Analysis-Politics
Yahya Jammeh, corrupt despot, criminal, brutal kleptocrat
By CAPTAIN SANA B. SABALLY, Germany
Gambians no longer accept Jammeh’s grandstanding as a so-called freedom fighter now turned politician. They now accept him for what he is. A despot who has become a negation of the values and principles of freedom fighters and good leadership, a plutocrat who buys Gambians with his wealth, a dictator who brutalizes Gambians and denies them basic human rights and economic opportunities. So what is it that the people of the Gambia want? It is our submission that at the core of the Gambian crisis are issues of good leadership, good governance, and legitimacy.
Sana B. Sabally & Yahya Jammeh
You can´t make an omelet without breaking eggs.” Ready or not? “Gambian oppositions” candidates for change – September 2011 Gambian elections. How are we going to achieve what we want? There is a Wollof saying; “kou bouga akara degaa nyemegne kaani.”
It is Allah and the Gambia they will serve with sincere (and exclusive) devotion and patriotism. These Gambians will not seek their own advantage. They will serve Allah and humanity to whose service we are devoted. The Gambia is greater than our personal problems. It is now a matter of sticking together.
Feelings and mere figments of the imagination are no substitute for facts and truth. The “Defection of Ousman Jatta (aka Rambo) from the Opposition UDP to the ruling party APRC” is filling the airwaves/Internet and topics of discussions today in relation to The Gambia. One lot say one thing, the other lot says exactly the opposite. There are two sides to everything. You can never see both sides until you stop accusing and humbly listen to the other person instead. Instead of jumping to conclusions, we should give the person the benefit of the doubt and reserve our judgment until all the facts can be known.
No Happy Ending
Not all the governments have happy endings. From December 2010 – January 2011, in Tunisia, the world saw the popular unrest, a historical opportunity that presented itself to administer a knockout blow to the authoritarian structure bequeathed by President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali that led to the fall of President Ben Ali and government. Demonstrators are to the end demanding that all members of the Ben Ali RCD party be excluded from any future administration. Four opposition ministers quit the provisional cabinet just one day after it was formed, demanding the exclusion of RCD ministers. The RCD has also dissolved its central committee. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, interim President Fouad Mebazaa - the speaker of the lower house of parliament - and several ministers quit the RCD trying to distance themselves from Mr. Ben Ali. Why would these former big wigs of former/deposed president Ben Ali´s party want to distant themselves from their former master? The answer is simple; personal interests: only because they want to still stay in power.
Betrayed by a Friend
I had always thought to myself, “It is hard enough to deal with enemies, but far harder to face the fact of betrayal by a close friend.” I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you (can) eventually learn to trust
no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. When the center cannot hold, (let) things fall apart!
Good and Bad Friends:
[We know] Good timber is strong in itself and can support roofs and buildings. Hollow timber is useless, and has to be propped up against other things. The Bad Friends are like rotten timber. They have no firm character themselves, and for others they are unsafe props to rely upon.
Bad Friends at all times are very kind and plausible people. They present a fine exterior (as if it is real/true friendship); they try to win the confidence of every one, as they have no scruples in telling lies, and apparently expressing agreement with every one. Their words are fair-spoken, and as truth does not check their tongues, their flattery and deception know no bounds. But all this is on the surface / outside. As they have no sincerity, nothing that they say or do is worth anything.
