Gambian President Adama has warned against what he called saboteurs who he accused of attempting to undermine the work of his government.
Speaking in McCarthy Square in the capital Banjul as his country marked 54 years of independence on Monday, President Barrow was irked to point out that faceless detractors have been circling to wreak havoc on the supposed progress made under his watch since assuming power two years ago.
He urged his compatriots to be vigilant and alive to the machinations of saboteurs hell bent on derailing his adminstration from its goal of realising economic and social prosperity for all Gambians.
He described his administration as an all-inclusive one which will continue to appeal to Gambians from across the political divide to contribute meaningfully toward the realisation of the national development objectives.
The Gambian leader also took credit for the country’s continuing stability, two years after it emerged from the brink of instability as a dispute over the outcome of the 2016 presidential election by his predecessor Yahya Jammeh triggered a political crisis .
He said as one of a number of mechanisms to bring social cohesion and inclusion following the crisis, the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is well underway to catalogue the wrongs of the past and inspire hope for a future characterized by peaceful coexistence and prosperity.
Under clear blue skies in a square that witnessed the lowering of the British union jack and the hoisting of the current national flag in 1965, Mr Barrow was treated to a sumptuous and colourful parade by the Gambian security forces and a schoolchildren’s march pass which preceded his speech.
Courtesy of APA
Again, the same vague warning about saboteurs and detractors. Gambians can only be vigilant and helpful if they know what to look for, Mr President.
President Barrow should stop this endless jibes and tell us what or how his efforts are being derailed. Failure to do so will only increase people’s suspicions of another paranoid SH occupier, who sees “enemies” everywhere.
May be that building (State House (SH)) induces some form of paranoia in its main occupants.
Could it be that they are consuming what they don’t legitimately and morally deserve?
Isn’t turning leadership into a position of wealth accumulation and enjoyment of immense privileges akin to consuming what one doesn’t really, morally deserve?
What Mandinkas would call, “WANDI TARA DOMO” or “LEKA NYAHHI JAMBURR” as the Wollof would say.
What’s your take, Mr Bourne?
“Corruption causes paranoia and mental psychosis” will be a nice anti graft slogan. Adama has completed his metamorphosis into the character of his predecessor. Many Gambians are failing to realize this but we will have another high price to pay before we can get rid of this good for nothing fellow.
Just like Yaya, he only talks about himself nonstop. He is a bragging empty narcissist pure and simple. Issues like the inconsistent electricity supply, water shortages, youth unemployment, a decaying heath infrastructure, an education system that only produces intellectual zombies like a conveyor belt, and so much more are not getting addressed.
He knows the people who castigate him day and night for his incompetencies. He does not want to address them for fear of a reprisal and heavy media backlash. Pa Samba Jaw was on paradise tv to give him hell, Ismaila Ceesay was at Qtv analysing the state of poverty in the country, everyday numerous Gambians are on the airwaves to express their dissatisfaction with him and his entire government. He knows the names and domiciles of these people. He is just avoiding mentioning their names for a specific reason. If anything happens to these people, he will not be associated with it. That’s his strategy. Soon we will have another killer in our hands.
Bax, i hope we really do agree here. Some will say “hmm”. What’s my take on your folk’s jargons? I suggest you should sharpen you skills in our “vernaculars” or seek the valuable help of masters of the art and good friends of the ‘runnings’ around here, the likes of, @Andrew Pjalo, @Samba, @Mwalimu or @Bajaw, if he will be ever willing to keep that ‘sooted kettle’ out of the highway. Smiles!!
@Gambiano:
When is the next installment of the soothsayer series making it on both the print and electronic media? A fresh look at the situation is needed. We the commentators and writers seem to be running out of words to describe and understand a phenomenon that is everyday descending from a rotten state to decadence. Has the soothsayer some good news for the nation?
Well @Bax, sorry for the wrong post. It was intended to respond to a comment of yours on another thread. You know I guess ..
No worries.
Mwalimu, some of your offerings make me question why you demonstrate a short fuse.
The PDOIS that you claim membership of is known for tolerance, selflessness and altruism.
An aspiring leader, in this dynamic world of ours, must be accommodating and all embracing. You couldn’t be seen to be flying off the handle at every opportunity. This is not an Orwellian platform.
