Perhaps it comes as a big surprise to many Gambians that all kinds of “stuffs” are happening to our beloved country —each time you take a deep breath and violence against our citizens continue proceeding as though on autopilot, consuming an ever greater share of our neighborhoods. For many of us who came of age before July 1994, it is very distressing that Gambia is the worst it has ever been in our history. The table were set for Yaya Jammeh to buck political ideology and do the hard work to make Gambians feel their government works for them. Perhaps predictably, Yaya Jammeh’s lack of adult supervision, as he only see the laws of the country only as footnotes in a case book, led him to overburden Gambia with many of his limitations. Yet, that’s hardly the whole story. At some point, we were promised a quick trip of shortcut to the gravy train of democracy but it turned out to of a decades-long nap of dictatorship simply because— Yaya Jammeh is afraid to lose the plush of the parlor “Terangha” — he unbelievably finds himself in.

When some Gambians eventually have the courage to say enough is enough, Yaya Jammeh thought to himself, he has the power to prevent a sunrise to democracy and continue holding that imaginary levy for Gambians to continue taking long naps — whiles on the ruff bumpy journey of dictatorship. Four years, many Gambians groaned helplessly when a disgruntled Yaya Jammeh began disparaging some of his respected critics as unsalvageable rejects, for their campaign against his sudden burst of violence on defendless Gambians and forcing those highlighting the never ending familiar narrative of violence that plagued our country to flee our homeland. While his actions are very troubling enough, he then took the leap from off on the wrong foot to begin writing off certain communities — from developmental projects — by costing Gambians thousands of jobs and adding to his dismal track record already pockmarked with failures. Every goodness and blessings that was meant for Gambia, are routinely swatted away for his family use — siphoning away funding — so much that Gambia remains as one of the poorest nation in west Africa beset by poverty.

That sad thing is, despite all of the setbacks they put our country through, they’re not about to slow down in their quest to run it out into the Atlantic Ocean. His fatal choice of words to the civilized world and his remarkably tone-deaf approach to thoughtful international leaders, played very well among his base at some point. So cleverly, Yaya Jammeh began testing his relationship with the Gambians by dogging, abdicating his responsibility-recklessly and turning public attention elsewhere by paying lip services only— to issues of the country. It is very disheartening that the regime will ruefully promote violence against the opposition and then run to the furthest fringes of the country, for the villagers to rest their consoling arms across the regimes shoulders. They will start giving them— red fire warnings as election day approaches and siting potentially dangerous unparalleled traditional beliefs to drive a vote against the opposition.

As for the youths,Yaya Jammeh’s door-slamming against our history, made sure many of the young do not have any memory of life before 1994. Majority of us grew up poor, but most people were impelled by the spirit of common purpose to see each other succeed or become joyous at someone else’s success. That is not the case today. Yaya Jammeh has played out Gambians against each other to extreme anger such that our unity against his dictatorial rule and optimism in our opposition coming together, gave way over time to the unparalleled culture of cynicism, pessimism and political division of today. No Gambian is rarely proud of our country’s path deep in their heart. But in a larger sense, dictatorship has grown brittle with stubborn national challenges over the two decades, when we allowed our democracy to take a long nap. We will only be able to see the bright side of democracy again, if our fellow citizens all vote against this regime. Gambia is hamstrung by dictatorship with the inability to develop. It is best when our opposition leaders stand in unity for us to embrace a new future, a worthy legacy second to none in history. We can deliver that future as one team.

By Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

My Dear Ex-Minister and Brother,

First of all, I would like to sincerely commend you for your decision to desert the government of President Jammeh and to also congratulate you on your successful escape from The Gambia and from Jammeh. This is a major achievement considering that many of our colleagues were not able to do that and thus ended up perishing in the hands of Jammeh.

Sir, on the 7 June 2016, Uncle Sidi Sanneh, a seasoned former civil servant, diplomat and a prolific writer said the following in one of his blog posts:

“According to sources, Ousman Sonko mooted the idea of seeking to flee The Gambia to somewhere with the hope of securing asylum status. The reasons Sonko advanced, according to the source, is that he is convinced that the Gambian dictator has gone over his head with the killings of Gambians which has become uncontrollable and out of hand”.

Sir, this is the true story. You were not dismissed but you deserted and this story resonates very well with Jammeh’s modus operandi vis-à-vis his relationships with civil servants and security personnel. And for many of us who worked more closely with him, we are fully aware of the difficult predicaments/situations under which our public service personnel are serving.

In the same vein, there are a lot of good but untold stories about great deeds of humanity, sacrifice and professionalism that you and others in similarly delicate positions have done for the Gambia and her people. Many a times, you and other senior military officers will often go back to President Jammeh to beg him to rescind/withdraw many a wrongful/ disastrous decisions that he is so prone to taking.

In fact, we know the reason for your disagreement with Jammeh. He wanted you to disrupt or overturn the forthcoming presidential elections in his favour by all means necessary. Even if it means unleashing similar or worse violence/injustice against a current major presidential aspirant and his supporters in the same way he did against Honourable Darboe, his party executives and supporters.

Sir, you deserve commendation for taking this bold decision to say enough is enough and for refusing to be used to deny Gambians the political change that they so much deserve and desire and which is inevitable this December. Although you could have made such a decision ages ago, it is however never too late to do good.

Sir, it is now time for you to make a critical reflection of your life’s journey. Just like every single Gambian military officer including my humble self, you came from an extremely poor family. You rose through the ranks and held some of the most prestigious and enviable positions both in the military and in government until you became one of the most influential people in The Gambia.

Sir, every single blessing, opportunity and privilege that we all had (including Yahya Jammeh himself) came directly from The Gambian people. It is their taxes and resources that is running all government machinery and paying for all our salaries and allowances. Everything is from Gambia and her people and nothing absolutely is from Jammeh.

Sir, it is now time for you and all of us to give back to The Gambia and her beautiful people. Our country is at the brink of disaster and the lives of the people who made us who we are and gave us everything we have are seriously at stake. Another five year mandate for Jammeh will be totally catastrophic and no one knows that better than you. Gambians do not only need a peaceful political change but some of them (like the Solos and many others) are literally dying for that change.

Sir, we must not turn our backs to the people who gave us everything that we have. Please do not sit down in your cool and comfort zone in Sweden and leave Gambians to continue to perish in the hands of Jammeh; we all must contribute to the efforts to end Jammeh’s regime. And with elections around the corner, there is no better peaceful opportunity to do so than right now.

Sir, you know all the plans that Jammeh have laid to subvert the elections and you must disclose these plans. It is said that prevention is better than cure and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. By exposing Jammeh’s election subversion plans and warning the candidate(s) and the whole world about the plots against them, you will be helping to safe lives, avert violence and danger. And thanks to Facebook, our Diaspora online radios and social media, you don’t need the services of the GRTS to communicate directly to Gambians. You can easily do so from the comfort of your bed.

