By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-Chief
As we reminisce over the activities of The Gambia National Assembly vis-à-vis President Yahya Jammeh’s treatment of most of its members as a bunch of idiots or obedient boys whose arms could be twisted without incident, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta’s recent attempt at a Code of Conduct is frankly speaking, seminally nonsensical. Like his Speaker, Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay (FJC), Majority Leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta (FTJ) is a legislative ignoramus by every stretch of the imagination, an idiot by every measure of parliamentary evaluation and certainly, a puppet under a regime that has no respect for human and people’s rights. In sum, like most of his colleagues since the July coup, Hon. FTJ is an instrument of oppression and sabotage and will pay for the price on the day of reckoning.
In case you missed it, on March 12th. 2007 FTJ who now serves as that useless Assembly’s Majority Leader, told his colleagues that as representatives, it was imperative that all members comport themselves in the best way possible and observe general principles of conduct and to bear true allegiance to the country and people…to serve as a beacon of hope for others to emulate. He went on to argue, “members should be seen to be selfless, objective, accountable, open, honest in all our deliberations and ensure public trust and confidence in the integrity of the institution.” He then forcefully added, “gone are the days when National Assembly Members (NAMs) were humiliated and disrespected…many a time NAMS are humiliated in many forums in this country, some would not even recognize if one were a NAM or not”. In conclusion, Hon. FTJ cautioned his peers, “It behooves everybody to know that this is a very important institution and we are all out to respect ourselves, do our duties and then behave well in society…we would stop nowhere to ensure that we are respected.”
While Hon. FTJ’s statement is profoundly laudable, the truth of the matter is that, it is a façade conscious of the fact that at the end of the day, when Yahya Jammeh coughs, the majority in the Assembly catches severe cold. In sum, what we have in The Gambia is the real anti-thesis of what FTJ advocates in his Code of Conduct. As he succinctly laments, “NAMs are humiliated in many forums in this country, some would not even recognize if one were one or not.” Why so Hon. Jatta? Because The Gambia has ceased to be a democracy ever since Yahya Jammeh toppled the Jawara regime on that fateful Friday, July 22, 1994.And with due deference to those noble Gambians who have served honorably in the Legislature, and to those who continue to serve albeit, under very difficult circumstances, we wish to argue that The Gambia National Assembly is largely an extension of Yahya Jammeh’s Cabinet. This is precisely why FTJ noted the disrespect meted to its members in public functions. This reminds me of a local proverb that argues, “the manner a man comports himself determines his vulnerability to a hyena’s attack.” Precisely so! Since people like the Majority Leader have been convinced that “Parliament is the Second Arm of Government”, (see Point Newspaper, Wednesday 14th. March 2007 Edition) the most ridiculous utterance that belies total ignorance of government that I have ever heard throughout my years of schooling and teaching of this very subject thus far. No wonder, a quasi-political ignoramus like Yahya Jammeh can twist the arms of Gambia’s Parliament as he deems fit. Lest we pander to the didactic details of Political Science, it is instructive to state that in a truly democratic dispensation, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches, are seen as separate entities all committed to one common purpose- the good of the nation without fear or favor, affection or ill will. This is why some political theorists have argued that in truly democratic societies like Great Britain, the only thing that Parliament cannot do is to change a man to a woman, vice verser. Unfortunately, in Majority Leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta’s (FTJ’s) Parliament, the reverse is true. Like most things under Yahya Jammeh, the Gambia National Assembly is a praise singing body that puts the President’s interest above all else. This is why FTJ’s push for a Code of Conduct is a lack lustre attempt to fix a system that mimics Rawlings famous aphorism: “a broken train running towards a broken bridge”. You ponder the political fate of that mechanical beast! Therefore, armed with the blessings of hindsight we ask Hon. FTJ where were you when soldiers of The Gambia National Army butchered numerous school children and your Parliament granted them indemnity? Are you not ashamed that you and your spineless colleagues who never saw outside the four corners of Crab Island Junior Secondary School indemnified the utterly criminal operatives of Yahya Jammeh’s regime? Or was your vote to indemnify the executioners and all their cowardly accomplices in your estimation, the noble duty of parliamentarians? Was that why the people of Serekunda East voted for you Hon. FTJ?