Olof Njai Neh, Ku Nyepp Tufli Nga Toye!
What I do note in your approach to discourse doesn’t represent the mantra of the leadership that we’ve known PDOIS for!
Maybe a good dose of “Immersion” at the PDOIS “academy” would do a whole lot of good.
And I’ll wait for the Kala Benyolu.
Now back to Haadama and his alleged saboteurs.
Clearly the saboteurs are from within and not without!
1. When the subject of funds, allegedly laundered through various ports and of questionable sources, cannot be fully laid to rest, aren’t there enough reasons to point to a smoking gun? So who is leaning towards Economic Sabotage?
2. When the national budget includes a slush fund in excess of D18 Million, veiled as the president’s charitable donations and philanthropic activities (Chaali Songo) with inadequate checks in place, doesn’t that amount to Sabotage in any reasonable person’s book?
3. When the president, vice president, secretaries general and permanent secretaries (no caps by choice), give themselves fat raises in salaries and allowances in the midst of poverty and a shaky economic recovery, what else can we holler other than Internal Economic Sabotage of the HAADAMISAINOU-esque kind?
4. Where a government on a shoestring budget budget that is largely donor funded acts like a Nigerian regional government or drunken sailors, what else do we shout at the top of our lungs but Economic Sabotage by the very government that’s crying foul?
5. When shady Banjulians with no credible track record or bank balances to speak of parade themselves at the KG-5 stadium, taking a president that’s got his head in the wrong place for a ride and claiming to be able to pre-finance a Banjul face lift to the tune of Millions of Dollars, don’t we smell Economic Sabotage in the offing by this very government? Don’t we again find ample reasons to shake our heads saying, Eh Gambia, Chei Gambia, God Bless The Gambia or Not Again? Where’s the Minister of Works & .. that supposedly served at GAMWORKS and the GRAND WORLD BANK?? The pony lost the tricks?
6. It’s been over two years since this government came to be but what do we have? Self inflicted chaos upon chaos, white papers, meetings, retreats, overseas travel per-diem milking machines, youth movements and shiny vehicles while the donor community watches and takes stock at every turn. What else do Gambians call that but outright and blatant Sabotage by those crying wolf. This “sabotage/saboteur thing may all be IN HOUSE instead.
The list goes on and on while Barrow and his sweaty hat Wanainchi cry foul at every opportunity.
DO SOMETHING TANGIBLE!! Fix the roads. Do life changing acts other than being hungry and deranged BAMBA BAALU with mouths open and ready to pounce on every morsel.
The Yaya Jammeh MO all over again. Nothing was too small for him. Not even the measly commission on National Identity Cards!!
Meanwhile, Ousainou, the UDP party leader, on the other hand has taken to sleeping while the wolves raid the hen house or goat house for want of a better term. Where’s the so called “Mandela”?
Ousainou is patiently waiting for his turn. He said it in Gunjur: he is going to head the next ALL UDP Government.
Meanwhile, his ex- Gunjur chairman has gone berserk, accusing Ousainou of greed and hunger for power.
Like I said elsewhere, these UDP guys worry me to death. We are sleep walking into disaster in 2021, unless we (the whole nation) seriously begin to address this toxic rivalry and infighting.
Actually I think those who should worry you are special interests working behind the scenes trying to hijack the govt sworn programs like :
a.) NDP through BYM distraction, b.) Accountability (enquirer) and justice (TRRC) by coalescing around barrow and wife hoping to derail govt agenda through catalysing a rivalry between Barrow and UDP, c.) SIS and the security services looking for an opportunity through the president to pound on UDP, d.) admittedly there exists elements within UDP like erstwhile Waa Juwara who are looking for short term interests detrimental to the long term interests of the country and party.
So in nutshell, we are going through a normal political dispensation in which UDP is operating openly within the confines of it’s political mandate. Those people hiding behind schemes are the real trouble and it worries me that people like Bax have now chosen to ignore people SIS Sowe or the serahule businessman bringing rifles guns to the country, instead labeling law abiding UDP members as worrisome! Interesting times!