Sir, the priority is not for you to expose any rotten skeletons of the past or to wash our dirty linens in public. The most important priority/wish for Gambians at the moment is for Jammeh to lose the elections and for us to have a peaceful transition of political power. Please help The Gambia in restoring democracy and the rule of law. That is the least we can give back to our people who have suffered so much under Jammeh’s regime.

In conclusion, do not underestimate the forgiving and re-conciliatory nature of The Gambian people Sir. We are known as the Smiling Coast for many reasons including the fact that we are among the most tolerant, religious and peace-loving people on mother earth.

Sir, until we all meet in The Gambia next year under a Third Republic, stay safe and please keep warm so that you don’t get any frost bites from the proverbial cold winters of Sweden. Your time for serving the Gambia has just started.

Long live the Republic of The Gambia and Long live our harmonious co-existence.
Author Gano
Posted on September 25, 2016

Since the birth of our nation, Gambia was once held up as a beacon of hope that serves as second home for the most of the surrounding west Africa countries before its slow evolution to dictatorship — that began to loosen everything which held us as a nation. However, the toxic waves of abuses of our civil liberties and the massive storms from the ramifications of the misadventures Yaya Jammeh banging hard on our shores lines, lead to the erosion which finally ate all the pillars of our nationhood. In addition, it was especially depressing to learn that burrowing owls of our country are balancing their desires with our nation’s wealth among themselves, even to the point of threatening to bankrupt our country. The unprecedented length of our current stay of this regime in our nation, have only exacerbated these problems much more — as regime continues to further divide the magnitude of the challenges our country faces up in many ways and watering down the impacts of their actions. Today, these are important lessons Gambians must deal with.

if the Gambia is allowed faltered a bit more on the same wrong direction with its current incompetent leadership, we will not regain that mantle of smiling coast for a long time nor will be able boost the sluggish economy — to bring greater prosperity to our nation. In addition, the rule of law has been damaged by the militarization of country as a police state — which opened the door to massive circumvention of our legal system by mercenary judges. No one is guaranteed immunity from the tragedies of Yaya Jammeh. Predictably, those who listened with Teutonic precision — of the regime’s vice president speech usual cliché at UN, reassures you of two things: These people haven’t really withdrawn from their sniping policies of — blaming everyone else and showing unusual public display of bitter opposition to everyone who emphatically reject the burden they put Gambians through. Equally predictable, they will turn blind eye to their own dismal record of governance and offer stinging indictment of the west as their president retreat to the rear begging for developmental aid.

Nonetheless, the blood of the dead Gambians — whose lives were altered by the regime, is a stain that cannot be rubbed out of our memories easily. There are more than a hundreds of Gambians who should be alive but are not, and many thousands have been lost to other nations as a results of the grim determination of some people’s selfish interest — giving life support to this regime. Yaya Jammeh is continuously allowed to reshape the nation with his mood swings to match his vision, but one of us —amongst the weak Gambians, must pay for it with our lives. The same people draw escape routes for their fellow evil doers to the streets of the west, mostly in Europe, where they can live openly, free of worry about arrest. Such extreme malfeasance invites an inevitable conclusion in the heart of many Gambians whom are victims of these people. Imagine if Osman Sonko was on the terror watch list of the west? By this time, he will have been droned out to pieces or talking like a nightingale instead of drinking the “Peak milks of Holland” with — a burp cloth wrapped around his neck at the kitchen table. But, the truth is — other nations appears to be indifferent in categorizing the crimes of such people — like Osman Sonko as the same pain levels — but to a much lesser degree, as bad evil people are inflicting in their communities.

Now, Osman Sonko — the architect of brutal techniques of regime — easily running away is a clear acknowledgment of out of control the lethal consequences he authored for Gambians and further exposes the threat Gambians face at home and elsewhere. Few blue moons ago, the man was thumping his chest out in the towns of Gambian with a chip on his shoulder, behaving as if he was bedrock of the regime and trying to sugarcoat a label on the disaster he helped create in Gambia. The sad thing is that; his victims weren’t given the chance of life to tell their stories. He stood tall above them in a hurry to put the lasting scars of their silence in the heart of their families. As he seats alone shivering in his warm tears — thinking about everything he left behind, please reflect on the scars on your palms — that bore the scars of many Gambian heroes. You have reached the shores of Sweden but you still have a far journey left to go. The journey of seeking forgives from the Gambian people. If you choose to follow the foot prints of the goodwill Bai Lowe took with courage — to apologies to the Gambian people, your heart will get the counseling and the shepherd it needs to overcome the extraordinary toll of your burden of guilty conscience. Until then, you are welcome brother! but we will be much happier — when you leave.

By habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

Yahya Jammeh’s milquetoast presidency has not had the results of a revolutionary reformer many Gambians had hoped for because — it has caused increased divisions within the Gambian population and caused much more embarrassing disappointments — for younger people who feel lost in an era that was supposed to give them a sweet taste of life with all that it has to offer. Today, the issues of Gambia since its founding have not changed, and the biggest political problems facing our country can be traced to Yahya Jammeh’s incompetence and extreme love of power. Our institutions are used as ponzi schemes to nourish their greed and satisfy their lust of luxury at the detriment of weak Gambian people. His empty —symbolic rituals of constant demagogue of the west and Gambian diaspora, is just to provide him the ideological cover away from his failures of following through on his sworn promises. Not the least of which is — not committing to policy programs that advances our country. That only leaves him with little leverage to work around his bombastic words and digging himself out of trenches of incompetence –in order to influence any form of an agenda that works for Gambia.

This and more was expected of Yahya Jammeh, but he creates a laundry list of problems and irresponsible scandals that— cheapens his authority— thus creating a political culture of knowingly dishing out empty promises that undermines trust and invites deceit. In part, his crimes against the Gambian people and his abstract ideals of buying off communities, have left him with so little few ways of actually earning the trust of Gambians or even wave away the significance of consequences waiting for him— as a results of violating his oath of office. knowing why Yahya Jammeh brands Gambian diasporians with names, is essential for this upcoming elections and should serve as an eye opener to all Gambians. His sordid campaign against the diasporians to dubbed us as bad unpatriotic citizens, conspiracy-mongering people and discerning judgments of our hard work to laughable extremes shouldn’t come as no surprise.

