The world Health Organization describes it as the “deadliest virus” outbreak ever which kills over 90% of its victims. It has an incubation period of 21 days to fully blown and kill its victims. Already over 4,000 patients possibly more have died of the deadly virus in West Africa. Countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea all within the West African region are the most affected. Leaders of these countries cancelled their visits to the US Africa summit and the United Nations’ 69th General Assembly to mobilize their citizens and resources to combat the deadly disease. They have warned that if the virus is not contained within a reasonable time these countries face economic catastrophes and collapse of law and order. The entire world is on emergency alert for Ebola which has the potential to wipe out an entire population.
In light of the seriousness and threat of this virus which has started spreading to the West with two cases in the United States and one in Spain, Millions of dollars and other resources have been deployed to stop this deadly virus on its tracks. Experts have warned that Ebola can and have the potential to spread to any part of the world because of global integration and travels anywhere in the world. It is a threat even to the most advanced nations with state of the Earth healthcare systems. Poor nations such as the Gambia are incredibly vulnerable to the spread of such a disease.
Yet, despite all these threats, despite the looming failed crop season in the Gambia due to late commencement of the rainy season, the Gambian President was out spending millions of dollars celebrating an illegal military takeover that brought him to power. He brought together hundreds if not thousands of people including people who traveled from a country (Guinea) battling the virus and others with potential exposure to the deadly Ebola. Yahya Jammeh invited several expensive opportunistic musicians across West Africa and a Religious zealot known for his controversial preaching from India.
These musicians include Vivianne; Sekouba Bambino, Koumba Gawlo, Thione and Waly Seck, Pierre Ouza, Adiouza, Aida Samb and Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah. Bambino is from Guinea, he and all his band members could have potentially been exposed to the deadly Ebola virus which ravaged their country. Apart from that it would cost at least half a million dalasis (D500,000) of taxpayers’ money to bring each of these musicians to an event at a time when the whole world is worried about the spread of this virus through contacts. Should this be the time for any leader with common sense and concern for the safety of his or her people to gather musicians in a wasteful event? How much does Yahya Jammeh care about the Gambian people and their future? Whose name was heard and praises sang without historic reference to his background? How many Quarantine labs and protective gowns for healthcare workers can those millions purchase?
God forbid if Ebola were to break out in Gambia how would Yahya Jammeh protect the Gambian people? What kind of healthcare system do we have in Gambia that can even protect our own healthcare workers and schools? How could he have the moral audacity to face any nation and beg for assistance? Who stood up at the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York and blamed the West for sinking boats carrying African youths through the “back way” for economic reasons? How many jobs and educational scholarships would $1.5 million dollars allegedly paid to an Indian Radical Islamic scholar Dr Naik accord for Gambian youths who hopelessly leave their nation due to economic hardship and die in large numbers trying to reach Europe? Where is Dr Naik’s moral conviction, religious justification and teachings for him to attend an event with half nude dancing men and women? Where do you draw the line between accepting payments for an event and standing up for what is morally and religiously acceptable? How dare African leaders like Yahya Jammeh have the guts and straight face to blame the West for Africa’s dilemma when they continue to act irresponsible and neglect their people?
African leaders never fail to amaze the world. How come African leaders don’t stand up for what is morally right to protect the integrity of their people? What moral justification do the Senegalese President Macky Sall and Guinea Bissau’s newly elected President have to attend celebration of an illegal military coup of an elected government? How many military coups did Guinea Bissau went through and is there anything that justifies those coups? It is disappointing to say the least for Macky Sall to fail to defend what is legitimate and what is not. Yahya Jammeh has effectively boxed Sall in the corner forcing him to attend an event that bears the hallmarks of a dictator and an insult to democratic principles. Gambians must now come to terms that Yahya Jammeh is nothing but a clueless leader who is out of sync with current events in the world. He epitomizes the chronic leadership failures that have made Africa the laughing continent of the world. Until Africa stop producing such heartless and irresponsible leaders, the continent will continue to see its sons and daughters be treated like subhumans around the world. We pray that Gambia is safe from not only this deadly Ebola virus but leaders who have no sense of direction or empathy.
By Demba Baldeh