By Demba Baldeh
Gambia’s political story in the last two decades is one that should no longer be a mystery to any conscious and well informed citizen. In every society it is the moral responsibility of its citizens to take the mantle of leadership and stand up to defend the sovereignty of the nation not only from external aggression but internal forces bend on destroying the basic fabrics of the society. When Yahya Jammeh accidentally found himself in power in 1994, citizens rallied around him, praised him, gave him the benefits of the doubt and some played the wait and see game. Some of the most experienced and supposedly politically conscious citizens rushed to his aid dishing a system they have been a part of for almost three decades. Nothing was unusual about that as change is exciting and it comes with sensationalism, optimism and hope. What was unprecedented was how many of our citizens were willing to work under a leader who illegally took over power and imposed himself on the people.
It did not take too long before the young Jammeh who had a hidden agenda bigger than he ever could imagine studied the Gambian psyche and understood how to play his game well. Citizens who have gotten used to free access to resources they did not own without accountability coalesced around him hopping to get a glimpse of the young leader and vie for the national cake. Jammeh, who has seen up close how the old system allowed few privileged citizens to enjoy unfettered access with their positions, realized that the majority Gambian only care enough about themselves and what they can personally benefit from government. He concluded that very few Gambians will stand up to defend his or her brother, sister, neighbor or fellow citizen no matter the circumstances.
The Gambian leader’s big dreams appeared to have come true; he now could control state power, hire and fire anyone he wants and impose any system of government on Gambians without resistance. From political leaders, civil society groups, unions, and security personnel to ordinary independent citizens no one showed any sign of resistance to anything that originates from the State House. He was effectively transformed into an absolute President who controls every aspect of State power and makes decisions without regard to constitutional provisions or due process. He planted seeds of discord among the security apparatus, change personnel overnight, arrested and imprisoned many without any strong legal, civil or political challenge to his irrational decisions and quest to have absolute control over the country. This emboldened Yahya Jammeh to launch his business ambitions. He started seizing personal land, turn state enterprises into his own personal businesses and appointed his own clan men to not only protect his power but his determination to turn the country into his personal property.
One of Jammeh’s most successful strategic schemes is the one that forces citizens who could present resistance to his ambitious governing agenda abroad for self-exile. He employed arrest, intimidation and harassment of those citizens who eventually fled the country leaving more space for his divide and conquer. He successfully forced all those who could potentially resist his rule and passed draconian laws to contain the rest of the political establishment and the media. He solidly consolidated his power which has sustained him for twenty years now without any sign of weakness.
While Gambians continue to celebrate our individual successes and throw lavish parties especially in the Diaspora, Yahya Jammeh continue to dangerously consolidate power by surrounding himself with people no one imagined could control a flock of sheep much less manage government institutions. Jammeh’s provoking and blatant appointment of his tribesmen to top security institutions is not by accident. What rationale explains why the Gambian President would appoint Yankuba Badjie an uneducated individual who could not even fill out his own job application forms while in the United States as Director of National Intelligence? what reason could any honest Gambian give for appointing Saul Badgie as Major General and head of security who is reportedly from Casamance the southern region of Senegal, how about Ousman Badjie Chief of Defense Staff just to name a few? There is absolutely no doubt that Jammeh appointed these people simply because of his tribal affiliation with them. His efforts to personalize the Gambian nation as explained by his cousin Pa Bojang is something Gambians must take seriously.
The lack of strong resistance to Jammeh’s rule and his strong hold on to power can be traced to few problems Gambians exhibit. The lack of concern, willingness to sacrifice and indifference to the dangerous political slippery slope Gambia found itself squarely rest on our citizens. Many of us do not see any need to stand up and defend what is left of our country. We found ourselves too comfortable in the West to speak against or join the bitter fight against political oppression in Gambia. We have all become complacent with the status quo excusing that we are helpless in fighting against Jammeh and his clan. Our sad story resembles the story of the four men which were named “Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done”.
This is our typical Gambian story today where every citizen appears to be blaming everybody else but ourselves for the failures to exert pressure and or forcefully challenge Jammeh’s weak regime. As citizens we all must realize that thestops with us and until we are able to attach ourselves directly to the political oppression in Gambia, change is nowhere near. Until we realized that the denial of one citizen’s rights is a denial of our collective rights we are likely to continue on this route for many more years. As Obama says “we are the ones we have been waiting for” and time is of the essence to rescue our country from the clutches of tyranny.