The man is so burden with guilt as he sits by idly observing his experiences of failing to meet his low standards of expectations — that he set for himself. His quest of staying in power to enrich himself along with his gang of buddies — distributing ownership rights of our state institutions amongst themselves, whiles neglecting the daily struggles our mothers go through to provide meals and livelihood for their families— was rightly not met with warm considerations by Gambians in the diasopra. This angered him bitterly to such an extend of giving him the shock and awe of his life. He continues looking for ways to elevate Gambia’s struggle for us not to recover anytime soon from his brutal dictatorship — in perpetuity. It doesn’t only stop there for him. He is always working on creating obstacles of— heavy burden of — constraint on the shoulders Gambians whom are doing the work of the regime for its citizens. However, Gambians are Undeterred by those obstacles and simultaneously walking through those challenges whiles striving very hard for opportunities that follows — with the values of hard work. Hence, the great stories of the road from struggle to triumph are the hallmark of the Gambians.

He never misses an opportunity for his low minded rhetoric’s that paints a dark picture of Gambians as —good for nothing people who wash dishes in restaurants, work as janitors “forbarekat” and clean up sick elderly people in hospice. He often references our struggles we go through to overcome tremendous adversity in providing for our families, friends, and our countryfolks— whom his regime failed in some major way, and not just economically. His crude standards of rebuking the Gambians —by appealing to the worst impulses of his loyalist, warms the hearts of some people whom— he is counting to preserve whatever turns out to be his legacy.

In a figurative blink of the eye, Unfortunately, he got so bold enough to try cementing his legacy of laziness on the backs of our women and got too comfortable with financial upheaval he puts Gambian Diaspora through—as a result of taking care of the needs of the citizens. And that’s not all. Gambia is venturing closer to bankruptcy because of wasteful spending and unnecessary debts— that he continues wrap around the neck of our country. Instead of him dusting himself off and doing what other leaders are currently doing in New York, such as — striking deals for development, pursuing investors to bring factories in their countries, he is working to cause us on more pain by proposing his self-imposed mandatory Islamic state.

This kind of quest will further divide our country, isolate our country further from the rest of the world and cannot be not met with warm considerations and prayers only. Gambians have good reason to start thinking of electing a President this election cycle — who will listen to the cries of the nation and work for the people. Gambian diaspora cannot continue to be on the receiving end of the regimes troubles for the next coming decades. Although, we are far more than an advocate for kidnapped citizens, tortured victims, exposing Yahya Jammeh’s Ponzi schemes, breaking the regime cycle of subservience to special interests, solving spectrum of disproportionate issues in Gambia and elsewhere. Be that as it may— but we cannot continue on this trend for the next five years. In Gambia, friendships tend to fade away when one’s job ends or when the regimes fire someone. It doesn’t end there only. As people get older, they feel unneeded in society. Most families do think deep down in their hearts that— the country is not a safe place to raise their kids anymore with the never ending violence on our men. Our opposition politicians are brave enough to declare their interest in restoring our nation back to sanity knowing full well what terror awaits them— if they lose this election.

And at most, Gambians may want to consider seriously — the existential threat that Yaya Jammeh is to the nation now — squeezing out everything available on the hands of Gambians to unsustainable levels and releasing seemingly unstoppable terror to anyone he wishes. It takes remarkable hubris to assume this man will change for the better after twenty-two years of having it his way. That thought, deserved far more attention than anything and should be the most important topic of this presidential cycle— more specifically to form a coalition. We all know from experience after December 2nd — if we do not put our acts together — that the most presumable issues of problem of Gambia in Yahya Jammeh’s mind is —us the citizens. Gambia’s problems begin with Yaya Jammeh and ends in our homes, whether you like it or not. Virtually every facet of our lives has changed. We have seen too many horrors and heard so many heartbreaking stories which we never imagined— such things will happen to our people and let alone our country. Beyond that, the problems to be addressed for our country are numerous and not the least of which is —broader public awareness of the consequences of his brutal rule. Let’s all get together in unity of one coalition and pack away this monstrous regime.

By habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

 By: Ousainou Mbenga

The science fictions of creating monsters in the laboratory usually include a plan to kill the monster when it gets out of control.

In the tragedy that befell our beloved Gambia; those who created the monster Jammeh made the fatal mistake of not having a plan to “neutralize” him when he gets out of control. Notwithstanding that this “experiment” was conducted outside the laboratory, there were ample signs of an uncontrollable monster in the making. Out of the original five council members, Jammeh emerged to the top through monstrous acts of outright barbarism. Sadibou Hydara was murdered under custody; Sana sabally imprisoned for 9 years, Edward Singhateh and Yankuba Touray are permanently emasculated after Jammeh soiled their hands with the blood of other soldiers and civilians alike.

A few among us raised the warning alarm from day one about these traitorous “soldiers with a difference” shrouded in “transparency, accountability and probity”. But his creators were afflicted then and now with a broad “political blind spot” which retarded their ability for insight and foresight. The “anything but Jawara” slogan became the “anthem” of the foolhardy creators who lifted the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) onto the “saddles of power”. And the downtrodden –meddlesome masses, misled by the euphoria of the empty promises for change became the cannon fodder for their lighting “ascension to power” and ultimately the formation of the civilianized Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). Plans to control Jammeh’s monstrous actions came a little too late from soldiers and their civilian allies who took Jammeh for granted.

From the AFPRC to APRC; a span of 22 years of Jammeh’s tyranny has brought us to another crossroad far more dangerous and volatile than the crossroads we found ourselves in 1994. In fact the wretched conditions in our beloved Gambia have degenerated to unprecedented levels. The social and political conditions under which monsters could be created still present themselves. With escalating uncertainty, the youth see no future to look forward to but the treacherous “back Way” for the” not so greener pastors” of Europe. Our women folk, mostly the mothers of these youth, have come to realize that they have been used and discarded by Jammeh and his APRC. Worst still are the young women who share the same fate as young men but have been reduced to sex objects in return for jobs and other menial favors from the APRC.

Remnants of Jammeh’s creators are still around, notwithstanding, some have regretted their association with the Jammeh regime. Many are jumping out of the rudderless APRC ship on the brink about to sink. On the other hand, the willfully ignorant “loyalists” are desperately clinging on to the monster’s tentacles hoping for another election victory for Jammeh on December 1, 2016.

The ominous slogan “anything but Jammeh” must not be part of our discourse just as “anything but Jawara” wasn’t. It is an insult to settle for “anything” after 22 years of rudderless leadership. This is the moment to make DEMANDS of our leaders and put them to the test; not giving them a chance. We must not leave anything to chance with endless wishing.

We must cultivate the society that creates leaders whose “humility is their strength and integrity their greatness”. We must choose from the best sons and daughters of our beloved Gambia for leadership. Putting leadership to the test and challenging their wrong decision are the only guarantees against the abuse of authority. The masses of our people must become more meddlesome in the affairs of government and not leave it to the whims of presidents and their cronies.  

