The concern of our founders worst fears for our nation falling in the lurches of dictatorship, is where we are at this moment in history. And, yet to make matters worse, our nation continues to dishonor their memory and here we are with the worst form of deadly dictatorship of staggering proportions that grip our nation. As Surreal as it may be, it is even more disheartening that our nation’s trouble is caused by a free rider con man whom was given a chance in life with unconditional love and the best from us. The truth is simple but it’s too complicated to adequately process because he has turn out to be the enemy of the people, destroyed our society, a danger to our beliefs and employing fear to distract and divide us. The plethora of dictatorship has weakened Gambia so much to its knees and now the country is incapable of sustaining itself, Jammeh and his buddies have become an unparalleled burden on our economy, they continue to disregard our personal liberties, peddling negative atmosphere of political manipulation, and even fail to defend our principles for first time in history after independence.

We’re not sure what is causing us more despair — the slaughter of people, unfortunate act of violence by the regime, injustices to our citizens, lack of unity on the ground or whether we are still under military rule because most of our institutions and foreign embassies staffed by military personnel. We all hope that all these draws more attention to where it can help bring about change. Right now, we find ourselves yet at crossroads because Gambia is now full of dark-sad stories. Our questions are still unanswered by the regime. So many people have mysteriously disappeared, our sisters are sold out as domestic slaves in Arab counties, our dead are denied burial and instead used as rituals for devilish satanic acts. It would be easy to pretend all is well in Gambia or we shrug off horror events but death without decent burial of our civilians have been too prevalent and it is morally wrong. There may have been scores of Gambians who met their untimely death in such fashion. We will not apologies for standing up for our fellow Gambians even though we find it difficult that—some still lionize Yaya Jammeh with cautionary misleading tales regardless of all what he has done to our people.

For many years, the pleas of human rights groups and concerned Gambians about the regime consistently fell on deaf ears. But attitudes are clearly changing towards regime as a result of never ending—pausing cycle of bad news. Public discourse about recent events of injustices against our fellow citizens elicited strong emotional reactions, driving the national conversation about regime change. Ultimately, our love for our country got further strengthen by recent injustices against our mothers and helped renewed our nationalistic fervor which in turn helped spur actions to see the regime become history soon. In just the last few months, more specifically, we’ve witnessed the shift to Gambian interest to our fellow countrymen because—matters that Yaya Jammeh thought would have gone unnoticed or Gambians would have little actual interest become issues debated with furious passion.

Lastly, Complicated problems require multiple solutions because a dictator will never sign for his warrant. We acknowledge some of unfortunate events that lead to loss of lives place parameters for us to be much sympathetic and sensitive on our discussion of how to achieve our ultimate goal because —most of the respected leaders in the struggle are very principled on certain things. We need all-hands-on-deck approach to untangle the clutches of dictatorship. Gambian Diasporia and other right activist have done brilliant Job exposing regime and advocating for regime change. Gambians have been greatly enlightened by online mediums as never before and are now living witnesses of the effects of dictatorship which have seep into every aspect of our lives. The APRC regime is well aware of this. Hence we see an unprecedented disturbing trend of increased censorship, obsessive control of information, other restrictions of the internet and disgraced former junta leaders — now suddenly redeemed apostles with fluffy rhetoric, coming out to reinvigorate a dying brutal regime. We have one word for the apostles of the regime “There you go again”.

