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)

It was the darkest day in the history of my village, Sami, CRR. As soon as he arrived at the village “bantaba”, he (Captain Momodou Bojang) disrespectfully raised his foot and placed it on the village bantaba and vowed to deal with the villagers for merely supporting the UDP. He came with soldiers from the Kudang Barracks. This was sometime in 1995, the armed soldiers under the instruction of Yahya Jammeh and under direct supervision of Commissioner Captain (later Major) Momodou Bojang arrogantly and rudely oversaw the arrest and subsequent torture of some elderly villagers including the then 80-year-old, the late Alkalo Bakey Ceesay at the Janjanbureh prisons. Their only crime was because they were opposition sympathizers, something unacceptable to Jammeh and Momodou Bojang. The arrestees together with the old man were ruthlessly and sadistically tortured. Upon his release, the old man could not sustain the torture pains and humiliation meted out to him by then powerful Commissioner Momodou Bojang in front of his villagers. Few days later, he died. He was a great man. A noble man and a great hunter. He died a dignified man while Major Momodou lives peacefully in exile in Wisconsin, US and the torturers, that is, the soldiers also living in peace in Gambia.

 
As I sat for a special chat while on holidays from Bwiam to listen to the old man’s ordeal in the hands on soldiers and Commissioner Momodou Bojang, I saw my late dad, and for the first time, I noticed fear mixed with anger and resignation over his face. I tried to console to forget the ordeal and regain strength, but he continued to tell the me the story of the armed men, the arrest and torture of our Alkalo. I must admit that I was too naive then to have support the junta at the time. I advised him to stay out of politics entirely. I came to realize over the years these are the heroes. They know the landscape of Gambian politics more than me. As the arrests and tortures continue over the years I came to realize that there is a demon at the highest office of my country. I started to speak out when I was in Gambia.

My message to Captain or Major Momodou Bojang is to come out of his current comfort zone in Wisconsin to apologize to the villagers of Sami, CRR for his wrongdoing in beating their elders for merely exercising their political rights, especially to the late old Alkalo who died from your torture orders. We knew you were a powerful vocal commissioner who rained insults on our elders in that year. We would forgive you when you apologize. In conclusion, we look forward to seeing again in my village, this time on an apology mission.

By A Concerned Citizen of Sami

Please allow me to use some space in your well respected newspaper to express my disquiet over the disappearance and possible abduction and detention of the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Momodou Sarjor Jallow. Mr. Jallow is a close friend, a former comrade in the struggle for justice in The Gambia and in countries all over Africa as well as a persistent colleague in the efforts in empowering the poor, disadvantaged and dispossessed and helping them to be self-employed, independent minded and productive citizens of our beloved Gambia. Knowing who he is I know there is a possible misunderstanding within circles of the APRC government

Though Mr. Jallow has from 1994 been a supporter of the AFPRC and APRC governments, I have never been a supporter of the AFPRC or APRC governments. I take it as a principle never to support a government coming into power through military coups, or through the hatching of plots by isolated groups of conspirators or ad vanguard revolutionaries because of my belief that the masses are their own liberators, not isolated groups of individuals claiming to be liberating on behalf of the masses. So while Mr. Jallow was a supporter of the AFPRC` and APRC governments I never have been. But this did not stop the comradely brotherhood between Mr. Sarjor Jallow and myself because we were both part of MOJA-Gambia where political pluralism was the ideological norm. Comrade Sarjor and I could continue sharing general ideological convictions while still deferring in our political appraisal and understanding of situations. We could agree on the belief on the need for a non-capitalist path to development while not agreeing on whether the current APRC regime is the way forward to ultimate solution of the problems of the nation.

But despite this dissonance in views Mr. Jallow and myself have respected each other’s views and continued to respectfully agree to disagree. Based on this I have known Mr. Jallow to be a patriotic official of the APRC government and an extremely loyal supporter of the current government. Mr. Jallow and I have long stopped trying to convince each other over to our respective political persuasions and I have no doubt that he has been extremely loyal to the APRC and its government.

His current predicament is something he most likely do not even understand. It is may be because of his wife’s recent support and membership to the United Democratic Party, UDP, but that has nothing to do with Sarjor’s loyalty. Both wife and husband have long been MOJA members, brought up and trained in MOJA’s tradition of political pluralism. In MOJA we were trained to believe and respect that spouses, friends and relatives can hold different views and yet live and tolerate each other.and the differences of views. This is why Sarjor Jallow could not stop his wife from expressing her support for the opposition UDP.