In conclusion, our “nation” in anguish is at a critical juncture of our history, demanding for leadership to rescue us from Jammeh’s tyranny. This is the ultimate test to the opposition parties of our beloved Gambia. The vast majority of Gambian voters are poised for the final offensive against the Jammeh regime and ready to cast their lot with a united opposition on December 1, 2016. Are you leaders of the opposition parties ready to make history with the Gambian voters? The political terrain is now more fertile than ever before, let’s plant the seeds and cultivate the upright leadership now and forward into subsequent generations.

ONE GAMBIA! ONE NATION! WE WILL WIN!

                                                        No more monsters in our midst!

The sunset of Yaya Jammeh’s exceedingly rancorous presidency is about to occur in December 1st election but he is trying to resuscitate his image from his lengthy records of self-inflected wounds. Indeed, Yaya Jammeh has often revised his convenient tall tales of excuses depending on the campaign needs at hand. However, over the span of twenty-two years, he has erected so many monstrous shadow of dark clouds monuments on the minds/hearts of Gambians and put our country through tremendous turbulence of brutal dictatorship that continues to raise our eyebrows. Among them are — the dark clouds of April 10/11, the heavy rain of terror on April 14/16, the constant abuse of power, corruption, cover ups, and the daily terror he put Gambians through — purposely driven by his ego-driven politics of greed. Unquestionably, his intentional demagoguery of Gambian population and his failure to seek redemption that comes thereafter from wronging the Gambian population, has manifested itself into call for change of regime that spread to all parts of the country. Yaya Jammeh’s forays of scandals hovering over his head, has in fact limited his strength and it has helped spawn the once loose assemblage of citizens in the diaspora into a powerful force now of reckoning. His misplaced priorities by his nature of governance, has tarnished and littered our country with numerous scandals and political intrigue — that now plagues many Gambians.

It is also becoming increasingly evident of the dark cloud hovering over his head and mistrust of his once closest allies, propelled him — to fire one of the most prolific authors of tortures and horrific assassinations of citizens in Gambians history — Osman Sonko. Osman Sonko’s actions as one of the architect of brutal crimes — and his front zipper problems, have place him on the bottom of the sympathy threshold as one of the two most disliked figures in Gambia. Even prior to his dismissal, Yaya Jammeh knew an unpopular — naturalized Cassamance native at the front line of terror against the Gambian population, holding on such a high profile post on spotlight after his men — were involved in the murder of Solo Sandeng was tentative. Was it done to provide much needed political cover or is the little monster he created in Osman Sonko sufficiently got — too tough for his consumption? Time will tell. Of course the firing of one of the lesser of two evils — Osman Sonko, is a welcome news for Gambia, but we hope it was not done more specifically — to gain traction or credibility amongst the families they both victimized. If Yaya Jammeh doubles down further to release all political prisoners, compensate the tortured women and release the UDP executives, then he will be patted on his back by only few people. But the truth is — Yaya Jammeh have found himself in a remarkable quagmire of his crimes with tremendous consequences for the Gambian population — if he is allowed to lead the country again.

Yet, Yaya Jammeh wants Gambians to empty our hearts forcefully from all his of deliberate failings, his intentional mistakes, his frailties to our nation and instead, wants us to blindly associate him with sense of awe and respect as the developer? Huh! The man had the opportunity to lead our nation with dignity, not with — terror or playing hide and seek with Gambian citizens. We are in a unique moment in history where Gambians are finally taking notice of his irreversible abuse of power and his absence on UN world stage as a result of being — so isolated. Many of his peers — harbor an intense dislike of how he continues to cause problems in their region and Gambians are so dissatisfied with the nation’s current path under his watch. Realizing this and his visceral experience of encounter with the angry Gambian diasporians over the years, it gave him much goose bumps to stay out of eyesight as he continues doing what he does best — for his own interest. But that calculation may very well poised to fumble once more a great opportunity to advocate for — investments, medicines badly needed for our hospitals, seek solutions to advance our nation’s technologies but instead, they have reduced the summit to a reading event for his ministers. What else other than this — can be more evident as a proof that Yaya Jammeh is an obstructionist for Gambians advancement?

Today, we are at a key juncture because the regime that has caused large-scale repression, wants to legitimacy through elections again. For twenty-two years, the man cannot take a single responsibility of his own policies but — continues to distort and disgrace the legacy of PPP government to distract Gambians. He knows consciously behind his mind — what Gambia was yesterday — and its historic place in the world — as the smiling coast of Africa to — it’s new identity of the crying coast of hopelessness and terror he helped shaped Gambia today. It does not stop there with him, he wants to preserve that identity for five more years overshadowed with — extremely difficult times, unimaginable consequences of terror for Gambians he harbors vendetta, and gives us a final blow of collateral damage of our economy.

Given the tentative nature of December 1st election and all the various compounding factors of terror that awaits the Gambian population — if the regime is given another 5-year mandate, not the least of which is — the potential for a controversial Islamic State of Yaya Jammeh and hard times that lays ahead for all Gambians– including those in the diaspora. Gambians should be encouraging their love ones to all come out in their large numbers and vote for the opposition. Be watchful of foreigners at our polling stations. Gambians should look out for people marching in the voting booth with their figure stained with ink — from previously voting. Give them high fives whiles watching their fingers. Sadly, this is the way Gambians can legally opted out from another course of cruel dictatorship. So again — our call for the opposition leaders to form a formidable coalition to send a powerful blow of rejection of Yaya Jammeh’s regime. But the battle is not over.

We all know Yaya Jammeh and his regime are now on their heels — cunning political maneuver to impact the elections outcomes by undoubtedly offering whatever stories they can cook up as an excuse to the Gambians and further attempting to divided the opposition parties. We cannot allow the dictatorship train — full of enticing gifts to leave the station and start deceiving the Gambians they have failed for twenty -two down the tracks. Let’s derail this train before it continues to grind on reaching December 2nd elections. We need to forge a new path that empowers Gambians to take control of their destiny as a people and have a credible government that respects the diversity of contemporary Gambians. Here is our chance, let’s not blown it again.

By Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

Gambians have been used to never ending pausing cycles of bad news such that they are prone to react to any headlines to draw their conclusions when uncertain of outcomes of much anticipated events are happening behind the scenes. Opposition leaders and party officials have indicated their willingness to participate in coalition talks, perpetuating a continual theme of interest of the Gambian population before going in the December elections. However, political chicanery by inexperience political strategist and spoilers in opposition camps leaking out narratives of incomplete statements that are overburdened by political limitations of certain party leaders are upsetting people, having negative repercussions on people’s fragile mind and causing unnecessary misdirection that could be read as purely diversionary. The protracted bloodletting of people’s characters in this consequential election year process has intensified unnecessarily. But that’s not all. Inflammatory scare tactic by the regime agents are meant to denigrate the good work in progress and to seriously antagonize people. The special-interest folks who are worried about losing their political agendas; their opposition to coalition has grown and are doing everything behind the sense to thwarts any progress that will result in unity. Primarily among those most threatened by it’s success: Yaya Jammeh and his buddies who indeed wants to see it careen of the cliff.

