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Ahead of Nianija By-election

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:44:07 GMT

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

GPDP Yet to Decide

Barely three weeks to the much-talked about National Assembly by-election in Nianija constituency, the opposition Gambia Peoples Democratic Party (GPDP) has revealed through its leader Henry Gomez that they are “yet to decide as to whether they will contest the elections”.

These comments by the GPDP leader come barely a week after the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) through its campaign manager also revealed that they are not certain as to whether they will also join the race for the Nianija seat.

According to the GPDP leader, even if his party is not going to contest the elections, they like every Gambian are praying for peaceful and fair elections.

“We cannot say whether the GPDP will contest or not but we are wishing the contesting parties good luck and urging them to maintain peace. This is just election. We should maintain the peace and tranquility that The Gambia has been known for,” Mr Gomez asserted.

Despite announcing that they will be taking part in the elections, the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) is yet to name its candidate. However, the ruling APRC party has named its candidate for the race and latest reports from Nianija constituency, a supposed APRC stronghold, have it that the party is drumming up more support to retain its seat.

The elections, slated for Thursday 18th December 2008, follow the expulsion of Mr. Dawda Manneh, the erstwhile National Assembly Member for the said constituency from the ruling APRC party on whose ticket he was elected to the National Assembly.

This follows his arrest on Saturday 13th September 2008 together with one Demba Baldeh, an ex-soldier working as a Security Guard at the Central Bank for allegedly trying to smuggle a large quantity of cannabis sativa, locally called “jamba”.

“We are yet to decide on the elections but we just want to urge all Gambians to accept the final decision from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The loser should also accept the results,” he added.

Turning his attention to a recent interview carried in this paper, Mr Gomez expressed what he described as his profound apologies to whoever his views carried on the interview affected.

“I am appealing to any stakeholder who might feel offended by my views on the interview to please accept my apologies,” he said.

In the GPDP leader’s view, this was not meant to attack any body, but they were only his honest opinions. “This was just my honest opinion but it was not geared towards attacking anyone. It was all about maintaining peace in this country but if anybody feels affected, please accept my apologies,” he added.

Author: Baboucarr Senghore

Source: Picture: Henry Gomez

Mature Point!

Tue, 20 May 2008 04:49:52 GMT

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Editor’s Note: Dr. Owl famously remarked that "Biting is bad for the teeth". So it is that when we recently came across a good "Bite" from the POINT we took permission to reprint it. As you may have read in the Daily Observer, we did, like the POINT, assume that Waa had joined the APRC – hence the same assumption is in the piece below. So here it is, esteemedreaders, for your enjoyment – it is a mature POINT!

Courtesy of the POINT Newspaper.

Everyone’s A Winner!

Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara’s recently announced decision to defect to the APRC has many people talking. The leader of the opposition National Democratic Alliance Movement (NDAM) party declared his preparedness to join the APRC party last Sunday at a mass political rally held in the village of Katamina, Niamina West, Central River Region, as part of President Jammeh’s Dialogue with the People tour.People will of course tend to have their own opinions with regard to the motivation behind the momentous decision, as is their right in a democracy where free speech and freedom of expression are the order of the day. Perhaps the most interesting comments have been made by Femi Peters, Campaign Manager of the main opposition United Democratic Party.

He asserted that Lamin Waa Juwara is a Gambian and, like any other Gambian, he has the every right to belong to any political party of his choice. According to the UDP Campaign Manager, people should respect Mr Juwara’s right no matter what. "I want to put it very clearly that Waa Juwara is a Gambian like anyone of us and he has the right to belong to any political party of his choice," he said.

For his part Mr. Henry Gomez, leader of GPDP, had this to say: "I accepted Waa Juwara’s opinion. He has the constitutional right to belong to any political party of his choice."

These comments show an extreme political maturity on the part of the opposition and bode well for the future democracy of The Gambia. It is well known that Lamin Waa Juwara has long held the reputation for being among the most open and articulate critics of President Jammeh. So there is no doubt he went through an enormous amount of soul searching before embarking on such a radical shift in his political outlook. To make a political U-turn of this magnitude in public is a brave thing in itself and for this Mr. Juwara must in some way be admired.