Actually, SIS plans for a pretext to pounce on UDP is news to me, but the fact that you acknowledged the existence of elements catalysing rivalry between Barrow and UDP justifies my worries, doesn’t it? How do you see that rivalry playing out, if (hypothetically) Barrow decides to seek re-election in 2021? Isn’t there anything going on right now that is a cause for concern for you?
The ex-chairman of UDP in Gunjur was on star fm, (video is on YouTube) where he claimed that elements within the UDP have pledged to counter Barrow with T-Shirts demonstrations, if he goes beyond three years, and he dared them to try it. Doesn’t such open posturing worry you, not to mention the toxic discourse on social media and even on public radio?
Obviously, guns are a cause for concern, but the issue has been addressed, hasn’t it. You can be law abiding, but if your attitude suggests a potential problem in the future, won’t people be justified to be worried? There are people from your UDP camp, leaving videos on Face Book and Youtube, actually calling for physical violence against the person of Duo Sanno. Doesn’t this worry you?
Adama has become the monster in Frankenstein. But let’s not forget the doctor who created him in the first place. The fall out emanates from the doctor’s desire to have it both ways, i.e to claim ingenuity in his capabilities of creation and for the monster to self-destruct at his command. If the monster turns evil, ethically, the creator should take responsibility.
Just as the saying goes, politics makes strange bed fellows. I share a thing in common with my UDP friends: we would both like to see Adama vacate the presidency after three years and never to look back, per the coalition agreement. I tell them however, that our new found common cause should be guided by sincerity. We can stand by them accepting that Ousainou has committed a blunder by shredding the coalition agreement. That’s a no go! Hence Ousainou is their semi-Messiah, they always maneuver their way out of that topic.
The situation is very fragile. It needs cool heads and sober minds like those of DOI.
Point of rectification: I never claim membership of PDOIS. I simply stated that am a supporter of the party and I truly believe it’s the only credible alternative we have here.
I have thought about your allegations long and hard. I think it’s unfair.
It’s unfair to want to categorize me as a short tempered fellow who tolerates no dissenting views, who is selfish and egocentric.
I disagree with this malicious characterization of me entirely and I demand an apology or a retraction. Here is why:
1) You have failed to bring one single shred of evidence to support your allegations.
2) This is the second or third time you are trying to police me on this platform as if my presence is undesirable to you.
3) You’ve also had your differences in opinion, style and personality with others on this bantaba, does that make you too an Orwellian character?
4) I am not aspiring to becoming a leader and I’ve said this to you many times. Why do you keep on coming up with the same thing over and over again?
5) Your statement about a dynamic world which is accommodating and all embracing is too open ended for me to wrap my head around. What are you getting at?
6) The allusion to PDOIS academy is very insulting. My character is already refined for what I deem fit and my words are well chosen to fit purposes.
____________________________________________________
I am not here to throw any kala benyo at anyone. Time is too precious for that. I’d rather be working and loving than fighting against shadows.
Am here to learn and to share the little in my possession.
Mwalimu, I am not taking any sides between you and Andrew. You said, “Am here to learn and to share the little in my possession.” What a bunch of nonsense! What a fib! The history of your postings, not your most recent one on PDIOS, contradicts your statement. What name and insults have you not directed at persons who have held contrary views to yours?Actions speak louder than words. If majority of commentators on this forum are honest, they laughed at what you said, that you are here to learn and to share the little in your possession. I am not asking any commentator to back up what I am saying. What I am saying needs no backing up. You in fact diminished yourself by making such a false statement. Your conduct and writings on this forum contradicts what you said. It is not true because I said so, but your very own writings say so. Once gain, I will remind you that when I have something to you or to anyone on this forum or anywhere, I called you or that person by name.
I meant something to “say” to you or …
@ Mwalimu,
“It’s unfair to want to categorize me as a short tempered fellow who tolerates no dissenting views, who is selfish and egocentric”.
I never said that. So this statement is of your own inference or making and bears your own choice of words. So I totally disagree with the deductions therein.
Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with any answers or further commentary on the items listed above. I’m putting the matter to rest. Call me a chicken if you will.
Andrew Pjalo,
Those are your words.
Opposite of tolerance =intolerance.
Opposite of selflessness = selfish.
Opposite of altruism = self centered or egocentric.