There’s nothing wrong in someone voicing their concerns about a particular candidate’s position and policies. What matters is whether the outcomes they seek are reasonable to enhance coalition efforts. Behind the facade from each of the opposition camps and whatever public narrative they are trying to spin — their main goals are fundamentally about one thing and that is political power. We just hope everyone is sincere in their participations and their efforts are not just to be used as a political ploy but because it is the only way to go against the dictatorship head on and help create some certainty for the easily spooked Gambians. It is frustrating that Yaya Jammeh and his agents are engaged in daily mischarterization of events, placing in constraints of many rules on the oppositions and micromanaging details that may lead to removing dictatorship from our beloved country. Those constraints included the barring of the warm magnetism of Sir Dawda’s powerhouse from politics, whose wisdom would have been highly appreciated at this moment to harsh out policies and Yaya Jammeh made sure he knocked out other heavy-weights of intellectuals into exile, whose analysis and expertise would have sealed the deal by now or a least speed the coalition talks to new heights.

Essentially, we are lacking someone with the warm magnetism that fits the personality of Sir Dawda and share his shame political philosophy. Someone who is a cerebral thinker in seeking solutions keenly witted much like the father of our nation and everyone will listen to when he speaks. Also, even our coach –Pa Samba of Duga would admit that his sense of humor was absolutely infectious. So far, I have identified the likes of Karamba Tourey who is very eloquent and able to foster the noble wholesome ideals of the Gambian cause. Well as the Americans say “You go to war with the army you have but not the army you wish for”. It is no secret that the impact of the toxic fruits of labor of “denigrating peoples character “ by those Gambians with chameleon tendencies whose efforts of yesterday, undermined those decent intellectual’s — by leaking unparalleled mischaracterizing of damaging misconceptions about them and exposing humiliating mistakes of their personal lives to the press. They have since shy them away from participation at this critical time. Too many of our experts or young Gambians who learn the knowledge of polical science, appear to be in retreat mode after what they view or heard being done to other Gambians character — slaughtered on the world stage and the coming peril of Facebook live video activities and beyond. Furthermore, there’s been little policy leadership on the airways on what we could be doing better –strategically to improve unity for the coalition talks. Imagine all the opposition camps and leaders converge in Dakar with the likes of Dr. Sidat Jobe, Seedy Sanneh, Dr. Amadou Janneh, Dr. Saine, Dr. malanding Jaiteh, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow, Fatou Jaw Manneh and many more experienced Gambians with a lifetime of elective service and experience at every level of government scatted throughout the world. Such people would have sat across each other with our politicians and presidential hopefuls, hashing out issues to deliver on coaliation goals?

Sadly, Gambians are dying from left, right, and center as results of dictatorships everywhere including in prisons. Some are matched with the description of spiritual witchcrafters wishes to be used as spiritual rituals sacrifice. The hopeless young lads are losing their lives in risky backway journey. Our sisters are sold against their consent into modern day slavery in Arab countries and political opponents of the regime are losing their lives in the new style of exterminations to extinction by — being fed to hungry crocodiles. Those kids whom the education system failed need an alternative curriculum to retake the WASEC exams like how the USA provide GED alternative course to those who fail to complete high school . Hopeless Gambians are appealing to all opposition leaders and our intellectuals to participate in facilitating the efforts to get a single coalition for the December elections. This is a unique opportunity for a worthy legacy second to none in our history since the birth of Gambia as a republic. Gambia needs all of you out there to succeed.

With that said, I will like to draw the esteem readers’ attention to three events that happened in history, with the hope that it can inspire our political leaders and all of us.

First event – Pill of Wisdom: The heart touching story of the keys of the Kaaba

When the prophet(SAW) re-entered Makka and attempted to enter the Kaaba (House built by prophet Ibrahim), the key of the Kaaba was with a non-believer by the name of Ousman ibnu talha. One of the Prophets companion by the name of Ali (RAD) was ordered to get the key from Ousman ibnu talha. He went and asked for the key but the man refused. He then snatched the key swiftly from him and the Kaaba was opened for the Prophet (SAW) to enter. After the prophet completed his prayers — precisely two raka’s, the angle Gibril descended from heavens with instructions in the verses of the Quran. “Indeed, GOD commands you to render trusts to whom they are belong to …..” ( 4:58). They immediately rushed to give the key by to Ousman ibnu Talha whom Ali(RAD) found sitting sad. He was astonish to learn that, GOD himself commanded the keys to be returned to him and it shall stay with his family until day of reckoning. He accepted the faith and eventually got known as Ousman ibul talha (RAD). The lesson we draw here is: No one can snatch the key of coalition from the oppositions and go it alone to elections with Yaya Jammeh. All the opposition have suffered a great deal under Yaya Jammeh’s hands — especially the likes of the UDP party. So the keys of trust must be handed to a candidate of one coalition- as the trust of the people to take on Yaya Jammeh.

Second event – Pill of Wisdom: There is harm in asking too many unnecessary questions and being involved in misconceptions.

We understand everyone have entrenched interest to see military dictatorship end in the Gambia and we finally lay out concrete policies to ensure it never occurs again. People are suffering in Gambia but what makes this election more interesting is; there are large networks of stridently loyal party supporters – plus other concerned citizens are who are throwing misconceptions at other party leaders and asking irrelevant questions that amounts to a cohort that ought to be easily motivated to political outrage and requires immediate action for a truce. We already see the writings on the wall that- some people will never be satisfied with a particular candidate. Party surrogates cannot answer practical questions that their candidates ought to answer. It causes endless confusion and dissatisfactions. That brings to the verse which was revealed in the Quran chapter 5 verse 101 “O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if you ask about them while the Quran is being revealed, they will be made plain to you”. It is said there was a man who kept asking the prophet about how many times can one perform a pilgrimage “Hajj” after the verses were reveal for those who can to perform it if they have the means. He kept repeating his question about thrice according to some narrations but the prophet was kept quiet. Then the Prophet uttered the words “No, but I fear that if I said yes, then it will be made compulsory”. After then, the verse of chapter 5 verse 101 was revealed. Others alluded to another time when a man inquired about details of his father to the Phophet (SAW). Anyway, the lesson we draw he is : No matter how brilliant and game changing your misconceptions might be against another candidate, it will not help us in fighting the dictator that much. This is not to say we cannot ask relevant questions, but it shouldn’t be a “catch you moment” which may unintentionally further complicate our mission. We are all ridesharing this coalition effort against dictatorship. The Gambian public lacks information about the dictatorship necessary to make crucial voting decisions and to hold them accountable for their failed promises.

