By Yero Jallow
Sources close to the CORDEG steering committee revealed to Gainako that Professor Dr. Abdoulaye Saine of Miami University (OH) will be the leader of CORDEG. The decision to have Dr. Saine lead CORDEG was all but finalized today, Saturday Feb 1st 2014 through the voting system adopted by the group. Dr. Saine was the lone candidate left in the contest automatically making him the default leader of the Group. CORDEG is expected to come up with an official press release to announce this highly anticipated development.
Professor Saine is a highly recognized scholar, an author of several books and has been very instrumental in the Diaspora struggle against impunity in the Gambia.
Earlier on in January 2014, the GCC announced its electing Jammeh’s former Minister, Dr. Momodou Lamin Seedat Jobe based in Senegal as its leader. During a radio interview with Gainako, Dr. Jobe said he was willing to work with all interested Gambians.
Other sources that spoke with Gainako criticized the Raleigh Steering Committee for lack of transparency in the process, which is CORDEG being mute on a lot of things. Another commentator when reached out for comments noted that this is a healthy development, though was quick to note that Dr. Jobe’s records working with Jammeh affected his credibility, especially his constant attacks on the opposition back then and as a ‘chief enabler’ that entrenched the Jammeh administration after the coup d’état which gave the administration life. Other political commentators noted that for the Diaspora force to be effective against Jammeh’s tyranny, the two groups must be willing to work together.
It remains to be seen if both Dr. Saine of CORDEG and Dr. Jobe of the GCC will be willing to sit and move the Diaspora fast forward to unify after years of apathy. It must be noted that these two groups have similar interest and there isn’t anything legally and morally wrong to establish a pro democracy group, but given Gambia’s political predicament, if the two groups fail to unite as one umbrella, they will compete in fundraisings, supporters, donors, other resources and even create some form of division.
In another development, Lawyer Mai Fatty of the GMC unceremoniously notified the CORDEG leadership of his party’s withdrawal from CORDEG effective today February 1st 2014. Sources familiar with the selection process noted to this reporter that Lawyer Fatty was not satisfied with the decision of the CORDEG steering committee. Until at the time of going to press, CORDEG hasn’t come up with a press release to notify the general public on such developments.