Mai Ahmad Fatty has said he has heard another opposition political leader who has made a much more damaging political statement, more grave than Hamat Bah’s.
Clarying on his official Facebook page after The Standard’s headline of him defending Hamat on Tuesday, Mr Fatty said: “I did not defend Hamat. I defended my views on Hamat’s perceived offensive statement. My politics is based on facts, principle and the truth. Just because many people adopted the position that “dirimo” or rat refers to Mandingkas, that doesn’t mean I have to slavishly follow the bandwagon. Everyone is entitled to his or her views. Based on the video that I watched, and the context within which the impugned statement was uttered by Hamat, I have a different interpretation on the matter.
“Hamat’s statement may be offensive but in my view, it would be wrong to say “dirimo” referred to the Mandingka tribe. It was a generic reference for the opposition. I condemn the inappropriate expression. Yet, we Mandingkas should not appropriate this word as our own. No one is more Mandingka than me, and I will not encourage anyone to insult my tribe or other tribes. Hamat did not specifically insult Mandingkas with the dirimo comment. He mentioned Fulas, Wollofs from Senegal, Sarahulays from Mali and Mandingkas from Kolda and Guinea Bissau, on the ID card saga. Interpreting it within context, to me “dirimo” meant the opposition. Mandingkas are not the only opposition leaders.
“I stand nothing to gain by ascribing falsehood and propagating it. My politics is not one based on falsehood. At GMC, that is not who we are.
“This isnt the first time Hamat complained about Fulas and ID cards. Hon. O.J Jallow as Minister & Mrs Tambajang once raised the issue at an official forum as Vice President in front of the President. I was at that formal meeting as Minister of Interior. Many people just rush with the flow. Leaders should not be easily carried away by the hullabaloo. I do not defend anyone or support anyone. I stand on issues as I understand them to be based on clear, objective, critical analytical assessment.
“I heard another opposition leader who made a much more damaging political statement in the past that we are all paying for, more grave than Hamat’s own. Truth be told, Gambians largely encourage frivolous behaviour in politics. Just listen to the dangerous diatribe via online TVs, radios, or various political party fora ( plural of forum). We created this monster and now we are shocked at our own political creation. Welcome to our own reality!”
He did not mention the name of the opposition leader who made a graver political statement than Hamat.
