Tribalism: The Kettle Calling the Pot Black.

By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor

The so-called annual “Dialogue with the Farmers Tour” 2008 edition is history, and as expected, the whole exercise was shrouded in waste and short of substance. With the myriad of social and economic problems facing our country, the Tour schedule was replete with “victory celebrations” at the end of each day. Jammeh, it would appear, was more interested in the adulation of his ever-dwindling circle of supporters that in a genuine dialogue with farmers to discuss national interest issues in the face of the ever-skyrocketing commodity prices. This tour, therefore, like others before it, was used to berate public servants and rural residents into submitting to the whims and caprices of the demi-god Yahya Jammeh. And as usual, Jammeh said a lot of stupid things, but the one that stood out for me was the accusation of tribalism labeled against Hamat Bah, and the threat he made towards him. For a few brief moments after reading Jammeh’s angry outburst, I wandered whether Yahya Jammeh was living in a parallel universe or whether he has lost his sanity or both. For Yahya Jammeh to accuse anyone of tribalism is like “the pot calling the kettle black.” Yahya Jammeh’s tribalism is legendary and a cursory look at some of the top administrative positions in the regime over the past decade will confirm this. To illustrate Jammeh’s tribalism, here is a short story:

Kali had just landed at Yundum International Airport with an expired passport from Dakar. He was traveling on a very tight schedule, yet he had a lot of things he wanted to do before returning to Dakar, Senegal two days later. He took a taxi and headed straight for the Immigration offices in Banjul and asked if he wanted his passport renewed immediately who he should see? That would be Mr. Jola Colley, Sir, a uniformed officer whispered into his ear. Follow me and I will show you to his office a younger police officer interrupted. Before long, with a brand new passport, and poorer by a few hundred dalasis, Kali was in a taxi again headed for Police Headquarters. He arrived at the same time as a police convoy was parking along the curb. There was commotion all around. What is all this fuss about, Kali asked a police constable directing traffic in the area? That would be our boss, head of the entire police, The Police Commissioner, Jola Benedict Jammeh. After meeting his friend, Kali set out for the Local Government Ministry to discuss the purchase of land with none other than Jola Ismaila Sambou, SOS Local Govt. and Lands. Later, Kali left for the Quadrangle to meet an old college mate where he was introduced to Jola Modou Jarju, Director General NIA. Kali still had a few more places to go and was soon cruising in a taxi towards the Tourism Development area to meet an old friend at Leybato. By coincidence, Jola Fatim Badjie SOS Tourism was also visiting the area, and my friend introduced us. After about an hour, Kali was on the road again headed for Barra when an old friend suggested that they pass through the Trade Ministry where he was introduced to Jola Abdou Colley SOS Trade, Industry & Development. At the terminal was Jola General Lang Tombong Tamba, Head of the Military and he was surrounded by a contingent of military officers. While we were waiting for the ferry The Jola to take us across to Barra, an announcer informed us that The Jola had an engine malfunction and instead, the other ferry The Kanilai was coming to pick us up instead. The previous day, coming from Niamina, we passed The Asombo Police Station, The Kanilai Academy, and The Kanilai Science Academy, The Kanilai Zoo, The Kanilai Palace, Bwiam’s Sulayman Junkung Jammeh Hospital and other infrastructure found nowhere else in the country. For Jammeh to accuse Hamat Bah of tribalism is to be disingenuous? Jammeh must think again to know who the chronic tribalist is: himself or Hamat Bah?

………………………………………………………………………………………

In other things.

Wa Juwara’s defection, when it comes, will not surprise me, but Waa must climb down that fence now. He alone has to make that decision for himself. Meanwhile, we sit and wait for his next move. Which side of is he going to land? Stay tuned.

Dinga Halaku’s editorial about GPU and Ndey Tapha Sosseh was very annoying. Why is it her job to defend Ms. Badgie from criticism? Besides, the APRC regime now controls The Gambia Student Union, and they now want to control the GPU through the propaganda paper The Daily Observer. Where the hell was Halaku when the GPU was being founded by William Dixon Colley, Deyda Hydara, Demba Jawo, Suwaibou Conateh, Pap Saine and some of us who attended the occasional meetings back in the 80s and 90s?

Jammeh said he would no longer tolerate corruption. He made me laugh. Is he going to throw himself in prison? After all, he is the most corrupt individual in The Gambia today. Jammeh must look at the mirror first before accusing others in his regime of corruption. For sure, there is widespread corruption in his regime, but everyone else is just following his example.

Ha Yes, making Kaur a Regional Port? Why doesn’t Jammeh’s regime first build the roads between Serekunda and Sukuta and all across the country? Jammeh, you can take the Kaur Regional Port and shove it, you know where. You are just dumb ass empty head.

Like the nearly thirty Assembly members who Yahya swept aside just before the last elections in 2006, and the Alkalolu who are under the constant assault of the Commissioners, the Chiefs to have come under increasing pressure to serve Jammeh. Last week alone, Haruna Sabally, Jarra Central; Moro Jawla, Sami; Sambujang Jagne, Farafenni; and Kabiro Kanteh, Central Badibou; were all unceremoniously deposed from their positions. And Niamina West had a new chief installed in Penai, who was removed after less than a week. What kind of insanity is that? Doesn’t the regime do its homework before appointing civil servants?