That said, we cannot continue to delude ourselves from admitting the obvious that we need a united front to take on this dictator as an alternative, simply because we know that he will steal the election. There is a noteworthy commendable initiative by the party youths to prevail on their leadership for a coalition. We shall honor the legacy of our fallen heroes such as solo Sandeng and many more who desire to see Gambia free by doing our part as citizens, to come out and vote for opposition in large numbers. We need to have overwhelming majority in parliament to impeach Yaya Jammeh in case he steals the election and we win the popular vote by God’s grace. Let me ask you my respected fellow Gambian. If you are tired of the killings, dreadful humanitarian catastrophe, flat wages since 1994, lack of medicines, meaningless visions 20XX, roads still ruining our donkey carts, our taxes wasted, attaya prices skyrocketing, our children failing their exams, our youths dying on back way, our sister sold as slaves, a leader who can’t deliver for his people but scares them, prolonged stagnation of failed vision dreams, disrespecting our elders, NIA knocking your doors midnight and lots more horrors. Please come out to attend opposition rallies and vote for change we believe in. Do it for our tortured women, for Solo Sandeng, for the sisters who died in slavery, for our infants fed to crocodiles as ritual sacrifice, for the grieving mother of the child whom the convoy killed, for the victims of tribalism, for the boy with good grades but can’t afford tuition, for the people wrongly prisoned and for your own future. Yes, we can Gambia. Come out all and let us bring back the beautiful smiling coast shining again and wipe the tears of Gambia to prevent another 5 years of monumental human disaster. Gambia counts of you!

By habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

Governing a country requires more than a slogan and so does educating our children requires more than rhetoric of free education. The education department and the regime had their work cut out for them because those very rhetoric’s were put into practice in the recent 2016 WASSCE results calendar year. Suffice it to say, less than 450 students out of whole country passed all subjects. According to WAEC, out of 11,659 candidates who registered for the exam, only 444 obtained credit in five subjects and above, including English and math’s. 1,871 candidates obtained only one credit, and 1,100 two credits. Unquestionably, building many schools is a great initiative and positive step by the regime. Review, refinement and rationalization of our education sector are undoubtedly required. While teachers cannot shoulder all the blame for the range of deficiencies shown on the WASSCE results, the regime need to put in new measurement standards in place to make our school more accountable.

Furthermore, hiring unqualified personnel’s or having departments lead by incompetent people who display more than the profound ignorance that we’ve all come to expect from them instead of accomplishing our education system’s desired end. That end, of course is, it failed our children and the education system is getting progressively worst as a result of many things but most notably, disengaging the intellectual diasporian as bad citizens, wasting talent and a massive brain drain. Yet again, this exposes the educational apartheid that has plagued our beloved country. Unfortunately, when you do not acknowledge the PPP government contributions to Gambian life, and continue to distort history by fanning resentment, minimizing the sacrifices of people to burnish your own legacy with false tales by being arrogantly dismissive, blaming everything on colonial rule, becoming less forthright about your mistakes, pillorying decent people as criminals, the end results are the facts catch with you.

The regime could have ceased on PPP short comings and allowing Gambian intellectuals to come up with a blue print solution to pressing problems for current education crisis, strengthened teachers training programs to equip them with the required skills, and career advance structure development in order to help meet the demands of the country’s vision and the dynamic global skills market. Every chance Yaya Jammeh gets to pushes our country forward, he resorts to deeply pessimistic vision where he is always appealing to the worst in people to turn against each other, and turning away from the rest of the world. The APRC platform fails to offer a single idea to address the education crisis because only one man has all the solutions — Yaya Jammeh. We need honesty and transparency in priotizing our education for our children’s future. Anytime there is grant to help prospective students access to best education, the funds are squandered, the regime does comply with regulations to meet specific educational standards, would resist such measures coming from opposition and instead provide egregious misrepresentations.

Moving forward, while it is certainly important to revamp our education system, teacher’s salary must increase to match the high living cost. One can only shudder at the thought of teachers not able to educate our children due to lack of resources, limited knowledge of the curriculum and limited access to teaching materials which are needed to empower students with both skills and analytical tools. These are the basic rights of every Gambian that the country has to provide its citizens with quality life. it is hard to conceive what all those children’s whom the system failed at a time of stalled growth, stringent visa processing requirements, rising unemployment and offering too little relevant preparation for 21st-century life to complete with other African children.

By Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

It has been a tumultuous year for Gambians this year. It is impossible for any Gambian to say their heart is filled with serenity and peace at this point when news for our dear motherland is of violence, killings, persecution of women, our youths dying on risking backway journey and not so banging WAESSE reports. Back home, our country is tense and full of pageantry drama from mercenary Nigerian judges fostering with our laws to earn a conviction of our elders. They fail to understand our culture and that we are all connected as a family one way or the other. Closer to us in Europe and those in America, those heroes involved in December 30th are serving their sentences. It’s so bad that many diasporian just tuned themselves out of Gambia because of the depressing news, continuous heartbreaking events that paused us to reflect, pray and shed tears. This is not the time for us turning our face away.