Everything happens for a reason, even if we cannot see and understand this reason. As stupid and insulting as it may seem; do we envisage one day to see the defection of any of the opposition Political Party leaders to the ruling APRC and or vice-versa, for example Yahya Jammeh defecting to any of the Opposition Parties? Yahya Jammeh, like the Ben Ali RCD members, will change colours just to stay in power! Ousman Jatta (Rambo) said; "If you cannot beat the system, then join the system to do your contribution." Ousman Jatta (Rambo) has here plagiarized! Words of….. Hahahaha! The late Mr. Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, Mr. (Uncle) Lamin Waa Juwara and Ousman Jatta (Rambo) have their genuine reasons to walk away and work with the APRC, which reasons we may not agree with or readily understand. But would the defection only stop with Ousman Jatta? May be yes, may be not! If true, another defector is Ismaila Gitteh, the UDP Youth Mobiliser and candidate for the London Corner Ward in the local government election in the Serekunda Central Constituency. How many more to follow? Defection (switching allegiance) is nothing but changing sides, and I believe this is entirely a personal decision that others must respect. There are some/many of us (We belong to the Revolutionary Groups!) who do not belong to any political party, yet we ARE NOT sitting on the fence, like the hypocrites Mmuzabzabiina (Holy-Quran: 4: v143)`` (They are) wavering/swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor those,`` who clearly distance themselves from the opposition parties and or the ruling party as if they do not care. Of course, they do. They have sought political asylum on the grounds that they were hounded out of the Gambia by Yahya Jammeh´s government, but they don’t want any body to know or talk about it. It is really shameful! They are trying to hide behind some anonymous (fake and strange asylum) names! Enjoy the fun of “fooling yourselves.” It’s not Yahya Jammeh in person that we hate but his system. There will be no more hatred if he gives us-our ship of State a good leadership steering and in the right direction. To a great or lesser degree, all of us have something about our own looks and activities that we don’t like. So it is towards other people. It’s not wrong to hate when we hate what is wrong. It’s possible that hatred can be a comfort when the alternative is grief.
Why should we hide ourselves, hide our hatred for the way Yahya Jammeh is ruling The Gambia? They hide because they want to be visiting the Gambia peacefully from outside. Its like in the proverb, ``Hunting with the hounds and running with the hares.`` We belong to the Revolutionary Groups! What would we call that if such (a) person(s) decide(s) to join one political party of his/her/their choice(s)? Defection or simply Joining? Defection (switching allegiance) is only a means of neutralizing the opponent, and buying of potentials from the opponent’s party in the game/field of politics. But the results are something else! Can any one help me to know from the history books where someone moved from the ruling APRC to either of the opposition parties? Isn’t that also a defection? Simply put, “there are many ways to kill a cat.” Or “everybody has a price.” These are proverbs. Proverbs are wise, meaningful sayings handed over from generation to generation. This is true plagiarism! History would have since died if there were no plagiarism! As babies, we learn to talk by imitating and repeating what we hear (d) others speak/spoke or say/said. Today we are able to preserve what we learn (e.g. as Mandinkas, Fulas, Jolas, etc… we all learn the Wollof dialect) also to say it to others. What is that process but plagiarism! If it’s a badge of ignorance, I am very proud to wear it! It is not what a man says about himself, or what others say of him, that determines judgment about him. It is what he is in himself. His own personality betrays him or commends him. One thing I am sure of: I’m not special. I’m not perfect. We are all human. None of us is infallible.
Friend or foe
During the Boer War (1899-1902), a man was convicted of a very unusual crime. He was found guilty of being a ``discourager.`` The South African town of Ladysmith was under attack, and this traitor would move up and down the lines of soldiers who were defending the city and do everything he could to discourage them. He would point out the enemy’s strength, the difficulty of defending against them, and the inevitable capture of the city. He didn’t use a gun in his attack. It wasn’t necessary. His weapon was the power of discouragement. He couldn’t do it, so he wants no other to do it. (In Wollof; Mouna gou maa dem, waye kenen dou dem,) He is no worse than the people who are going around spreading tales of hatred among (Gambians abroad) the very people they are hoping to lead tomorrow. If we continue like this, Yahya Jammeh would then be there for ever! I’d kindly suggest that we go to YOUTUBE and listen to Youssou Ndour’s tracks, titled; “African Legends-Youssou N’dour in London 2, and African Legends-Youssou N’dour in London 3.`` There is one or two things to learn from this: (in Wollof):
“Lekkoo chi dab-li, bouga chi kouppo Souff (x2),
Waww, boo chi lekkut lit, bouga ko hagne kenen
A´nyagne …. Yallah moye mayyeh
Mouna gou maa dem, waye kenen dou dem,
Hammal neh bou yonn jehoul, waahou sil dou jekh….”
Encouragement, on the other hand, can be a powerful friend. It strengthens the weak, imparts courage to the fainthearted, and gives hope to the faltering. One of the greatest contributions we can have is to lift the spirits of fellow Gambians who are ready to sacrifice their all for the freedom of all.
PRT II.
