As Ramadan commences, Gambians are restless on reflecting the events of the past months and asking themselves, will the APRC government reflect on everything that happened with the intention of correcting its wrongs to move the country in the right direction? As Gambians, It’s ingrained in our national character and part of our self-identity is to be very humble and ask forgiveness or forgive people who — wrong us in the beginning of Ramadan. Nowadays, not everyone has this innate optimism because of disappointments upon disappointments of our current administration. So far, the current Administration are moving steadfastly slow or don’t show sign of backing down, working back their rhetoric’s, and releasing all the detainees.
The current administrations press releases or speeches are marked by stony or awkward silence, and for good reason. Gambians are puzzled, too, because their religious beliefs are not accorded respect and obeisance enforced by the regime’s law enforcement. Apparently, the controlling of people’s lives and dishing out treats aren’t radical enough, but now a press release from the police is going as far as banning certain things during the month of Ramadan. We all agree that people should be very considerate about others and stay away from issues— that disturbs the peace of others. The reason why such press releases are no mystery to anyone is the regime is increasingly getting bold in controlling people’s lives. Gambians are frustrated, angry and many feel desperate of mixed messages of tribal slurs from the regime, cultural assaults on their values, declining ordinary Gambian influence in their own lives, and they’re fed up with the regimes promises of goodwill they never intend to keep. Majority of Gambians believe for good reason that they’ve been conned.
Gambians want leaders who share their values and will fight for them. That proposition is rooted in our Gambian exceptionalism. The regime wants to serves as a model but end up sending the wrong message or don’t hold themselves to the same standards. Unfortunately, constant acts of regime that meddled with the lives of all Gambians, have left many worried about — the threats of social engineering and the use of religion for their own perspectives, threaten the future prosperity and security of our children. if indeed— the APRC government are trying to communicate peoples concerns of such activities in their press release, they could have communicated the message differently without threats. So it seems, they want to be guidance of the deen of Islam in the country. In Chapter 15 verse 9 AL-HIJR (THE ROCKY TRACT). “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian”. This is a stack reminder to the regime that, they could only be a passenger not a driver of the deen.
Similarly, for so long — the regime continued existence are manifested in threats to instill fear in the Gambian population. This is outright immoral. As a result, most Gambians irrespective of their political views, have come to doubt that our current leadership is guiding the nation in the right direction. In surat AL-AN’AM (THE CATTLE)- Chapter 6 verse 38 “And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” That verse mentioned was revealed — because GOD already predestined people whom shall challenge certain tribe’s existence.
We Gambians are not asking for too much. We want the Government to closely listen to our concerns, pay attention and make an effort to deliver what they promised they would do. Let them release all the political detainees and those wrongly held as a good gesture for Ramadan. This is the reason why many Gambians now have transformed this historic dissatisfaction into activism everywhere in the work now. Rightly so, we refused to settle for the inevitability of a diminished future because— our Gambian ways of live which we cherished so much is challenged but our spirit of defiance remains high.
Ramadan Mubarak to all
By habib ( A Concerned Gambian)