APRC regime have created an atmosphere where most people take nothing seriously except trading their bright future with endless partying, which is unfortunately accepted as the norm in our era. Instead of harnessing the talents of Gambians, building on those positive dynamics which make Gambia unique, and striving to alleviate most Gambians out of poverty, regime is busy doing what it does best and as a result, the country has fallen into or deeper into poverty. If you doubt this, let’s harken back to when he first took office and ask yourself the question. Are we better off now? It seems majority of Gambians and the world have enough of Yaya Jammeh and collectively holding their breath whiles praying for him just away with everything he has stolen for the violence to end. And all of these events are happening among a time of political and economic uncertainty right before elections in this coming December.

APRC regime – wrapped up themselves in their imaginary Gambia of Jammehbia and now have become expert in window dressing the truth to titillate the curious. They have created an atmosphere of decisiveness so bad that the chances of hope and prosperity seems to be slim for majority of Gambians instead of lifting the spirit of Gambians. Concern for our fellow men and women now requires a litmus test so as to speak of your catered ideas and beliefs before pointing you to a particular direction. Many who took the risk of working for the regime go to work each day not certain they will return home at the end of the shift. Those who assume leadership positions are hoodwinking the population about truth, exploiting our women instead of steering young dynamic Gambians from so much hateful partisan rhetoric instead of giving them clearer people of our nation being in chaos.

The usual political finger-pointing began with everyone except Yaya Jammeh whom is the author of this mess. We are appalled by what we perceive as injustice when our service men went in the wrong side of history, to fabricate lies and assist the state in jailing our elders whiles they brutalize those whom they should serve. Meanwhile, Yaya Jammeh is still confusing mutual respect and words of wisdom with Violence and incomprehensible hatred. We need healing and that begins the day when Yaya Jammeh gives us his back and heads to wherever, for us to have peace. You walked into our statehouse with your gun in 1994 and fooled us. Please leave with them. We need peace for our deal mother land.

by habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

Dear Editor

This is your new investigator in Gambia.

Your Network is the most reliable medium that informs Gambians and the world in general about events happening in the Gambia. Hence we all rely on you for information even from within the Gambia. Keep up the good job.

You must be aware that Gambian president organised a colloquium as part of events in the commemorations of the so-called July 22nd. My investigations revealed that 6 million dalasis was budgeted for the event.

I want to use your medium to ask the following questions as part of my investigations trying to uncover huge corruption scandal with regards to how the funds were spent:

1. How was this budget of 6 million dalasi for the colloquium spent?

2. Why was the procurement office headed by Isata Jawara under immense pressure from Solicitor General Sankareh and her boss Fatima Singhateh?

3.While Asata seems to be trying to get to the bottom, who is currently helping her if indeed this is her intention.

These pertinent questions need answers.

From the Investigator

In my opinion, there are two main reasons why there is still no grand alliance of Gambian opposition parties in spite of the fact that everyone knows that a coalition of all the opposition parties will most certainly defeat Jammeh this year. Since PPP/OJ Jallow have long declared their non-participation in the presidential elections, they are not an obstacle to a coalition formation and therefore not part of this analysis.

And in order to keep the blog post short, simple and easy to understand as always (for the sake of my secondary school readers including my daughter) I will discuss only one of the obstacles today and the second one will follow tomorrow God willing.

In my opinion, one of the two obstacles to a coalition formation is a group of five opposition parties/leaders (I will refer to them as the Small 5 or S5 for short). I know, you know, and even they themselves know with 100% certainty that they have ABSULUTELY NO CHANCE of winning the December 2016 presidential elections. It is therefore baffling that these people are still hanging around and congesting the political arena thereby making a coalition formation very difficult and complicated.

To start with who are these group of S5? They are the GDPD, GMC, NCP, NRP, and Boy Serrer (Mr. Joseph Joof, our new independent presidential aspirant). While some of these parties/leaders cannot even participate in the presidential elections, others have shown absolutely no interest, faith, plans, programmes, or commitment to the presidential elections or to a coalition formation. I will talk about them one after the other.