If you state qualities of PDOIS and juxtapose my approach to discourse as anything but, then you are implicitly characterizing me as such. So these are not my choice of words but yours. No doubt about that and the deductions therein, are set in motion by none other than your very self.
If you won’t retract or apologize, at least accept that much.
I won’t call you no chicken. Such is not in my vocabulary for compatriots with whom I at least share the love of our country and people.
You can go on tufflying (spitting) on me and trying to demonize me and my views. Still, the kala benyolu will stay in the quiver.
Smiles
Bax, I am not worried. The UDP official line is that Barrow complete the 5 year term.
The UDP officially fully stand behind the NDP.
Inevitably, there will be supporters with different opinions and in such a diverse political party, such quarrels and competition for ideas are not only normal but should be even encouraged.
I am not worried about the claims by the Gunjur man that elements of UDP want to demonstrate Incase barrow goes beyond 3 years. If they do, that is there constitutional rights as long as life and property is not damaged. They don’t require the allowance of the party leadership.
I would think that pdois is for the agreement and that barrow should not go beyond 3 years. Now what are there plans to demand barrow uphold that agreement? Are they going to wait until the time expires and start writing “open letters”?
It’s your prorogative not to be worried and I’m sorry, but there simply is no competition for ideas, as far as I can tell. It’s all about the positions for leadership. Who becomes the party presidential candidate or chairman of this or that regional committee? Yes, divergence within a party is good, but what we see in the UDP is grappling for positions, characterised by very aggressive behaviour and coded jibes.
And my worry is that this could get out of hand. It’s well and good to cite official party line, but that would be burying your head in the sand, if you ignore or downplay current happenings.
I think PDOIS is very and consistent in its position regarding the term of President Barrow, and I am surprised that you you even asked. PDOIS said the agreement was a gentleman agreement and CANNOT supersede the Constitution and. Thus, it’s entirely up to Barrow to be a man of words and the honour the agreement or put his integrity into question by abandoning the agreement. PDOIS will reconsider its position in the Coalition once Adama’s decision is known, at the end of the agreed 3 Year Term. That’s PDOIS’ position, as far as I know.
And of course, PDOIS would write open letters, because being a party that stands for openness in politics and citizen empowerment, through education, PDOIS will NEVER shy away from fulfilling its responsibilities to the public.
And in my view, there are few better ways, under our circumstances, to empower the public with information through a medium that also preserves the message in the pages of history for posterity, than open letters.
Open letters, regardless of what many critics might think of them, are a great resource for citizen education and empowerment and PDOIS is right to utilise them.
Who becomes the party presidential candidate or chairman of this or that regional committee?
So how many regional committees are involved in the scuffle? Just one. What I want to underscore is that such tussles and infighting are inevitable in a bigger Party that is not being managed dictatorially. Every section is left to decide for itself who to have as leaders hence the congresses. It is natural that conflicts of interests and cries of foul Play erupts because one Group felt cheated or mistreated.
Case in Point is the Brikama (WCR) scuffle. Here the central Leadership is letting the regional Membership sort itself out. So People like the Gunjur man is at liberty to denounce the newly elected leaders of UDP WCR or challenge the results of the election at the central executive Level. Since this is a Party matter not state matter, it will be the Job of the Party Leadership to confirm the results of the congress or demand a new vote.
But the behaviour of the Gunjur man and Lamin Jatta is not cooperative to solving the local dispute and the wider Party interest. Lamin Jatta and co are refusing to vacate UDP political Bureau and went to the IGP for Support on the matter. Now that clearly violates the spirit of the Party and the consequences is that the Party Leadership take a stance. Which they did. Last Weekend, darboe denounce the unruliness and asked the IGP not to waste state resources on the issue. I Support his Intervention.
To your other question:
How do you see that rivalry playing out, if (hypothetically) Barrow decides to seek re-election in 2021? Isn’t there anything going on right now that is a cause for concern for you?
The rivalry will play its course. There will be causalities in political sense and at the end of the day, Gambian voters will decide who they trust to lead them. Thanks to the able IEC-chairman a fair and transparent election results will be accepted by all.