Third event – Pill of Wisdom: Trust but verify and do not continue to question peoples sincerity base on their past

We must accept those who sincerely repented from dictatorship and welcome others with open arms who worked under the regime — to serve their nation but either left or were expelled. The political jockeying of bashing each other should end except when someone decides to go it alone . In all honestly, GDC coming in and joining the coalition gives us a stellar opportunity to generate substantial votes away from Yaya Jammeh to the opposition camp. Its time to dig in and built a strong coalition against the dictator by moving forward on an agreement that would not only propel the efforts of coalition, but substantially advance it in the right direction. This is a clear visible reminder that we should avoid throwing stones on a glass house. It seems peoples effort are unintentionally making us heading to the weak web house -made out of spider web- to seek shelter there. The problem is the web house does not protect us from the wet season of dictatorship and cold season as well. This draws us to the quranic lesson to learn some wisdom which would be beneficial to us. When the verses prohibiting certain food and other intoxicants were revealed, people were greatly concerned that there were some believers who died whiles prohibited things were in their stomach before the verse was revealed. So GOD then revealed the verse forgiving those people in chapter 5 verse 93. It states “There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear GOD and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear GOD and believe, and then fear GOD and do good; and GOD loves the doers of good. The lesson we learn here is: let move on from judging people whom were serving their country and later parted ways with the dictator. We do not have time of going on wild rides that continues to ignite unnecessary battles because- Gambians are facing substantial challenges daily, not the least which is indiscriminate killings of our citizens and we are in need of relief from dictatorship. If GDC is able to bring in votes from the last dying breeds of the APRC voters and exert influence on the dye hard loyalist into the coalition, then the coalition will be in a much better shape.

Finally, let us remember that Yaya Jammeh has turned Gambian into a country where it’s people and businesses are fleeing out of our beloved country en masse. More native Gambians are being moved out by the dictatorship and foreigners are pouring in. These people are the folks the dictator counts on to give him the victory he needs. Lets remember that- coalition is the only typically a polical landmine that dismantles dictatorship during elections and understandably so causing sleepless nights for the dictator. There is too much at stake for Gambians in particular if our opposition leaders fail to deliver it. There will be so many headwinds giving those engage in talks a pause but be rest assured that Gambian people are behind those working on achieving a strong coalition. Let’s hold our hands together in prayers to see it succeed.

By Habib ( A concerned Gambia)

The abrasive rhetoric coming from the party surrogates towards each other has reached a boiling point in recent weeks and perhaps, this underscores the broader need for a better party talking points strategy —rather than catering to a particular political perspective. Attempting to run an election campaign with unnecessarily rhetoric, historically, at least, has proven a foolhardy for encouraging unity. But preaching to the choir does little to unite people against the dictator, make progress in crossover appeal or change minds of worried undecided voters in a very flattering way. At this point in time, some people with credible knowledge about strategies to walk around the dictatorship potholes and others with political influence in the diaspora, should be working in tandem with various party leaders to facilitate unity. We all agree that it is time to thoughtfully engage people in an attempt to pick out the best candidate for coalition. They have a great opportunity to use their influence in such a way that it would correct past errors, promoting a sense of unity to temper down the current political angst and the rabid infighting, while at the same time fulfilling their long-overdue promise of helping to dislodge dictatorship.

However, the surrogates battle on the airwaves has picked up pace and some people are responding, in many instances, with defiance that their party alone can defeat the dictator. It’s funny anecdotally, but it is not the way forward. Other hopefuls, embittered in desperation, are pulling out all the stops to derail Dr. Touray and unleashed a brash onslaught of attacks on her apparent momentum, attempting to paint her as imposing herself on people. This undermines trust and invites deceit. The intemperate remarks of surrogates only create havoc within the parties and destroying any prospects of possible single coalition for stopping Dictator Yaya Jammeh’s reelection come December. Their opinions have become an albatross of disunity, squabbling over irrelevant issues, and bickering over the candidates, thus leaving Gambians incredibly frustrated and dumbfounded by the over-politicization going on social media and the airwaves used as a divisive political weapon.

Some are very bitter, chastising people and even resorting to bullying tactics publicity stunts by making wild statements about people instead of addressing the issues. In fact, because of this flagrant problem, most Gambians find it difficult to support them enthusiastically. Yet, most people fail to realize that these attacks the presidential hopefuls are equally offensive, if not foolish and entirely off-base, and they have consequences. There is too much is at stake and this is giving the dictator the distraction he needs to continue terrorizing Gambians and resting comfortability. If the hypothetical opinions of surrogates broadcasted on the online radios in regards to the upcoming election seems confusing or is ostensibly giving you pause– don’t worry, you are not alone but the great news is party officials are doing ground work in an attempt to forge a coalition ahead. Of course, some of surrogates or people within party will be promoting their candidates flawlessly in an attempt to sell their candidate but they end up making it seem like there is a potential intra-party competition.

The Dictator too is desperately seeking to find his mojo back but it’s too late for his to be relevant again because his hands are all stain win blood and sins of his victims. As of now, beyond the partisan pummeling, the party leaders are working behind the scenes and we pray that they strike a deal for a coalition. Perhaps most serious, regardless of disagreements, let’s not give the dictator chance to lick his wounds because he is untrustworthy and incapable of governing our beloved Gambia. The problems to be addressed are numerous but misconceptions about individuals and party positions tends to stunt progress on other fronts. In fact, our assumptions about others, in other words, can easily hinder our ability to honestly deal with each other and create vital solutions. The good thing is, there is some cause for optimism though, because — there is a current inter party meeting going in Gambia initiated by PDOIS — with the possibility of a coalition breakthrough. Beyond that, let’s find effective means of dealing with our concerns and communicating their beliefs effectively in a persuasive manner — if you wish to hold a candidate’s feet’s to the fire in clarifying their positions.

However, the most troubling thing is Yahya Jammeh is sitting by untouched, enjoying people in the opposition parties pitting against each other in a dangerous political game and licking his wounds. The consequences of which may backfire and have dire electoral consequences for the opposition grass root to get excited in rally around one candidate for the coalition and, more importantly, on productive political discourse progress. Dictator Yaya Jammeh have dispatched his team of ministers with their mayor and are using the political opportunity— by quietly running away from the spotlight whiles bowing their heads low to their knees to walk around issues. It is troubling that they are conducting apology tours in villages for their worrisome missteps and doing their typical local politics of using the nation resources to buy off people with societal influence. This is indeed an outage but the good thing is: two decades of demagoguery of the opposition and killing of the Gambian people from Yahya Jammeh has manifested itself into call of change and spread to all parts of the country.

