By Madi Jobarteh – Minister of Justice Aboubacarr Tambadou deserves commendation for owning up to a mistake by the government on a matter that is entirely within his competence and capacity. The constitutional and electoral amendment bills presented to the parliament on February 28 were wrong, and to have the government now acknowledge that error is in the right direction. The Minister also spoke of adhering to the values and standards of good governance and gave reassuring statements that this government will listen and engage citizens in building a new Gambia. Indeed commendable. This is a best practice and we hope such humility and honesty will continue to be the hallmark of the Barrow Administration.

 
Having said that let me say upfront that this mistake is very expensive, unacceptable and avoidable. The mistake raises the question as to what is the quality and level of engagement within this government to ensure that decisions are based on evidence, consultation and legitimate public interest. Already the Government has caused the National Assembly to approve a bill only to now say that the action was wrong. The Barrow Administration has to realize that these kinds of mistakes cost a government credibility and legitimacy, which the Gambia cannot afford at this time.

 
This mistake also reflects on the capacity of our National Assembly as to how could they fail to realize that the right constitutional provisions were not invoked. When the bills were presented, there was no objection or abstention in parliament, hence the bill obtained a unanimous vote. This raises the question as to what interests was the National Assembly considering in allowing these bad bills to pass through. The action of the National Assembly clearly shows that they did not protect national interest and therefore have wasted valuable public resources in taking an action that they should have know was a wrong action. This is utterly a case of abuse of power and waste of public resources and it is unacceptable. They need to respond.

 
Hence when we get to this stage, it is important for us to impress on the Government that they need to do their job well. How could the decision to table these erroneous bills before the National Assembly escape the scrutiny of the Cabinet, and then it had to take one week before it is acknowledged? It is an understatement to say that indeed a government has enough resources and technical capacity to know the right and do the right. How then did they come to take this decision and what was the level of consultation within and outside the government to ensure that the right advice was obtained. A government is not a village association in the 1940s in Baddibu hence a modern government in the 21st century is not expected to make uninformed mistakes.

 
When the Gambia decided on December 1, we decided for building a new modern democratic state. In such a dispensation, there is more than enough expertise and resources, in and out of the country that are available to the government to utilize. Thus the government must utilize the full arsenal of its resources to ensure that it takes quality, informed and relevant decisions for the country. Our Cabinet has to understand that government decisions and actions are life and death issues. Hence whatever decision the government takes must be thoroughly calculated because these issues directly hinge on national security and the future of the country.

 
While commending the Minister of Justice as well as raising these concerns, I wish to impress on Minster Tambadou that he has a singular role to play to ensure that the rule of law is respected and upheld at all times. We cannot ever again allow arbitrariness in public policy and legislative processes characteristic of Yaya Jammeh and APRC Tyranny. Thus currently we have unfolding legal issues regarding the proposed names for the NIA and the Gambia Police Force. We also have the unresolved issue of the Vice President. We hope Tambadou will give the right advice to Pres. Barrow to address these issues in accordance with the law.

 
Similarly we have the case of journalist Kebba Jeffang who was heckled and assaulted by a rowdy crowd at the joint UDP/NRP/GMC press conference on March 5. It is pertinent that the Minister of Justice advises the Cabinet to realize that the heart of democracy is freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the media. Hence when Cabinet ministers and political party leaders engage with the press they must ensure that journalists enjoy unfettered freedom and security.

 
There is also the ongoing case of Fatou Badgie who is charged with sedition for insulting the president and another lady. The Coalition Manifesto has stated that one of the objectives of their government is to repeal laws that damage human rights and democracy among which they listed sedition, which is a colonial law. Hence if a citizen is now charged with sedition, one would expect that such a government will seek to drop such charges. Hence it is important that Minister Tambadou look into this matter for we must not entertain insult laws in our books in the 21st century. Fatou Badgie must be freed and attempts be made to remove all such provisions such as sedition, false news or giving false information to a public officer from our laws. No Gambian must be arrested or charged on these laws after 22 years of APRC Tyranny.