The leaders of the GDPD and GMC (Honourable Gomez and Fatty respective) cannot participate in the elections because of a constitutional clause that presidential candidates have to ordinarily reside in the Gambia for a number of years prior to the elections. These two gentlemen are currently living outside Gambia. I do believe that if their safety/security was guaranteed in The Gambia and if there were electoral reforms, these gentlemen would have been on the ground working towards their presidential ambitions. However, the opposite is the case and there is no electoral reform (and there will be no electoral reforms prior to the elections in Dec). These two should not have been on that list of presidential contestants in the first place.

Now to the NRP/Hamat Bah. In the 2011 presidential elections, Ahmad Bah came last with only 11% even though he had the support/alliance of a number of parties. Therefore, what chance does Bah has in winning the presidency if there is no coalition? The answer is zero. Furthermore, from 2011 to date, what interest, activities or commitment has Bah shown towards the 2016 presidential elections or towards a coalition formation? Has anyone seen or heard Hamat Bah on a national platform, in a video or interview discussing national issues or mobilizing people against Jammeh? As for me, the only video I have seen of Hamat Bah discussing an “important” issue is the one in which he was saying that when elected into office, he will deal with any gays/lesbians that have escaped the wrath of Jammeh. This man has no interest or plans to become president.

Now to the NCP. Apart from a tiny newspaper report/press release of the resuscitation of the NCP and the naming of its leaders, has anyone seen or heard of any manifesto, a rally or statements on politics, coalition formation and other national issues by the NCP? In my research about the new NCP, I could not find on google more than three images of its leader Dr. Bojang. And as we all know, we are living in a new generation of science, technology and social media in which if an aspiring presidential candidate cannot make a good impression on twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms, s/he cannot win the hearts and minds of our youths and women. And any politician who cannot win the hearts and minds of the youths and women, s/he cannot win the presidency. It is that simple. So Dr. Bojang is really not serious, ready or even prepared to replace Jammeh.

And now to my tribal cousin, Mr. Joseph Joof. It is probably a Jola marabout who told Mr. Joof that he would be president in March 2017 but a Fula marabout would definitely have told him otherwise. On Mr. Joof’s first radio interview since the announcement of his presidential intention, the first person who called him to ask questions pushed him against the wall so fast and so hard that he had to fire back at her in self-defence by calling her “misguided” and “stupid”. (By the way I fully understand and can relate with Mr. Joof’s situation because I was once a victim of the same lady who called. This lady totally scared and terrorized the devils in me when she was my high school head girl and was not happy with my mixing business (photography) with education. She is an Iron Lady of the highest pedigree). But as a presidential aspirant, if Mr. Joof could be so easily rattled by a lady through a mere telephone, I really wonder how he would react as a Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces if his Generals and Police Commissioners disagree with him and try to push him to a corner.

So clearly, the group of S5 are either unable to participate in the elections (the GDPD and GMC) or they are not ready, serious, prepared and committed in replacing Jammeh. Therefore, a question that is worthy of asking is why are they on the list of this year’s presidential contestants? Could they be simply hanging around the boxing ring out of hope that a miracle would happen for there to be a coalition so that they and their party executives can have a free/easy ride into government positions of the Third Republic? Anyway whatever their reasons are, the Gambia is in a serious political emergency and we cannot afford any more time wasting, hypocrisy and selfishness.

Therefore, the best thing that this group of S5 can do for themselves and for the suffering/oppressed people of the Gambia is for them to UNCONDITIONALLY withdraw their presidential candidatures in order to make it easier for the remaining three parties to come together to form a coalition. The very presence of their names on that IEC list is pure hindrance and a big obstacle to the coalition efforts. They should therefore follow the footsteps of OJ Jallow and Sheikh Seedia Bayo and immediately announce their unconditional withdrawal from the presidential race thereby reducing the congestion and the mess in which our opposition parties are in at the moment. The logic here is very simple, it is very much easier for three people to reach an agreement on a complex political issue such as coalition formation than nine people.