Where were you Hon. FTJ when Baba Jobe, your all too powerful predecessor was arrested and tried before a kangaroo tribunal that ultimately led to the narrow escape of famed defence attorney Ousman Sillah? Were you happy with the manner Hon. Jobe was humiliated as a member of the Assembly? How come you never raised a finger or called for an emergency meeting to arrest the madness? Where were you when, Hon. Duta Kamaso was arrested, detained incommunicado for months leading to newspaper speculations that she was dead? Did you and your colleagues ever petition the dictator or even threatened to use the powers vested in you by the Gambian people in whom ultimate power resides? Where were you when Hon. Demba Dem was arrested in similar fashion and thrown behind the harrowing walls of Mile Two Central Prisons (Africa’s Hell on Earth)? Hon. Dem has since been charged with imaginary treasonable offences probably because he was not willing to be used like you and the rest. He is now allegedly wheelchair bound after severe torture in the hands of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA). And where were you when the Hon. Speaker Sheriff Mustapha Dibba was picked up by the NIA and grilled under most grueling and humiliating circumstances? President Jammeh subsequently sacked Mr. Dibba and not a single member of your party in Parliament raised a finger much more an eyebrow. Where were you when Minister Ousman Badjie’s wife slapped Hon. Ramzia Diab at the Banjul International Airport? If that had happened elsewhere, justice would have taken its proper course regardless of who Princess Badjie’s husband was. Hon. FTJ, I can continue to innumerate several other incidents to showcase your Assembly’s total ineptitude when it comes to the national interest. It is Jammeh’s interests that supersede all else at The Gambia National Assembly and you know that is unassailable. Hon. FTJ, “charity begins at home” is an old adage that still holds time and if you and your colleagues had set aside partisan politics and focused on the national interest, your Code of Conduct would have been uncalled for. The very objectives of your Code of Conduct are why the people had voted for you multiple times with the hopeful anticipation that the national interest overrides all else. Paradoxically, some of you have reduced yourselves to a level that even if Yahya Jammeh wanted a Bill to rename The Gambia, Jammeh Kunda or Kanilai it will be greeted with supersonic speed of parliamentary procedure and no doubt, overwhelming approval. This is why I see your call for a Code of Conduct infantile, immature and stupid. Never expect to be respected if you do not respect yourself. The Gambian people have no confidence in you and most of your colleagues because they know what you are cable of doing to soil the nation.
Hon. Jatta some of us who know you before your matriculation to politics have since predicated that your very nomination as an MP was ominous and we have been vindicated beyond any shadow of doubt. We remember you as a messenger at The Nigerian High Commission with your smoky motorbike, necktie and green attire criss-crossing the streets of Banjul. We also remember your boyhood days at Tallinding kunjang where you were a celebrated Fanal dancer. Bakary Tombong tit tit was a famous tune that saw you dancing to the last atom of your blood. Now all of a sudden you are a lawmaker and expect to be respected with magical speed. No, Hon. no, it does not work like that. This is why in truly democratic societies the minute biographical details of political aspirants are dug out and brought to the fore for the benefit of the people and not the President. This is why in the US and Great Britain for instance, lawmakers are respected because they carry respect. In these societies people do not vote for the President’s candidate but the People’s candidate. Unlike these places, you and most of your colleagues are not the people’s choice but the President’s chosen Fanal boys who can be picked up anytime by the NIA, beaten, tortured and sent to Mile Two and not a finger will be raised. This precisely explains why in most forums, you and some of your colleagues are not treated with respect because you do not deserve respect. With situations of the kind in question, we dare say, The Power of Ignorance- Fabakary who?