 
Let me also emphasize that Gambians are looking up to the creation of Truth and Justice Commission in order to address the blatant human rights abuses and atrocities of the APRC Tyranny. While the country can learn lot of lessons from many countries that had such bodies, however it is important that this is done urgently. As a lawyer himself, the Minister of Justice knows that justice delayed is justice denied. Hence it is important that the necessary legal foundations and processes are sought and considered to ensure a truly transparent, participatory and legitimate commission is created sooner than later.

 
Finally, the lesson we must learn as citizens is to bear in mind that we need competent individuals to serve as National Assembly Members so that they can play their oversight function effectively. What this APRC dominated parliament has demonstrated under Yaya Jammeh and now under Barrow so far is that they lack the capacity to serve the national interest otherwise these bad bills could not have escaped them. Hence as we look forward to the parliamentary elections, let the Coalition identify competent individuals and let the people vote for competent individuals who would hold the president and his cabinet to account and ensure that the government is efficient, accountable and responsive to the needs of the people. Only a strong parliament can produce a strong democracy and ensure an effective and efficient government. A weak parliament only produces dictatorship.

 
I wish to commend Minister Tambadou once more for generating public confidence and encouragement when he said the government welcomes citizens to scrutinize them. Rest assured we will be blunt, direct and helpful. We also hope that Chief Servant Barrow and his Cabinet will also listen to, and seriously consider the advice of his Minister of Justice on pertinent national issues devoid of any political considerations.

God Bless The Gambia.

By Lamin Darboe

The political intolerance and vilification being displayed in our politics in the past couple of days is shameful and needs to stop immediately. As civilized people, we can disagree and agree without insulting or vilifying each other. And we must tolerate divergent views and dissenting opinions without being mean or disrespectful to each other. After all, democracy is about transparency, accountability, rule of law, human rights and tolerating divergent views and dissenting opinions.

People have a right to speak their mind and politicians are not immune from criticism. If you don’t want to be criticized , then don’t get into politics. Journalist are partners in democracy not enemies of democracy. Therefore their rights as fellow citizens and journalist must be respected.

We have to appreciate and recognize the contribution of each and everyone in the struggle to change the Gambia for the better. You cannot hailed someone as a Hero in the struggle to change Gambia and now vilify him or her when you disagree with them. That is dishonest and hypocritical.

Such is the case of Fatou Camara of the Fatou Network. The smear campaign and vilification against her in other to discredit her is dishonest and preposterous. It doesn’t matter how long she has been in the struggle.What is important here is the difference she made in the struggle. But to labeled her as partisan, tribalist or someone encouraging tribal sentiments is very dishonest and laughable.

For some,she is an easy target to get cheap or easy popularity. But attacking anyone especially a woman is not the way to show manhood.Instead it is the contrary, it shows your weakness and disrespect for the womb that brought you into this world.

I was very disturbed and disappointed when is listened to an audio recorded from a political rally in The Gambia. In that audio recording, you can hear some members of the coalition from the diaspora who are supporters of one of the political parties going after some coalition senior members including Dr Isatou Touray. That is a political misjudgment, lack of political maturity and wisdom.

At the end of the day,it looks like the president has prevailed in resolving the political differences between the stakeholders. What is important here is that we are all Gambians and Gambia belongs to all of us.So my fellow Gambians, let us give credit where credit is due and stop being dishonest.

Fatou Camara put her heart and soul into this fight like so many other Gambians and that is an undeniable fact. A single mother who put country first before her own family deserves better than what she is getting at the moment.

But one thing that doesn’t surprise me is that even God mentioned the ungratefulness of human beings in the holy Quraan. So fellow Gambians let us be tolerant and work for the interest of our dear motherland The Gambia.

By Madi Jobarteh

Tribalism is an act and a perception in which life is subjectively interpreted in terms of a particular tribe, for or against. A tribalist does not seek to objectively understand the ideas and issues that a person expresses, rather the tribalist looks only at the tribe of that person expressing him or herself. A tribalist does not engage in objective and critical analysis, rather the tribalist sees each and every issue from the point of his or her tribe. A tribalist does not recognize and understand the circumstances of the other person, rather the tribalist only sees his or her own tribe as the basis of every narrative or reality, rightly or wrongly regardless. Tribalism is disrespectful and myopic!