Many people would rather drop out of politics altogether rather than be seen to so radically recant their deeply held political beliefs. To president Jammeh and the APRC we say well done on the effective horse trading it must have taken to land such a high profile scalp. To the opposition we say congratulations on your political maturity in accepting the defection and to Mr. Juwara we say best of luck in your new job as nominated councilor on the Brikama Area council.

Author: DO

UDP and GPDP big wigs put the records straight

Thu, 15 May 2008 04:19:26 GMT

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Editor

I must thank Mr Femi Peters, the campaign manager of UDP and Mr Henry Gomez the secretary general of the GPDP for accepting the move made by Lamin Waa Juwara. These two gentlemen prove to The Gambian populace that Waa Juwara’s action to defect to the ruling government is part of his constitutional right.

This is the beauty of democracy; that is to be accorded one his/her constitutional and democratic rights. The two top brass of this parties, UDP and GPDP, ought to be commended for their candid and mature opinion on Waa Juwara’s switch of allegiance to the APRC.

I want to salute the duo and never to relent in their move as the saying goes “a harmful truth is better than a useful lie”. Juwara by joining the APRC party opted for progression not retrogression and again I am pleased to know Juwara himself recognises that.

Lamin Kijera

Abuko

Author: DO

GPDP Opts Out of Local Govt. Elections

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 03:03:04 GMT

Friday, January 04, 2008

Barely a month to the forthcoming local government elections, the opposition Gambia Peoples Democratic Party has expressed the party’s decision not to contest the local government elections.

In an exclusive interview with The Point on Thursday Mr Henry Gomez, leader of the party, told this reporter that his party would neither contest in the election nor throw its weight behind any party be it ruling or opposition. “We are not participating in local government and we are not putting our weight to any party, whether opposition or ruling party. But we want to appeal to all Gambians to vote peacefully and ensure transparency,” Mr Gomez said, adding that there is no friend in the field of politics.

“I have a vision and my vision is to be the president of the Gambia. My party is working very hard for the attainment of this vision and come 2011, Henry Gomez will be declared President of the Republic of The Gambia,” he avowed.

According to the GPDP leader, Gambian people should seek out and rally behind the opposition party (ies) that are ready to face the battle and not to fail them again. “I always hear people saying that the opposition failed us but in our case as opposition we believe in building the capacities of the people.”

Mr Gomez then digressed by appealing to President Jammeh to release some of the prisoners presently in detention while calling on all Gambians to rally behind him and the APRC so long as his statutory term lasts, in order to help him achieve the development objectives of the country.

On Senegalo-Gambia relations, the GPDP leader also appealed to the Presidents of the republic of Senegal and The Gambia to join hands and ensure harmony, noting that the two countries ought to prioritise the maintenance of healthy relations between themselves first before thinking of bilateral matters outside Senegambia.

He called on all Africans to join hands and strive for the advancement of the continent, stressing that one way that could be achieved is by having confidence in the capacity of Africa and her people to accomplish the feat.

Mr Gomez seized the opportunity to wish President Jammeh and all Gambians a prosperous New Year.

Author: By Baboucarr Senghore

Source: The Point

In Run-up to Local Gov’t Elections

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:48:03 GMT

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Henry Gomez Preaches Peace

Barely a month before the forthcoming local government elections, Mr. Henry Gomez, leader of the opposition Gambia People Democratic Party (GPDP), has again called on all Gambians to come all out and vote to promote the culture of peace The Gambia is known for.

Mr. Gomez, who was speaking to this reporter in an exclusive interview at his Bakau Newtown residence, reassured his continued participation in active politics which, he added, would continue so long as he remains in the country.

The GPDP Leader also implored all Gambians and Africans in particular to make best use of the natural resources God has given them and feel proud of themselves as true Africans.

According to Mr. Gomez, Africans should put away personal greed and corruption and work for the betterment of the continent rather than personal interest.

“People should support their leaders so as to complement them in their efforts, but leaders should also be patient and practice good governance and democracy for the people they serve,” the GPDP leader asserted, adding that such a move can result in unprecedented developments on the African continent.

He also urged parents to be vigilant and not to expose their children to early marriage as this would have a negative impact on their future lives.

Mr. Gomez went further to commend President Jammeh for what he called his foresight in helping Gambian children and wished him a happy Tobaski.

Author: By Pa Modou Bojang

Source: The Point