In conclusion, my believe is that there would be no coalition based on my judgement of the current state of affairs of our opposition parties. However, if the group of S5 immediately withdraw their respective candidatures, then there will be a 50% chance of a coalition. The other 50% obstacle will be the subject of my next blog God willing. Until then, long live the Republic of the Gambia and her beautiful people!!!!
Author Gano
Posted on August 9, 2016

The incongruity of Gambian morals and ethics lately compared to 30 years ago does not represent who we are and is antithesis to everything we learn not to be. Well, we are not persuaded by those intimidating us into silence when it is absolutely clear to everyone that objective fact is endangered by one sided fiction and must serve the regimes interest only.

 
where we used to rebuke people for their mistakes is replaced by killings , were we used to scold people for their shortcomings are precisely replaced by tortue to confessions, grief of people’s misfortunes are replaced by laughter, legitimate criticism are considered criminal acts and questions asked about our pain lands up in jail.

The truth is undeniable that Yaya Jammeh has lead from behind when it comes to matters which concern us dearly and this explains his untrammeled exasperation when he endorses killings , shows his activism for immoral acts, refused to distance himself from discrimination, disregard of the law and unspeakable brutal treatment of our women are condoned .

Speaking truth now annoys people to no end. Our culture have changed so much that everyone but Yaya Jammeh and his loyalist seems to intuitively grasp . We are further confused when sons and daughters of parents whom once left legacy of building the foundations stones of the country are enabling dictatorship and falsehood.

One may disagree with one or more preferences of dealing among ourselves but we need not to be applauded with un reasonable and unnecessary world breaking records of inhumane treatment.

The shift away from our once cherished model of traditions has resulted to a great deal of setback since all our moral pillars excess were tested and replaced by Continental levels of individualism, immodesty and foreign social norms .

People in strategic leadership position whom are personally endorsed by Yaya Jammeh and the society looks up to, are so fundamentally unenamored about who we are today and look no further than their pockets instead of building on our shortcomings and little good left thereof.

What is especially troubling is, we are seeing foreign elements who mostly believe in punishments with beheadings, incarcerates for petty crimes , flogging citizens for sins and inspire hate against others, trekking our sky without no explanation of the regimes motives at the very least. When they decide to answer anything, the explaining are so thin of substance that they undermine, rather than bolster, our confidence in our government.

 
Thus Yaya Jammehs accomplishment, arguably, has been to spur the evolution of a new Gambian society according to his own fancies . Everything we worried about in our neighborhood has turned up in excess. micro-targeting of people is the order of the day rather than seeking to reach out to a prospective youths seeking back-way adventure. I missed the old Gambia and prayfully sanity will prevail again.

By Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

Nigerian Mercenary Judge dada recently gave us an unintended glimpse of her life after her flawed verdict as she opened herself up to legitimate charges of buck passing and trying to run away, instead of facing the music of her decision to send tortured women to jail for 3years. Caught by state border patrol guards trying to sneak into Casamance without clearance and without her state provided orderly, the maritime trained mercenary lawyer quickly draws the only possible conclusion in line with her characteristic pattern of conduct to cover her intentions by giving an excuse of trying to buy a fish.

Let’s examine your remarks in the larger context of your judicial philosophy. Apparently, “Fish” means something else different as a street slang in one of your native language which we will discuss later. Well my Lady as the great son of Gambia, Ousainou Darboe addressed you in his allocutas which you refused him to read out; you must take us as fools but your actions from the events of April 14th/16 scandals of your doings to your convictions of innocent Gambians and hoping that with the passage of time, all will be forgotten but! you are simply wrong. Not this time mom.

Nevertheless, that meaningless platitude of your excuse eventually revealed nuggets of truth, and thus giving us a glimpse behind the curtain of the word “Fish” in one of your native languages Yoruba called “eja”. According to nairaland forum, it is a slang for marijuana and is a very common euphemism employed by smokers. Hmm! Perhaps the plain meaning of your word “fish” is insufficient to us and many people? We shall not help you explain yourself, so after you recover from your episode of your foot-in-the-mouth experience my lady. Can you clarify yourself one more time on your bench? In retrospect, we suspect that inadvertent truism and we presumed in confidentiality your wish, but repent to Gambia and your victims.