 
Tribalists are not the ordinary citizens one will find in our villages and towns; among market women and farmers or in our children. Rather you will only find tribalists among the adult, the elites and the politicians who are seeking power or holding onto a position. In order to maintain their unjust power and illegal access to resources or fame, they divert every issue into a tribalist narrative in a rather logical and rationalized manner that the ordinary folk does not easily detect. Tribalists are therefore corrupt, evil and dishonest elites and politicians. One can find tribalists in all of our political parties and the government.
Since the advent of the Coalition and the inauguration of the new government on January 19, but more especially in the past weeks and days, we have seen the fast emergence of tribalists and tribal politics from all the political parties using various social media forums to channel their diabolical ideas therefore polluting the minds of the innocent and unsuspecting masses of our people. We need to begin to expose these lazy, unthinking and dishonest surrogates, elites and politicians inside our political parties and the government. They use smart ways and sugarcoated expressions to cover up their tribal politics. But tribalism is illogical, stupid and disrespectful.

 
For example, any APRC person who spews tribalism such as the anti-Mandinka diatribe by Yaya Jammeh must realize that one is utterly not using one’s brain. This is because at the very beginning of the AFPRC, Yaya Jammeh did not connive with fellow Jola officers to stage the coup rather he joined Mandinka officers who made him their leader. Since 1994, the strongest pillars of the AFPRC and APRC Tyranny are first and foremost Mandinka folks. When Yaya Jammeh wanted to marry for the first time, he did not marry anyone but a Mandinka woman. Hence if Yaya Jammeh and any of his party members spew tribalism, it is clear that such a person is not only stupid but also dishonest because the reality shows that tribalism has not been the basis of the AFPRC and APRC. The very life story of Yaya Jammeh is not tribalist.

 
Second. If any member of the UDP spews tribalism, once again the reality shows a different fact. This is because the foundation of Ousainou Darboe’s family, i.e. both his wives are not Mandinka hence it would be silly for anyone to project Ousainou Darboe as a pro-Mandinka and anti-any-tribe politician. If a UDP member therefore perpetuates tribalism then you do not respect Ousainou, hence injure his legacy and political future. If one looks at the leadership of the UDP, it comprises of non-Mandinka folks hence no one in his or her right mind could therefore describe UDP as either pro-or-anti-Mandinka. If you do then you insult Aji Yam Secka or the late Shyngle Nyassi because it means we are saying that these people hate themselves for belonging to an anti-Wolof or anti-Jola group.

 
If anyone looks at PDOIS one will realize that the leadership of that party since inception has been multi-tribal and solidly unified. Halifa, Sidia and Sam Sarr do not belong to one tribe. Hence it would be dishonest to therefore propagate the idea that Halifa is anti-Mandinka or Sidia is anti-Wolof, not to even mention Sam Sarr. Unless if we think one of them or all of them are self-hating people. That is a huge insult to Halifa and Sidia and Sam.

 
Similarly when you go to GPDP or NRP, GDC and indeed GMC or with Dr. Isatou Touray, one will see in their camps and at personal levels that their lives are intertwined with all the tribes of the Gambia. For example Henry Gomez’s wife is a proud Mandinka woman. Isatou Touray’s closest associates are from various tribes. Hence on what basis therefore could one inject tribalism in our politics and claim that it is true and sensible?

 
But why is this tribal politics gaining momentum? Is it because we are still locked in the calculated narrative of Yaya Jammeh who was only interested in keeping power hence fomented this faulty idea that the Mandinka do not like him? Or is it that we just now have Yaya Jammeh-type politicians and elites who are now hell bent on maintaining their various positions within their parties and the government illegitimately hence their only lifeline is tribalism? Are these people telling us that they cannot engage in issues objectively and analytically to agree or disagree without having to resort to a tribal analysis, name calling or violence?

