Lately, a lot of chit chat aimed to malign you and your rainbow government has gone under the bridge. Many have and will continue to be tough on you not to disparage but entreat you to deliver the best for new Gambia. Information is power. It liberates. But it also enslaves. Unfortunately, new Gambia is caught in a treacherous information cross-fire which threatens to lacerate its social web, undermines its stability, security, new found democracy and development. Regrettably, blame has been unduly apportioned on the diaspora as being bossy, unpatriotic and misrepresenting national interest.
When all hope was lost and the fight was fierce, the diaspora was the darling of the nation. It not only led and took the fight to the doorsteps of the dictator and relevant stakeholders who exerted pressure on monster Jammeh but provided finance and moral support for you and your MOU colleagues. Similarly, there are some who gave up their lives for us to be free today. They knew and believed despite one’s tribe, religion and political affiliation, no Gambian was exempted from Jammeh’s death squad. Others in the background who opted not to be seen of men equally gave their all for our freedom. They are here in the diaspora and did not expect any return for their deeds, time and resources. Therefore to box all diaspora Gambian activists under a single tag is dishonest, ungrateful and appalling.
Albeit, you have erred in the past and has gone back to right them manifest your admirable leadership quality. Your Banjul rally also gave me a lot of solace that with time we notice and appreciate the much expected delivery from you. You emerged authoritative, focus and ready to right not only the wrongs of a 22 years repressive government but desk the Gambia where every Gambian will be proud of.
Furthermore, you have vividly demonstrated that sceptics will not derail you and above all you have a thick skin for criticisms. This you manifested by encouraging your cabinet to allow the media do its job unpoliced. I am not a journalist and had no formal or informal training in the industry but I know there is a thin margin between informing a people and being sensitive to their feelings. Some are in it for money, others for fame and a few to inform, educate and entertain. Occasionally, one is caught in the heat of the moment and tends to lose their moral and ethical barometers in the process. But to deliberately tune the drums of instability and violence is callous and selfishly immoral.
New Gambia is in mourning and grieving period as a result of chilling unearthing of Jammeh’s unsettling atrocious. Yes, it not an excuse to issue a blanket leeway to you and your government but efforts should be directed in helping the nation heal, reconcile and brace the gnawing revelations yet unborn. We need to responsibly guide the government to succeed in transforming what we all fought for into visual reality. Holding a government responsible does not punctuate blinding its citizens with hate.
Identify the errors and provide alternation means to right the wrongs. Focus on the issues and not the personality of leaders. They are humans just like us with fears, dreams and shortfalls. Therefore to expect them to act godly is unrealistic and malicious. Mr President, Einstein postulated “peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order-in short, of government”. In other words, it is prudent and helpful if your government avoids been seen as radiating rays of constitutional disregard and abuse of office. Many still find the continued vacancy of the Vice President’s office unjustifiable.
The minister of Interior, Mai Ahmad Fatty admitted, “We in the leadership remain aware of the difficulties in the land. We urge all Gambians to bear with us. Ideas shall be sourced from all quarters on how to put our nation on a path of integrity and prosperity”. Another caressing reassurance from a minister. However, there is already a fountain of ideas readily available for resourcing.
We should stop perceiving one another as strange bedfellows. Every day, both Gambians at home and in the diaspora freely give productive ideas and suggestions as to hoe to steer our fragile nation to safe shores but no evidence of them being taken on-board. We have allowed partisan politics to drive a wedge between us at the detriment of nation peace, stability, unity and development. Our political leaders and governments will come and go but Gambia will remain.
Sulayman Jeng
Birmingham, UK
