Gambian Opposition Under Pressure To Forge Unity Coalition

Gambia MapAs Gambian opposition leaders are edging towards forming a united front against President Yahya Jammeh come Dec. 2016, calls for unity are coming from various corners urging them to bury their differences and put Gambia first. An avalanche of reactions suggest that a coalition of opposition parties is the only option considered viable
in the circumstances.

“If the opposition comes together for the sake of national interest they can make a difference,” former Gambian diplomat Essa Bokkar Sey told this reporter.

Opposition leaders are expected to endorse a document paving the way
for a united front ahead of December polls. All eyes are directed today (Friday) at Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi where what appears to be the epilogue of coalition talks is taking place.

Essa Bokkar Sey was quick to point out that for the opposition figures to achieve unity, they need to “remove their own stigma before removing Gambia’s stigma.”

He then added: “If each one of them decides to substitute national interest with partisan feelings, it means they are closer to being adventurers than leaders the oppressed masses can rely on…”

In his view, only a ‘united opposition’ could make sizeable gains against the candidate of the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).

“Even if he (President Jammeh) were to say he is the winner statistics would then refute his claim, he said. “With a united opposition things maybe not be as good as wishful thinking paints it in the minds of some but without a united from then everything will just be nothing other a “non starter.”

In a similar vein, a prominent Gambian human rights lawyer has added his voice to the chorus making it clear that the best alternative in Gambia’s general election for the opposition is to form a coalition.

“There are high hopes that opposition party leaders will reach a deal”, said New York-based activist lawyer Assan Martin.

He warned against any attempt to jeopardize the efforts spearheaded by
Presidential hopeful Halifa Sallah of the opposition People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS). “Gambians are watching. They should not fail to live up to our expectations.”

Six candidates have already launched their presidential bid among them
Halifa Sallah of PDOIS, Mamma Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Change (GDC), Adama Barrow of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Hamat Bah of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Dr. Lamin Bojang of the National Convention Party (NCP) and the country’s first female
presidential hopeful Dr. Isatou Touray who is standing under an independent ticket. The incumbent has vowed to win the next election as he is vying for a fifth term in office….

Written by Abdoulie JOHN

Ends

One Comment

  1. The “pressure for coalition unity” have been circumstantially IMPOSED upon the Gambia in general, by the CATASTROPHIC advent of the MURDEROUS kanilai KILLER DEVIL…???

    Since July 1994 PEACE, HARMONY, rules of law FAIRLY for ALL human beings, & JUDICIOUS Constitutional dispensations of our affairs of State was FORCEFULLY hijacked, usurped or illegally OVERTHROWN by a kanilai affiliated MURDER & bunch of CRIMINALS & SERVANTS we all (as Gambians) collectively MISTAKEN as “our very own”, who DECEIVED the Gambia & the whole wide World with deliberately calculated slogans of “accountability, transparency & probity” FALSIFIED manoeuvres to consolidate the TYRANNICAL AUTOCRATIC encroachment unto our our affairs of State, ONLY to turnout to be DEVILISH IDOLATROUS MURDERS from HELL for REAL…??

    What is certain is, we all know this ISN’T anymore the Gambia we all knew before under the LEGITIMATE “corrupt PPP” Government overthrown ILLEGALLY in promises “for better” pretensions; this ISN’T the Gambia we all were yearning for when in entrusting the MURDEROUS “soldiers with difference” WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTH kanilai KILLER DEVIL & DEADLY CRIMINAL ENABLERS into a promised “translation into the second republic” which NEVER was; WHILST barbarities unheard of, MURDERS, RAPE & ALL forms of inhumane torture has been & continue to be meted out to ALL human beings WITHIN Gambia & OUTSIDE the boundaries ANYWHERE our MURDEROUS kanilai KILLER ALLIGATOR have influence upon…?

    The political opposition parties, individually & collectively can sit on ‘MOUNTAIN of ideas’ to develop, & better Gambia to NO avail IF (AS LONG AS) the MURDEROUS kanilai KILLER DEVIL CONTINUES in charge; so the opposition must totally come together to salvage the country back BLOODLESSLY; as it’s ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that yaya KILLER DEVIL have been reported to have sent it’s MURDEROUS operative-tentacles (so-called security chiefs) up & down the country, reporting “war messages” of infiltrated security breaches into the country; so APPARENTLY ‘IT’S just matters of when NOT whether’; WE ALL MUST ACT TOGETHER NOW UNCONDITIONALLY OUT OF CHOICE at this material time, for Gambia FIRST above anything else, to be able to AVERT the CATASTROPHIC situational CIRCUMSTANCES we are ALL FACED WITH collectively as compatriots condemned together to destiny to be able to achieve the desired GOAL….

    Long live the Gambia…

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