 
Gambians must wake up and refuse to be insulted by these empty-headed elites and immoral politicians who are so lazy and dishonest that they can only find relevance by vomiting our stupid narratives about tribe in every aspect of our lives. I for one feel very insulted when I hear tribal narratives. Which Gambian citizen is entirely made of only one tribe? I, Madi Jobarteh have deep, noble and proud connections to each and every tribe in the Gambia. Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Sarahuleh, Jola, Aku, Serer, Manjago, Karoninka, and the rest. If I hate any tribe, then I hate my own children, aunts, brothers, uncles, sisters, fathers, mothers and very decent friends and colleagues. Hence why would we drop so low into this tribal politics of stupidity?

 
Let the political leaders stop encouraging tribalism among their surrogates and supporters but to speak out openly and boldly to condemn it. Ousainou Darboe. Halifa Sallah. Sidia Jatta. Hamat Bah. Isatou Touray. Mai Ahmad Fatty. Fatoumatta Tambajang. Mama Kandeh. Henry Gomez. OJ. You are the ones allowing this tribalism to carry on. Let us hold these leaders to account to stand up and tell their supporters to stop this stupid tribalism. Let them not just say it only for them to foment it themselves privately with their surrogates and supporters. The truth is our leaders are themselves perpetuating tribalism privately in closed doors and this is why these stupid surrogates are running with it like wild fire. Let us tell our leaders to dismiss and silence their members who engage in tribal politics without delay. They know who are the tribalists in their parties because they listen and read them in social media.

 
For 22 years we did not have the space to freely exchange ideas. Now that we can, we must not therefore look at each and every idea from the point of the tribe of the person expressing the idea. We can disagree with a message but let that disagreement be on the merits of the issue and not on the tribe of the messenger. The fact remains that no one tribe can claim ownership of this country. No party can take power on the basis of only for or against any tribe. Tribalism cannot give anyone success. If it does then it is not because of tribalism, rather it is because of one’s dishonesty and unpatriotism.

 
Let us tell party surrogates and supporters to stop castigating people with whom they disagree. Everyone has a right to express his or her opinion and to take any political position they deem fit. No one should be insulted or demonized just because that person does not buy your political idea or position. Therefore let the surrogates stop insulting fellow citizens and party leaders in particular just because they hold a different position. Stand up and say no to insults against Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darboe, Halifa Sallah, Sidia Jatta, Mama Kandeh, Henry Gomez, Mai Ahmad Fatty, Hamat Bah, Isatou Touray, Fatoumatta Tambajang or OJ. Such an attitude is backward, undemocratic and indecent.

Down with Tribalism, Bigotry and Politics of Insults and Deception.

God Bless The Gambia

By Madi Jobarteh – First of all it is recognized that there is total agreement that the members of the Coalition should remain under the Coalition to contest the forthcoming National Assembly elections. The question is what approach is the better option to take. I have listened to the two respective narratives of both Halifa Sallah and Ousainou Darboe. My take is that Ousainou’s narrative sells better. Here are my reasons.
Fielding independents would require those candidates to resign from their parties in order to contest. What happens when that candidate loses his or her election? It would mean he or she would have to re-apply to join the party again. Even if one wins the election, at the end of one’s tenure one would have to re-apply to rejoin one’s party since you have resigned. This is an inconvenience that is not necessary and costly.

Secondly, a group of independents would be difficult to manage if there is a crisis because all of them are equal under the Coalition. One would have to appeal to them individually and collectively to get comprises and agreements. But if they are in the Assembly under their party tickets, one could directly engage the parties to seek a common position. Therefore this is a one-stop shop arrangement that is cheaper than going round multiple shops to get one single item. This is also risky because you may not get what you want. Thus Independents do not necessarily imply unity.