Counterpoint-not only harmony in music but in politics
In the ongoing discussions about Gambian Opposition Political Parties´ Unity/Alliance, I’d say that “The key to a good and genuine unity or alliance is that “All Gambians Oppositions Shall Become One.” If anyone counters by asking ``Yes, but which one?`` Is it possible to be ``one`` without sacrificing our individuality?
Consider the musical term counterpoint--``the combination of two or more independent melodies into a single harmonic texture in which each retains its linear character.`` In Gambia Police/Army Band’s ``The Gambia National Anthem,`` a moving assorted instruments accompaniment (which sounds like a simple finger exercise) is set against a beautiful melody. Together they form a single piece without losing their distinctiveness.
I will here instruct that Followers to submit to their leaders, and Leaders to show their Followers understanding and honour. The apostle Peter said, ``Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing.``(1 Peter : vv. 8-9)
How can we become one? Only through kindness and love, tolerance and forgiveness; never by selfishness and retaliation. In the mystery of political unity, God allows each Opposition political party to be a unique melody. And in concert together, they become a beautiful harmony (Government: Opposition alliance) in the hearts and minds of the population. Harmony is pleasing in music and in life; what beauty when it resonates in Leaders and in Followers.
What Good Leadership Requires
The Gambia, fighting for survival, needed a good and compassionate leader. Gambians, be sure to choose and follow the right leader. Controlling other people’s lives is not a godly leader’s trait; but serving other people’s needs is what the Almighty God considers great.
What the law can’t do- “to remove Jammeh!
Removing Jammeh is (as the Americans say) “a piece of cake”. The Gambians must first consider who will be successors to the (Yahya Jammeh) government who forfeited their rights by wrong-doing.
All of us must get out of the rut of just talking big about ways and writing articles of how and why Jammeh must go, but doing nothing about it. It is not only Jammeh who is the problem, but more us (ourselves). We are the real problem. We all say, “Jammeh! Jammeh! Jammeh!” That´s one side of the coin. On the other side, is where we should honestly say, “We! We! We!” No law, being it National or International, will come and help remove Yahya Jammeh! Until Gambians take a principled stand together as one, to fight and remove Yahya Jammeh system out of the political map of the Gambia, no meaningful and long term solutions will be found to the crisis Gambia finds itself in today.
Freedom is not Free!
Justice: someone has to pay…. Is the sacrifice of our lives and properties really enough to “make free” our nation? We may forget that throughout history, people have intuitively felt that sacrifice was needed to free them from slavery and or injustices…
Our experience proves one thing: National Sacrifice is True Patriotism. Justice: someone has to pay…. In Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, one man, Mouhammed Bouazizi 26, a graduate who couldn’t get a formal job, honourably took to selling vegetables and fruits in the street to make ends meet. The City Council Agents confiscated his items saying he has no permit. The Police barred him from seeing the Governor. Out of desperation, he doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire, dying in the next days in hospital. His death sparked a great wave of popular unrest by the people that led to the fall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled the country for 23 years. Mohammed Bouazizi is being hailed today as a National Hero and the people are asking that the Ben Ali Revolution’s Day “7 November Street” be changed to “Mohammed Bouazizi Street” in his honour. One man sacrificed his life for the freedom of millions! He was not alone. The people united and stood by him and chased the Ben Ali government out. Dictators are the biggest cowards one can ever find on earth. This teaches one thing, and only one thing: Power Belongs to the People. “Self-reliance and Self-responsibility—not tyranny and oppression-are the ultimate “Foundation for True Democracy.”
Only the application of brute and naked force used continuously and ruthlessly can bring about the decision and change in favour of the side it supports.
Complete self-sacrifice, if voluntarily offered has a meaning; it means that the person’s devotion is exclusively and completely for the Cause. But no rule or law can demand it. A mere offer to kill yourself has no meaning. You should be ready to take risks to your life in fighting for the Cause, but you should aim at life, not death.
Allah uses human agency for our own problems and advancement. The need to be able to stand up and serve the Gambia’s Cause is ours-as Genuine Gambians.
