking News: President Barrow Earns D200,000.00 Monthly Salary!

    The monthly salary of Gambia’s new president Adama Barrow, is D200,000.00 dalasi, sources close to the president’s office have intimated. The D200,000.00 dalasi salary excludes Barrow’s clothing allowance, food, his family’s up keeping, and per diem allowance…

    The monthly salary of Gambia’s new president Adama Barrow, is D200,000.00 dalasi, sources close to the president’s office have intimated. The D200,000.00 dalasi salary excludes Barrow’s clothing allowance, food, his family’s up keeping, and per diem allowance if he travels outside the country.

    Central Bank of The Gambia sources have also confirmed president Barrow’s monthly salary, which Bank officials say is D200,0000.00 dalasi. The Bank officials also intimated that an order was recently given for the state to assume its responsibility by paying for Barrow’s clothing allowance.

    “The president’s clothing allowance is nothing less than D 1 million dalasi. Mr. Barrow was using his own money to buy clothes, when he newly ascended to the presidency. But now the state, has assumed the responsibility of clothing him, clothing his family, and loved ones,” said our source.

    The president’s salary should not be a secret under normal democratic dispensation. But the former dictator Yahya Jammeh was reluctant to make his monthly salary known to the public.

    A source close to the Barrow presidency said: “President Barrow earns D200,000.00 dalasi monthly salary. We do not know how they concluded that he should be paid such an exorbitant salary, but the bottom line is that he earns the figure mentioned. No one can dispute the aforementioned figure.”

    Former Gambian president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara receives D50,000.00 dalasi monthly “retirement allowance” from the state. Former dictator Jammeh allocated the financial benefit to Jawara.

    Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo, could not be reached for comment. President Barrow’s press secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho could also not be reached for comment.
    Views: 12,305

    • Babu Soli of the valley horror, destruction and death, tell me what makes you think I should be complacent to Barrow being paid a salary of 200,000 Dalasis a month…
      Man you got it wrong. Being deadly opposed to a tyrant killer, your boss
      Jammeh, is no indication that I am involved in any partisan politics. I read the allegations in an article on the Freedomnewspaper where you probably did too, and to tell you the truth, I am also anxious hearing from Barrow and his government with regards to the issue. Remember that this is not an ‘I get what I want or kill you all status quo’.
      The 6million Sarahules of Paris in horrible #peace=’s claims is a serious matter that can’t be just brushed off his French suit. Such a lie from him proves that any truth that he may say will come from his exhaust pipe.

  26. Babu, you are turning into Sidi in your desperate bid to score cheap political points. What was Jammeh’s monthly salary? It is hypocrisy to accuse Barrow of stealing when he did not set his salary. The president’s pay was set by his predecessor. Read this “The president’s salary should not be a secret under normal democratic dispensation. But the former dictator Yahya Jammeh was reluctant to make his monthly salary known to the public” and this “The president’s clothing allowance is nothing less than D 1 million dalasi. Mr. Barrow was using his own money to buy clothes, when he newly ascended to the presidency” and finally this “Former Gambian president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara receives D50,000.00 dalasi monthly “retirement allowance” from the state. Former dictator Jammeh allocated the financial benefit to Jawara” now Babu please tell us how this article proves that Barrow is stealing money?? Babu, if you want us to debate the salary of the executive that is welcome but trying to get cheap political points from this article should have been beneath you. This act has exposed you as disingenuous at best and as a hypocrite at worst. Babu, i have asked you in my response to your previous comments on the coalition to read my letter to the president dated 19/03/2017 published on this site opinion column and for us to have a debate on the contents of that letter. Am still waiting to get a response from you on that. Compose yourself and come back with something constructive that can benefit Gambia and Gambians.

  27. Simple common sense, there was the year the UDP boycotted the National Assembly elections… did it die? Mr Darboe is only talking rubbish,period.

    • That UDP will die, is the version OJ reproduced from his supposedly discussion with Darboe. We don’t if it is a true representation of what Darboe exactly told him. There are no records until Darboe confirm that he indeed said so. I glad that Darboe didn’t saw it necessary to climb into the ring. But I expect learned people to differentiate between what anybody can put out there as TRUTH and the actual statement or sayings of the target person. Reminds me of jammeh days, when he labelled someone as bad grts will reproduce it as factum. OJ doesn’t deserve a respond because he has choosen the public domain to fight his political enemies and thereby appointing the public as the grand jury. The first test of the jury’s verdict is just imminent. He might wake-up to find out that ppp is no more in the classical sense and probably his post as a minister does not mirror his party’s true share of the votes. And again he is not selfless as he wishes to make us believe. Hiding behind national interest remind me of a similar jargon of jammeh “national security will not be compromised”. Behind that veil was a monster killing his adversaries under the cover of “National security”. We hope that OJ is not hiding behind that patriotic veil to summarily execute, in public, anyone who dare disagree with him.

      • Well Kinteh, the UDP, represented by no other person than Mr Darboe himself, signed a communique with NRP & GMC Leaders, which says pretty much the same thing as OJ is alleged to have said.

        The relevant quotation reads:
        “Under the UDP/NRP/GMC proposal, no member of the Coalition will sponsor a candidate in any constituency where the tactical alliance has selected a candidate.
        This approach will preserve and protect the Coalition spirit as well as the parties and their ideological positions within the Coalition.”
        So their approach (tactical alliance) was also meant to PRESERVE and PROTECT the PARTIES….Well, the only reason you would take measures to “protect” and “preserve” a thing, is when you are fearful for its existence.
        I’m afraid, OJ did not make this up. It is there in black and white.