My Lady, the Gambian people may be too harried and busy nurturing our heartaches as a result of your employer- dictator Yahya Jammeh’s tyranny on us with your full help, for us to wake up every morning to protest against you but in our hearts, we are upset about your foibles of judgments just to make a dollar. Oh! The world is forced to pay attention to your actions for a good reason. For better or worse, so enjoy your fame whiles it last. Your vigorous support of injustice against your fellow women gave the dictator that much needed lifeline to continue his horrors on Gambians.

Of course, rather than falling prey to the regime you are helping, so you are resorting to fishing as a good sport. What are we to make of a person who proclaims with the certainty allowing remand kidnapped political prisoners their rights when you fail to intervene on their behalf and refused our tortured women bail, you refused them home cook meal, you refused them personal care and clothes but you want your preferred style of patronage justice to satisfy your love of fish? The Gambia is name after “River Gambia” thus the name “The” in front of Gambia and we have so many fishing ports. One feels obliged to wonder why do you need to travel to Cassamance then?

By habib ( A Concerned Gambian)

There is nothing noble about being constantly victimized or the whole country resorting to managing instability, choosing between a series of unpleasant outcomes and avoiding catastrophe of Yahya Jammeh. Most disturbingly, the actions of Yahya Jammeh on our citizens and his desire to transform Gambia have been, in hindsight, an area of remarkable consensus of disapproval on every level and many have inveighed against his use of polarized ideological foreign elements, whom he is publicly flattering with millions of dollars to indoctrinate Gambians using religion — which he does not totally believe at heart. Our consensus thus far has not always served us well granted that, we have seen a more bitter Yahya Jammeh with endless cycle of persecution and his intolerance for our citizens.

It’s very difficult to understand why the Gambians has demonstrated such a deep reservoir of patience for Yahya Jammeh bellicosity against our nation along with the actions of a handful of his sheltered mercenary judges and loyalist whom are empowered by the regime to continue destroying Gambia and its people mercilessly. Even at a time of economic torpor, Gambians are forced to pick up the unnecessary bills of Yahya Jammeh and his solicitous family in the tune of millions of dollars while enduring insults from him about our concerns of lack of medication in our hospitals, growing prison population and whether his misguided aspirational model of transforming our society according to his wishes still fits Gambia. let’s not kid ourselves: What probably matters to Yahya Jammeh is, he wants to be seen as champion of everything despite innumerable warnings but now his actions have chokehold every aspect of our country.

And, as history teaches, it is prudent for Gambians to know that it will be an enormous task reversing each of Yahya Jammeh’s trends or whole array of issues, the longer he is allowed to be the leader of the country because many will suffer generations to come. It is because of our society dependence on individual and familial aspiration rather than centralized focus on broader concerns of all Gambians? Or is it because Yahya Jammeh’s has terrorize the nation so much that his agenda of controlling every aspect of lives of Gambians has been largely accomplished, and he is particularly accepted among Gambians? so much has gone wrong for our nation under the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh abysmally — disastrous densely webbed track record that now he is so confused that he is openly embracing enemies of humankind, alienating Gambians, and he isn’t bored no more to recognize the countless opportunities to learn from his mistakes.

 
Rather than giving the Gambian people an honest even-handed accounting of where he has brought the nation, Mr. Yahya Jammeh has now decided that he is, indeed, above the duly enacted law of our homeland and now considers Gambia’s hard earned income as belonging to him first. Yahya Jammeh knows full well that his policies have been opposite what most Gambians prefer, and continues forcing himself to an unwilling populace. Worse still, With the threat of his regime becoming history as a results of killings, disappearance, torturing of innocent civilians, our resources more constrained under his watch, and Gambians fed up with him being a heavy burden. Thus Yahya Jammeh resorted to his last weapon — which most dictators cling on because he has nothing more of false tales left to inspire Gambians or let alone instill confidence about his leadership.

BY Habib ( A Concerned Gambian)