September 2011 will see the Gambians go to the Polls. What do you think of the opposition candidates-presidential hopefuls? Many said, “None of them seems to have any humility. They couldn’t do it, so they want no other to do it. And the oppositions´ leaderships are personalized and very weak, to put up any meaningful fight against the Yahya Jammeh political camp.” There is a Wollof saying; “Kou Bouga Akara Degaa Nyemegne KAANI.” I’d add that, ``True greatness does not lie with those who strive for worldly fame; it lies instead with those who choose to serve humanity as servants.” I’ll remind us that “God’s Truth has no relatives., “when the UDP-USA chapter put up a defensive debate in response to Uncle Falai Baldeh´s observation about the entire Gambian opposition leadership, when he also said (if my memory serves me right) ``They couldn’t do it, so they want no other to do it.” On the other hand, the UDP USA chapter very respectfully avoided putting on the dissecting table the terminally ill body of the Gambian “Oppositions´ Political Confusion`` when they centered the whole discussing on Uncle Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and not the party/parties. Intolerance and Contempt create misunderstanding and division. We should handle all situations with our cool heads rather than the hot tempers. It is now a matter of sticking together. Gambians need objectivity. I have an observation: For example, if as the UDP USA Chapter is saying “Nobody should criticize our leader, Ousainou Darboe!” And the other legal opposition parties including the ruling APRC also say the same for their leader(s). And at the top of it all, All Gambians say the same for their/our leader/president, Yahya Jammeh. Then who will talk about/against who? Politics is nothing but finger-pointing to each other and trying to outsmart each other. If we talk about anybody i.e. those aspiring for leadership roles in our country, we are simply talking and trying “to know whether one is coming, or standing, or going.”
In Cairo-Egypt, the opposition leader, Mohamed El-Baradei said; “I will continue to protest. I will demonstrate until the regime falls…”
In Kombo Brikama-Gambia, the opposition leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe said; “We shall effect peaceful change in this country. I am calling for a genuine change of government in this country. This country is a democratic land, where change must be effected in peaceful atmosphere. …..to restore the country’s lost glory, dignity, and democratic values….”
The first step is always the hardest. Business before pleasure. The Gambian opposition should and must know that, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.” If you like, “No Gain, No Pain!” I believe that we cannot change Yahya Jammeh´s system until we change what is really in our hearts. I just want to remind us that the likes of Nelson Mandela (then Apartheid South Africa) and Maitre Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) are lawyers like Ousainou Darboe when they stood against the governments of their time. These two used all that was in their powers to bring about a change. You have to know your enemy and his tactics. You have to meet your enemy squarely on his own terms and conditions. They eventually succeeded by the Law through the Polls, but not without “Fire for Fire.” Freedom is not free! We also have Tunisia in mind!
Part III: The Company You Keep
A good partner can make or break your life. Some friends build you up, and others tear you down. That’s true for people in influential positions as well. “Politics make strange bedfellows, “they say, because a politician must work with people from various political factions, whether they are genuine or not, whether he or she admires them or not. I’d advice that the heads of all opposition political parties to pledge to steer completely clear of all shady alliances. Gambians want a clean administration, from the top down. How are we going to achieve what we want? It is our submission that national interest should take precedence over narrow and selfish interests. Opposition members should be allies, not adversaries. It is essential that opposition political parties (if they are serious, determined and genuine) do not compete against each other in elections. I’d say that ``If anyone desires to be first, he/she should be last of all and servant of all. The question of which opposition party leader should be the “Flag Bearer (of an Alliance)” should be decided by a plebiscite. Gambians´ opposition politicians should not allow the Jammeh regime to reinvent, regenerate, and succeed itself. If this happens, it will mean the Jammeh regime rules for another 5 years. This must be stopped by any means necessary. Gambians no longer accept Jammeh’s grandstanding as a so-called freedom fighter, now turned politician. They now accept him for what he is. A despot who has become a negation of the values and principles of freedom fighters and good leadership, a plutocrat who buys Gambians with his wealth, a dictator who brutalizes Gambians and denies them basic human rights and economic opportunities. So what is it that the people of the Gambia want? It is our submission that at the core of the Gambian crisis are issues of good leadership, good governance, and legitimacy. Our country is ruled by a corrupt, incompetent, criminal, and brutal kleptrocracy, which has retained power through fraudulent elections. We do not want any further polls in our country under the current constitutional and electoral framework. We want a new people-driven democratic constitution, electoral law reforms and legislative changes that allow for the holding of free and fair elections.