        • Preserve and protect do not translate automatically as opposite of extinct. You have to read the whole communique to understand the message inherent in it. The message was to keep the parties relevant in the coming legislature and enable parties continue cooperating where crucial or scrutinise one another where necessary- in other words disagree. Reducing the whole argument to “die” in public or preserve and protect here is a misrepresentation.

  28. Bambo
    Thanks Buba Sanyang for responding. With all due respect, I have come to realise that you are in fact guilty of the crime that you said made you demanded a quotation from O J on tribalism (I’d. to move from tribal sentiments to real issues). This is clear in your response that because I made a referenced to Sidi N Bojang and Buba Camara some of whose analysis gives me some consolation. Want I want you to realise is a simple fact of life. Here it goes: Whether we humans like it or not, every other human being has got both good and bad side, our ability and maturity to accept this divine design does lies in not just seeing but appreciating and and supporting others we have differences with whenever they say or do right. I mentioned Sidi N Bojang and Babu Camara not because I agree with them on everything they said or how they said it, but because I see in their pieces some points that clearly demonstrated their frustration that the new found hope of Gambian voters is crumbling from the vary centre they trusted their destiny to! For example Sidi N Bojang wrote in two specific places (1) ‘Coalition Alliance was an amalgamation………… three years. (2) How is Tactical Alliance defined in this case? Alliance with whom and for what? UDP was already in Tactical Alliance……………….. Cabinet Position? These statements have touched on what you and I and many others could not ignore or stomach hence our resolve to vent our disappointment/frustration in the hope that we guide or remind one and other some common good we both yearn for and hope the change would strengthen that unity of hope and purpose!
    And I want to take another leap into the uncertain that those who stated their disappointment/frustration about the way some coalition members are conducting themselves are in fact not alone in that disappointment rather you Buba and many more folks share the same! How they put their words to convey the message is again a matter of according to J. Piaget(1936) ‘individual difference’, in oder words the (divine design) of the individual person but if I can see a common ground being articulated (in this case the division within the coalition) which affects the general good of The Gambia , I will not only celebrate that bit but I will invite you B. Sanyang to accommodate the bit that is common between you and others then put the differences to the test of time or debate. This is because it brings us so low and keep us off the main course we very much need to focus on when we pick on each other for side issues rather than the main issue.
    I read a similar digression/deviation in some pieces responding to a comment which stated that a person or group were ordered to speak Mandinka during a meeting in Paris with the President of The Gambia. Some chose to focus on the authenticity of the statistics (6 million) and say little or nothing about the action of demanding/requesting the speaker to speak in a certain language which invited/opened the door for such uncalled for and waste of time discussion of all sentiments and everything else. That is one way of subjectivity (sadly) many of us struggle to do away with. What that comment brought out is an embarrassment for us all. ( 1) am certain those who made that demand would not demand any of their French host to speak to them in Mandinka and it is the French language (I guess) most of them are not fluent in! How sad!!!
    Finally I want remind myself and all who enjoy/value genuine discussion on issues of importance to consider what Prophet Muhammad once said to the people of the book: ‘Taalawo illa kalmateen sawaa inn baina naa wobaina Kuum’. = ‘O people of the book! Come to common terms as between us and you’. Because we will always disagree on certain issues and value certain things more than others, individually adopting a principle of focusing on what binds us together (the common denominator) rather than picking on each other for what is not important to us all will at least save time and help address more pressing issues for the good of the majority!!!!

    • Dormu Rewwum Gambia (aka Luntango Suun Gann Gi)

      Unfortunately, Bambo, the Prophet (SAW) was NOT very successful because “the people of the book” (Jews, Christians and Muslim) are still at each others throat nearly 1,500 years later! Not only that, even the people of THE Book, the Holy Quran, are slaughtering each other. So NOT a good example at all (and I am sure my PDOIS Communist in-law Bax will agree – Lol)

      • What ? The Prophet was very successful.
        Blame the people of the Book for the madness. The Prophet (saw) did what he was commanded to do and left the message and guidance for us.
        We have slowly but surely imported culture, personal hatred for each other, pagan Arab practices and so many other acts of rebellion against Allah’s message, into the religion of Islam, that it’s almost impossible for it to be the salvation for humanity that it is meant to be.
        The “Jews” have taken Arab lands, with the help of Christians, and the “Muslims” are still fighting for dominance between Shia and Sunni.
        Meanwhile, compounded by the fierce jostling for global economic and political dominance between the main powers, this madness of the people of the Book, is drawing the whole world ever closer to Ammaggedon. It’s a crazy world. An absolutely crazy world.

  29. If I don’t agree with Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party/ is that Tribalism? But then again?lol

    How Say the Campbell’s, Mcdougals and The Stewarts or the Bruce’s ?////and The Smith’s ?

    The Taffy Jones’s and The Tyrones

    Its time to talk up The Gambia not bring it down by something that only exists in the history books or fanciful minds at play looking to score cheap points.

  30. If everyone could have what they want then all would be fine;
    Trouble is nobody knows what they want/

    We are all led and persuaded by leaders who should be followers/

    The voices of reason Like Bax are disregarded but remain as the great levelers and leaders of common sense and good will.

    House of Commons shut down today by fanatics.

    How do leaders like Putin, Trump, May and Jammeh ever get elected?

    Is it them or is it us ?

  31. Having watched the carnage on Westminster Bridge 5 dead including the terrorist and 40 injured some critically, The sight of the terrorist being treated at the scene by Paramedics, next to the brave policeman he stabbed to death, stands out as the difference between us.

    Nothing more to say really. Another dawn another day/

  32. He said Darbou has more interest in his party (UDP)than the country ,he did not say darbou has more interest in mandinkas than the country no he didn’t say that folks. The problem is that when the word DARBOU is mentioned is tribalism no no Darbou is not a tribe is a name of a person. Folks let the interest of the country come s first before any party,

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