All that is going on now is pure distraction orchestrated by elements fearful of accountability and justice and allowed by Barrow for political expediency. But that is Barrow’s problem. His legacy and his status after the presidency.
For UDP, I think the goodwill to let Barrow accomplish 5 year term and introduce meaningful reforms was and is there for all to see. But UDP cannot control what Barrow intends or plans he has. He is free man and is at freedom to pursue a political future. However, the scuffles you are alluding to are all about the scheme for barrow to take over UDP as vehicle to seek re-election. Barrow and cohorts like seedy Njie & Momodou sabally do not want to have UDP as challenger at the next poles. The idea is to break the party from within or the party leadership allow Barrow to lead.
Otherwise, one wonders why BYM is 2/3 udp members at inception, why seedy Njie would openly urge Darboe to give way to Barrow and why the Lamin Jatta of WCR is not willingly to relinguish UDP chairmanship he lost but requesting help from the IGP.
It would be much simpler to For Barrow, Seedy Njie, Momodou Sabally to create an own party or take over APRC.
Kinteh (kemo), I do accept that the likelihood of such disagreements occurring in larger parties is much greater than in smaller ones. That wasn’t the issue at all. My issue is with your claim that this was all a healthy battle of ideas, rather than a naked squabbling over positions.
I think your attempt to present the current infighting within the UDP as a consequence of the party’s size and an indication of respect for the right of dissent is futile. You know why? Because dissent within a democratic setting is only accepted if it stays within the confines of party rules and regulations.
What we see in the UDP, as far as the chairmanship positions in contention are concerned, is dissent that goes beyond what is acceptable for the exercise of democratic rights.
In fact, it is undemocratic behaviour and symptomatic of the blatant refusal of elements within that party to accept the fact that others have a right to make choices that may differ from theirs. We have seen it all before, but the fact that it is within makes it very worrying. It’s like “Faadingyaa Kello”. It can be protracted and messy. The Brikama Congress would have been, if it went ahead at all, without the heavy presence of the PIU. Even Lawyer Ousainou Darboe attested to this fact when he thanked the PIU for being a deterrence during his acceptance speech. (You can check it on YouTube) So, there is no running away from the obvious, Kinteh.
The other thing I want to respond to is your insinuations that the absence of chaos in some parties is down to “dictatorial management.” That may well be the case, but could there be another explation? Is it possible at all that the absence of chaos is down to the discipline of members and the fact that they (members) put party before self? They might differ in their choices, but once the choices have been made, they are accepted by all as representative of party. Is that a possibility?
ppp is still mired in conflict and part of the Party still contesting the congresws result. that doesn’t Sound to me as discipline in your Definition of it.
But I am actually trying to move your attention to something else. That the Actions and utterance of different udp leanings does not mean that the Party is in chaos. it meant to me that every one in the UDP is his or her own self. They are at liberty to critize and denounce the leaders if they like. Crucial is that nobody goes out of the confines of the law. Ultimately, the majority decision will prevail. The KMC mayoral scuffle is a testimony that at the decisive stage the ranks fall back in line. If not then let the political opponents have it.
But the discipline you are demanding from udp supporters is an Illusion. The simple reason is that every udp member is empowered to see himself or herself to be on equal footing with every member of the Party including the leaders. I Support this Approach.
Samba you are truly a strange human being. You come out hurling insults at me because I said I am here to “learn and share the little in my possession”.
That’s very strange. I will like to have exchanges on the ISSUES, not attacking each other on trivial matters and defending myself from unsubstantiated accusations.
I am my brothers and sisters nurturer by choice, so I will be busy doing that whilst you or anyone for that matter, try in vain to tear my flesh into pieces.
Good luck .
Mwalimu, “hurling insults” at you! Are you out of your mind? Unlike you, who have I ever called names or insulted on this forum? You cannot say the same! How did I insult you? What names have i called you today or before? You said something that is contradicted by the history of your postings on this forum and I made sure that I called you out for it. You need to describe yourself with words that match your conduct. No one except yourself, to my knowledge tears “your flesh to pieces.” The things that you have called people on this forum is a reflection of who you are in the inside. “It is not what goeth into the mouth that defiles a person but what cometh out of the mouth.” That’s what The Truth Himself teaches us. Keep on keeping on!