Time is moving fast towards election and kicking the can of unity down the road is not the wisest thing to do. People should remember our elders and tortured women are in prisons —in various part of the country, sleeping on hard wooden beds infested with mosquitoes and the most degrading toilet facilities. The demagoguery against party leaders and people only deepens divides at a time when the Gambians citizens are looking for optimism and a reason to band together and tackle challenges facing the country for twenty-two years. Let’s rub our eyes lashes from the dust Yahya Jammeh blow in our eyes and wash them with water to see him as the enemy-not ourselves. We should avoid the unthinkable become reality in December 2nd because the Godfather of dictatorship will symbolically began passing the torch to his eldest son -Muhammed. Still, the pathway of progress has to be primarily cleared by all party leaders whom are driven to serve us to show up in meetings unless they are ill, instead of their deputies to answer the difficult existential questions. It is probably wise to take heed now because unity and superstition (our lifelong companion of setbacks) in our politics to take on the dictatorship has always been our uphill climb to enlightenment.

Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

What is Gambians problem today? Someone whom the country raised all the way to adulthood, yet still stuck in childhood mentality of personal vendetta, still spoiled as a self-entitled whiner, sitting on our eyelashes whiles being unperturbedly non aspirational and worst of all —impossible to please. Everything we do or say in our mother land tantamount to treason. Yaya Jammeh doesn’t see anything wrong with the system of governance he has introduce in Gambia and wrongly imagines Gambia belongs to him. He often forged political victories on Gambian with violence instead of hopeful messages. Well, that’s how he dealt with Solo Sandeng over electoral reforms. Yaya Jammeh naturally find solace in our division but this time around, we will give him the surprise of his life. The days of collegiality and compromise of our principles are long gone as long as Yaya Jammeh keeps forcing himself on Gambians because everyone knows that he is a killer and very brutal to our elders.

When you have cabinet ministers that hides their faces or speed off at neighborhoods, partisan cherry picked leaders who cannot communicate their beliefs in a persuasive manner, law makers abdicating their duties, civil servants leaving many decisions for your approval, APRC surrogates all running away from your policies you champion as development— and they barely even embrace it, how can you expect Gambians to doomed themselves to failure by supporting the regime? The one man dictates everything policy does not bring about the development near the same pace as a collective group of diverse people in their expertise working together. The national challenges of the country are left out to stale because citizens who show an ounce of initiative to challenge them are considered threats to the regime. Gambia’s are smart people and want the same privilege others citizens of the world are enjoying. Most people have grown out of culture of perspective segregation of dictatorship because it is brutal, brittle to such an extent that it does not allow vibrant and dynamic minds to contribute their quota of national development. Our institutions fail inspire people because the old guard fear losing their positions and the only thing guarantee of our future is stagnant in the old century. and our vision of the cloudy.

The military old guards ran away with the exception of few now talking on both sides — often dramatically after endless circles of violence on them. However, the dictatorship find itself entangled with the new generational shift of Gambians, dissatisfied by lack of freedom, isolationism, breaking the strong bonds of culture of fear and are willing to take on the tough challenges to embrace the future. Anytime Yaya Jammeh sought to divide our nation, the new generations of Gambians— more thoughtful than ever, responded with stubbornness, with a sense of unity, purpose driven and resolved to take on the issues head on. This has proven more consequential with the dictator because he was in the midst of writing his own history whiles waiting for the ink of the first twenty years to dry. He was caught of guard by Gambians offering thoughtful analysis about his misrule to demystify him, putting up solutions and recommendations that not only guide of his decisions but inform everyone about happenings in the country. The dictator with his lack of thoughtful consideration before doing anything, have long depended on his attack-oriented and vitriolic skills of scaring Gambians. Today, he finds himself on the defense against articulate voices of Gambians on the air ways and social media advocating for policies that benefits the nation and are economically and fiscally responsible. Gone are the days when Yaya Jammeh deliberately try to ignore Gambians, focusing instead on his primitive ideas and self-interest.

This culture of ignoring Gambians, casting spiritual spells on people or belittling us will not make us go away in fighting for our people nor preaching false tales to the choir does little to move a country, make progress on anything for Gambians or change minds. It does not make sense to sell dictatorship to Gambians in the Diasporia who have seen real development, freedom to do anything to succeed in life, impactful in our communities, thoughtful when it comes to issues, constructive in solving our family issues across different continents, very articulate in describing the list of pains the regime put us under and cogent as any other freedom loving citizen. Not all critics think the election approach is foolhardy because despite the howls of outrage of taking on the dictatorship giving him run of his money, many are praying their heartburn from the bitter pill of dictatorship to end. whatever blowback we may face for this particular episode of taking him on, we hope the rabble-rousing people will understand we answered the call of history. Gambians are determined not to allow someone calling himself a president of Gambian whiles comfortable in his bubbles until election time. Given the significance of this election cycle as a do or die thing as Gambians find themselves in remarkable quagmire with tremendous consequence, if we do not put an end to an error we made allowing dictatorship to ruined our nation. We have been outmaneuvered politically because of fear and violence every way thinkable by Yaya Jammeh over the past twenty-two years. Given the tentative nature of this particular election and all the various compounding factors, we cannot afford to fumble this election once more by refusing to encourage our political leaders to coalesce. But the battle is not over but we can win it hands down by God’s grace.

by Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

As the presidential elections enters its final stretch and a great possibility of a coalition with a solid candidate of exceptional leadership qualities, surprisingly begins to rejuvenate the hope of a big surprise win in December elections— the second birth of a free Gambia swirling around, Yaya Jammeh and his counter parts — Russia unveiled their plans last week in response to the uproar by signing defense cooperation agreement. Yaya Jammeh naturally use to find solace in our division but this time around, he has to call for a backup. Instead, Yaya Jammeh is now on his heels working on second option plans. At the very least, the news should remind Gambian voters that power belongs to the people if we all come together as one. In the same context, conversely speaking, this should put the statement or overstatement that election cannot possibly remove the dictator kind of outlandish. We know the election will be historic in deciding the faith of our nation because these are unsettling times for our country. Yaya Jammeh have made it very clear some time ago by lifting his eyebrows with arrogance and spit drooling and foaming at the end of his mouth that— he will be more dangerous because— Gambians haven’t seen nothing yet. Will Gambian voters allow themselves to be insulted by Yaya jammeh who underestimates our common sense, took us for granted by the divisiveness he has created and made fools of us into giving him the mandate to continue his terror on those who are hardly a mortal threat to the republic? Are they willing to kiss death it is face again? The scandalous issues of Yaya Jammeh have been boiling the country into heighten temperatures and now, we as a whole nation continue to be on the losing side?