This I understand so much that I must write to call for the immediate release of Sarjor Jsllow by the authorities concerned. I am, in fact, ready to hand over myself for arrest by Gambian security forces in exchange for his release as soon as I can make myself available if you find him liable for arrest. Information on my arrival will be made on your convenience.

Ousman Manjang

Bakoteh Layout 6^th September 2016

No doubt dictatorship has fractured our country. Most importantly, Gambia is about to go on another level of hyperactive downright dangerous brutal dictatorship, binge with new breeds of crocodiles if we don’t knit our divisions together. We already went through a generation of “Lost children of smiling coast episodes”, our society turn upside down and national embarrassments that lend us the “crying coast of west Africa”. Here we are, smack in the month of September, with two months left for a chance of getting through all the information we need about those aspiring to lead us and their initiatives but when you read the news stories about what is being said every day on the online radios, you get bored to confusion. And when you browse to the cauldron of social media, you really experience the depth of that divide. The most consequential election is around the corner but it probably should not be a surprised to many Gambians that we might actually earn our way to a united coalition after many bruises and frustrations along the way by “Gambian time” sharp 11:59pm at worst case scenario.

However, at the core of everything, Gambian online celebrity prognosticators are at work again claiming not to be belonging to— neither here —nor there— but everywhere, Inculcating Gambians with a sense that the Diasporia is the enemy of progress instead of Yaya Jammeh and his IEC. That is not a recipe for ensuring unity and harmony but eventually, we hope they will come back to reality walking back many of their provocative positions almost daily until they get to where all our hearts are to rally behind the unity line. Every in-depth conversation or facts that were once based on merit, is now devolve into animosity with lingering bitterness— by people engaged in sloganeering and self- aggrandizement campaign against a particular candidate. This upcoming presidential elections yarns for unity in order to encourage Gambians to grow out of fear, more hopeful about their future, and be influence by the dire conditions on the ground to cast that vote of “NO” to dictatorship. We should all be encouraging the Gambians to take on the rotten system because we all agree that we are not in pleasant times but in darkest days of terror. Let’s not kid ourselves, every Gambian knows far more than they will admit — Yaya Jammeh is bad news for Gambia and we need to put all our energy behind one candidate to take on Yaya Jammeh.

The twenty-year odyssey of depression our country went through should become an urgent rallying cry for unity. Sound familiar? But the vitriol campaign of few surrogates have bring out one of the worst character traits of some Gambians— the self-centered who feel their name recognition will enable them to beat online radio listeners and news site readers into submission. Sometimes, though, those who think they are the smartest planners or have an incredible insight of things, lose sight of what matters most. Such people are suddenly empowered to enforce their views on us as if we are their subordinates in the barracks. Rather than jump on the bandwagon, take into account their uncompromising resistance of a qualified independent candidate and if you don’t think that the rigid resistance from some people over the past week wasn’t a bit over the top, challenge yourself to imagine: the hope that those political prisoners across the country, the extraordinary challenges our mothers face daily making ends meet, and probability waking up with the worst dictator in the history of our country in state house.

Lastly, I want to narrate an event during which a man came hurling obscenities to a scholar sitting among his students. Everybody seems to be surprised that the scholar didn’t utter a word back to the man insulting him. When the man left, the students asked him “Why didn’t you say anything or let us do something”? He responded. If I responded to him, then how would I explain the chapter with the verse “…when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace”. The lesson we derive from that episode is, lets continue our work on uniting all the candidates on a united front — to lead the way to victory. We should all be working hard together to unite all the candidates under one ticket just as we do to help repatriate a dead body or funds to assist a Gambian in need. We all should be highly motivated to put our difference aside for Gambia too, genuinely open to finding shared common ground, help turned the anger and frustration of Gambian people into a winning strategy to end dictatorship.

Gambians prefer the vision of government we can finally trust to move us closer to the freedom we yearn for on December 2nd, reconcile our differences and showcase our belief in ourselves as one indivisible nation. We do not have the time to counterbalance autocratic impulse because our challenges are mounting each day when Yaya Jammeh sits behind that desk. Manipulating Gambians into believing misleading stories leaves behind broken glasses on your pathway on your way back to reality. One lone individual Gambian politician does not have all the answers and cannot build back all our broken institutions, bring in developmental projects, implement new energy systems to solve the electricity crisis, new interstate highways to connect the whole country, new recycling systems to clean up our neighborhoods, better healthcare systems and a government that works for all. Those are things that we have to do together working in unity. We need a president who shall treat our state house with dignity and respect, and would not allow the monumental problems of petty divisiveness to undermine their optimism and confidence in executing their duties with decorum. So Gambians beware of going it alone and lets not pay attention to non-issues to divide us.

By habib ( A concerned Gambian)