Political actors and hypocrites
Today many voices are crying out from radios and TVs, Online-Newspaper Outlets, personal visits, and singing “Follow me! I have the Truth. I am the Best.” It’s a cacophony of confusion that often leads people astray. Many are merely “hypocrites and blind leaders of the blind.” Appearances can be deceiving. People never look like what they are. Of some unscrupulous politicians I’d say that if we could see them as they really are, “They would be sitting there at dinner party with daggers in their teeth.” To all outward appearances they are upstanding citizens, yet they are hypocrites to the core. The root meaning of hypocrite is “actor,” one who plays a role. In ancient theatres, each actor played several parts. To change identities, he would simply wear a different mask. I will call these types of politicians of Gambia “hypocrites.” They are changing masks and putting on a performance to win the applause of the community, but they didn’t care what they are like deep inside. They pretend to be what they’re never. A false life never goes with a true leadership. Gambians aren’t impressed by the masks we wear to get approval. Instead, we follow those leaders who give themselves in love and total service to the people. I will warn that we are very careful and not act like these hypocrites, who perform their political “duties/campaigns” only to be seen of others. Oh, how we fear to drop our masks! We know so well what lies within. We have had two national betrayals (PPP and APRC) in our country’s political life. These experiences should make us vow that we would do all in our power to prevent further political conflict, political failures and moral decadence in the Gambia. These experiences should teach us to be very skeptical of elderly/former politicians who are very happy to sacrifice the lives of gullible and impressionable youths to achieve their own selfish political ends. Surprisingly, openly and secretly, these former/elderly politicians are standing by on the sideline still (“warming up” as if in a football field) and are still asking for a “comeback” to the political field! Is 30 years not enough? What “new thing” could they now offer the Gambians that they have failed to in 30 years? It reminds one of the former president of Senegal, Mar Abdou Diouf, after suffering a defeat in the polls, he said, after realizing that he was flattered, “I never knew a 10g sachet of powdered milk costs (Fouk-ki Derem) 0.50 francs (CFA). How I wish you (Senegalese) gave me another chance….” They (also) have nothing good left that they can offer Gambians. They are only “Actors” and “Hypocrites,” merely changing masks and putting on a performance to win the applause of the community, but they didn’t care what they are like deep inside.
A stand-up comedian has provided a couple of one-liners that, when combined, can provide us with a spiritual parallel. He said, “I looked high and low for you, but I didn’t look low enough.” He also joked, “I have a considerate doctor. If you can’t afford the operation, he touches up the x-rays.” If we put those two together and make it refer to the same person, what do we have? A description of someone who is so low that he wouldn’t hesitate to alter the truth to make you feel better. He will use exaggerated praise to win the affection and good-will of people by telling them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. We must recognize such insincere character and be very careful to avoid it. Aspiring leaders of our Great Nation must not be hypocrites who wouldn’t mind to stoop so low as to “doctor up” the facts just to gain the support of his listeners. Gambians should value and love themselves. I am not a politician! I am not against politics - just insincere politicians. Are we so committed to pleasing God that we would never give false praise/talks to gain the approval of others? Flattery is no joke, even if it does get you a smile. Politicians-why do we flatter those we want to lead? We try to please each one we see and meet. But we should never traffic in the sin of insincerity. “Flattery can get you anywhere,” some say. But flattery – the art of making someone fell good by stretching the truth – can be downright harmful. It can leave a trusting friend much unprepared for troubles ahead. Instead of flattering, we should warn a friend where he or she is headed.
Reliable politicians and leaders will always point us to God, the way, the truth, and the law, and not to themselves. Otherwise, they are merely blind leaders of the blind. There are many ways of telling a lie. Some people who pride themselves on never speaking a falsehood would be amazed if they would begin to recount the number of lies they sing each day on their political campaign trail. Good politicians are to be channels of national unity, true love and truth, not maliciousness and lies.
Today, and every day—let’s choose with great care the leaders we follow. A good leader knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way.
I/We Pray: God grant me/us the serenity to accept the things I/We cannot change; courage to change the things I/We can; and the wisdom to know the difference.