In the last twenty-two years, leadership of APRC has been at play, reorganizing everything, destroying every pillar of our nationhood, denying their responsibility to the Gambians while at the same time changing their rhetoric. Our once-great institutions no longer work in the interests of the people. The scale of tragic events that continues to engulf our nation, the mounting debt, the painful tug-of-war against our citizens, the demographic makeover through social re-engineering, the isolation Yaya Jammeh has put us through, the office of presidency reduced to laughable extremes by scandals, all the tears shed through killings and torture of our women— demands more than politics as usual. The Gambians have lost confidence in this regime long time ago. They have open everything to Yaya Jammeh and set the bar so low for him just to demonstrate compassion or even doing the minimal standards of compliance of moral behavior, but these seem to be very hard for Yaya Jammeh. We need a new direction and serious leadership to seek solutions in ending conflicts of all kinds that have engulfed our country, put in serious effort in uniting our people towards achieving shared goals, reorganizing our broken institutions, focus on inspiring the current generation of [ Students, victims of Yaya Jammeh and diasporians including backway trekkers] the regime failed and guide the next generation to prosper beyond the shores of our river. So far, we are thrilled that the level of maturity of our aspiring candidates to lead our country are the people we need to wipe our tears, square our shoulders again and help us move on with life as a nation.

There is plenty to learn from military decapitation of our democracy since 1994 and It did not take a long time to see how it is the greatest mistake Gambians made as a nation collectively. Now everyone should be familiar with— the political axe of Yaya Jammeh swings at both sides and politicians are considered threats to national stability. The sharp failure of our country without the leadership quality it needs for the past twenty-two years has set back our country beyond what anyone could have imagined. Gambians have seen firsthand the politics of Yaya Jammeh at play and the challenges that it bore for our country. The abject disgrace it put our people through is very humiliating. The culture of self-interest and the unethical conflict of greed has enlivened our institutions. The patriotic feelings of trusting one another has hit an all-time low, violent crime that knocks our doors steps, setting up people for humiliation at the dictator’s knife edge becomes routine and the wiliness to overlook any atrocity because people are so infatuated with wealth and position. The regime has made sure nasty politics by its very nature prevailed and thrived over our morals, such that people ignore immoral acts and softens description of our problems with “Gambia Nice” so as not to offend Yaya Jammeh. The politics of APRC has failed Gambia miserably and their leadership thrives on conflict to advance their selfish interests of holding on to power despite knowing very well the burden it creates for the nation. The regime continues to demonizes, blame and vilifies citizens on nation television to disgrace them out of their manhood. Gambians have suffered the greatest disillusionment under this regime.

The key to understanding the problem of Gambians or recognizing our dissatisfaction with this failed system of APRC governance is to personalized our problems. That’s what makes someone a great leader, problem solver and a solution driven kind of a person. The concern of our nation are not about to slow down anytime soon as long as Yaya Jammeh occupy that office. It is impossible for Yaya Jammeh to isolate himself and his family from all problems he has created. He does not even pretend to appreciate our struggles nor understand them because — none of his children are among us to give him the honest truth about anything. Does he really know anything about the issues we face daily or our struggles? As for Gambians living in the out skirts of greater Banjul, they are only seen as votes needed to break a tie or provide landslide victory because– they only focus on their labor and votes for the next elections whiles neglecting their needs. There never have been periods in Gambian history when our communities and villages are all ghost cities due to brave citizens taking the risky backway journey to quench the thirst of their parents. So Yaya Jammeh who has served neither the interest of the Gambians nor their solution, is again asking Gambians —whom he insults, humiliate, turned most of the population into orphans, divided communities and kill us like roaches– to entrust the highest office in the land to him again. Plus, he feels Gambians owe him so much? Really! Meanwhile, he is relying on those same trends that are swelling the support of the opposition as his vague calls for development. Yaya Jammeh could not control his compulsion of being very unpopular and therefore miscalculated thinking that killing the Solo’s, and jailing of Ousainou Darboe with UDP executives along with others will give him the much easy ride to state house again.

Gambians don’t like mean and ill willed people. That’s the nature of Yaya Jammeh and cannot be change by the presidency but divinely. A man who would proudly turn off electricity at opposition rallies whiles ignoring the patients lying on beds in neighborhood clinics or not being sensitive to moms going through labor. A man who will instruct his agents to poison our water tanks with Lead (PB) or spiritual water to propel Gambians into a spell whiles ignoring the safety hazard it brings. A man who will not paused for an ounce of a second, to reflect on giving executive order to kill a soul but will ask for the body to be thrown into pool of hungry crocodiles whiles enjoying the painful tug-of-war on the body of a Gambian being crushed around. A man who would order the bodies of forty-four Gambians resting in peace after Muslim ritual performed on their bodies. He turns around, gave orders for their bodies to be dug off and transported to Ghana as a compensation for killing their son. Imagine finding the body of your parents in a church or whatever else traditions or beliefs, that nightmare unintentionally reviving echoes of your love one’s cries in strange grave across oceans. Yaya Jammeh the master propagandist blows the sweetest sounds of whistle into Gambian ears to distract them. Behind everything he says comes with a price tag we have to pay dearly.

We desperately need a truly united coalition today to take on the dictatorship but also need to win the hearts of the voters as much today as we did then. In the past, we didn’t understand what our noble oppositions leaders were going through and for the past decade, the campaign of Yaya Jammeh labeling them with names kind of worked against them. Unfortunately, it led to the creeping collapse of confidence Gambians have in them. Not many Gambians who have been left behind of their progress/ opportunities where active on Social media, less chalked up to anger by the dictatorship secret killings then and most of us were comfortable with Yaya Jammeh’s narrations of events because there were not alternate voices to show us the reality of events. For years, Yaya Jammeh runs to his medium “the daily observer” and our state television to led the way in telling stories to Gambians. Nothing slows him down because he does not fear GOD or have the decency to level with the Gambians. Praise be to GOD because there’s little doubt that Gambians in the diaspora and the youngest voting generations at home have a lot to complain about the dictatorship—from our failing education system, the lack of job opportunities, immoral happening in our societies and beyond. However, no doubt it is little more depressing to say the least that— some Gambians will lose sight of all their problems and others will be bribed—giving away their initial upsurge of unity and optimism. The unparalleled cynicism of some surrogates of the regime, the APRC surrogate’s spewing pessimism about the short comings of opposition leaders and political dirty tricks of fear that the regime does to create division among us, will affect some weak minded citizens. Dictator Jammeh continues thumping his chest on Gambians because he knows— he has killed most of the heavy weights, jailed those whom he fears and half of the patriotic young youths have been lost backway journey. I am hopeful this time around we will present one candidate to send the Dictatorship packing.

By Habib ( A Concern Gambian)