Thirdly, with the Independents, it means such National Assembly members would be limited in the way they can interact with their parties because they resigned from their parties. The idea of Independents provides a clear sense of independence indeed such that even though they are under the auspices of the Coalition, yet the Coalition is not a single party. Hence in the event of disagreements or misunderstandings, these independents have a choice to either listen to their original parties or to stick to their individual positions or none of the above hence the inability of the Coalition leadership to manage. But if they were elected as party representatives, discussions become easier as it would be parties that would now be engaged first and agree so that their representatives carry out the decisions.

We must bear in mind that the Coalition is a coalition of parties and not a coalition of individuals. Because the presidency is a single constituency with a single candidate, it made sense that the presidential candidate resigned his party membership on whose ticket he won the primary to become the president of the Republic. It is a different matter when it comes to the National Assembly. This is because the National Assembly comprises 53 multiple constituencies for 53 persons. There cannot be primaries for each constituency, which is why the parties must pursue a tactical alliance to ensure that no two parties field candidates for one constituency.

It must be realized that if the candidates are independent, potentially this gives the Coalition a challenge to manage them. As independents, they are not required to listen to their parties. If there were any authority for them to listen to that would be Chief Servant Barrow himself because they share the same mode of election and status as independents. Therefore when these candidates are on their party ticket, it rather strengthens the Coalition and enables them and their parties to exert greater control over the president and his government. This way they give better guidance to their Coalition Manifesto by holding the president to account on what the parties agreed in that document. With Independents, such accountability could be weakened especially when their parties disagree. Would Independents then tow the line of their party or stand in opposition to their original parties or side or oppose with Barrow?

On the flip side, one must also be realistic enough to realize that even if these candidates are elected as independents, they would continue to show allegiance to their parties hence it adds limited value to stand as independent. But standing under a party ticket offers better opportunities to better serve the objectives of the Coalition to the best of one’s ability. Standing as an independent can also potentially generate many unpleasant schemes and intrigues that can potentially injure the parliament and the Barrow Administration. Hence being independent can reduce the quality of accountability, efficiency and control of these candidates as opposed to standing under party tickets where parties would be required to exercise greater control and accountability especially for their Coalition Manifesto and MoU.

While the president is also an independent candidate, yet because he is a whole-country constituency and the single head of state, he is preoccupied with the entire national agenda for only one term. Thus reasonably Barrow has limited chances or gains to scheme about or get into intrigues about anything since it is his legacy to make or break within a one-term presidency. Thus one would expect his interest would be to secure a supportive and unified National Assembly and Coalition behind him. But National Assembly members on the other hand have no such term limit or need other than to secure their future election hence they potentially could abuse their parties with their Independent status just to secure their seats. In practice such scenario could either kill or fundamentally change the dynamics within their parties, negatively or positively.

Above all, in the event that the Coalition ends up splitting up, NAMs would only remain with their parties. Hence we should not make that divorce difficult only to force a relationship that is not working. It also means Barrow has to work hard to produce quality bills to take to the parliament because the NAMs must subject such bills to severe scrutiny. It must not be assumed that just because they are all under the auspices of the Coalition therefore any thrash that comes along will pass. But when the NAMs are party representatives, they can agree to disagree until there is quality piece of legislation. This enhances democracy and ensures good governance.

In view of the foregoing, these parties under the Coalition must begin to critically analyze the various constituencies so as to identify which parties will field which candidates in which constituencies. In this process, there should not be any quota system to determine how many candidates should each party provide. Rather the principle of electability is what must be considered. For that reason, consideration must also be given to new aspirants especially the young and women for constituencies in which none of the party candidates would be electable or where the new ones have greater electability.

I hope the members of the Coalition would fully grasp the dynamics and the urgency of what we face and take the right decision at the right time. In any case, the Coalition members must be determined and careful to ensure that they offer the best option to the people so that the masses can elect them as the majority in the house. They must bear in mind that the Gambia has decided not for a mere regime change but for a system change. This means democratically killing APRC by not allowing any of their candidates to be elected in the National Assembly. If the Coalition fails to do that then the souls of the departed freedom fighters and innocent citizens shall never forgive them. The best way to do that is through a party-led candidature under the auspices of the Coalition on a tactical alliance arrangement.

God Bless The Gambia.