AN OPEN LETTER TO FREEDOMNEWSPAPER.COM
“Stereotypes on tribal identification and supremacy could trigger misunderstanding and distrust between people”.
Lately, the undesirable postings by Mr. Bakary Bojang and “A Concerned Gambian” have prompted me to write an open letter to the publisher of Freedomnewspaper.com and his editorial board, and express my deep concerns and reservations about their focus and direction.
As an educator, I hereby caution the publisher of Freedomnewspaper.com and his editorial board about these deleterious assertions and intolerances, and kindly appeal to them to use professional judgment and integrity before printing inaccurate and tribal allegations. May I also ask: Can we be ONE GAMBIA?
These negative repetitive postings in the Freedomnewspaper.com may have impacted the journalistic integrity and direction of its editorial board. Correspondingly, these blatant and inaccurate assertions may have adversely wedged our collective reasoning and objectivity for the democratization in The Gambia.
Stereotypes on tribal identification and supremacy could trigger misunderstanding and distrust between people. Invariably, such categorizations may temporary or permanently erect evil and chaos between the Gambian people and her friends.
Since independence from Great Britain, several politicians in The Gambia have masqueraded around tribal politics in order to maintain the status quo. Some previous and current politicians may have even asked the following stereotypical questions:
- Who is this person?
- Where does this person come from?
- What tribe is this person?
- Is this person a Moslem or a Christian?
- Does this person speak my language?
As immigrants away from The Gambia, we have encountered all forms of stereotypes and discrimination in every part of our daily lives. I ask: Why then is the Freedomnewspaper.com part of such undesirable assertions on tribal politics and innuendos? I am particularly saddened by categorizing all Jolas as belonging to the “Jola Hegemony” and Mandinkas as part of the “First Republic”.
Paradoxically, there are some among us who are also prejudice in terms of unfounded judgments that could have lasting negative consequences on our progress. To say it bluntly, a prejudicial person usually asserts inaccuracies, and sarcastically distorts dissemination of information. Furthermore, a prejudicial person may even assemble some form of discomfort towards a group of people through disgust, hostility, and distrust. It is also possible that verbal, nonverbal, or written prejudicial statements could create uncertainties and lack of growth in any endeavor that a group is aspiring to accomplish.
As we celebrate the just concluded opposition victory in Nigeria, the Freedomnewspaper.com contributors are continually dividing Gambians on tribal politics. President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari had endured 31 years of pragmatism and four consecutive elections in Nigeria. President-elect General Buhari (rtd.) was finally heard by Nigerians because they continued to talk about his incorruptibility, discipline, and the hope of bringing a new direction to Africa’s most populous and largest economy. Why then should there be an age limit in order to run for the presidency of The Gambia or the tribal assertions in the Freedomnewspaper.com?
Senegal our sister country had also united behind one opposition candidate. Interestingly, the recent imprisonment of Karim Wade could propel him to the presidency of Senegal. For full disclosure, I am by no means questioning whether Karim had committed the crimes that were labeled against him.
In conclusion, I hope the publisher of Freedomnewspaper.com and his editorial board can critically assess their positive contributions, and consider using professional judgment and integrity before printing inaccurate and tribal allegations. We are ONE GAMBIA and collectively we should stand against the agents of tribal politics and division.
Yours Truly,
Dr. Lamine Jassey Conteh
Assistant Professor of Accounting