Hold all fire and pull back from your positions, brothers and sisters, comrades in the struggles against Dictator Yaya Jammeh. We have spent a whole week blindly firing at each other, with rampant disregard, and now, … we have lost some high ground, and the target is slipping away!
The target is Dictator Jammeh, but, somehow, we have turned the guns on ourselves in a case of friendly fire, and small- minded loose talk about tribalism and personalities, instead of the struggle. For a whole week, beginning last week of December, 2013, the struggle against Dictator Jammeh in the Diaspora and the Internet, it seems like we had degenerated into an internal squabble. For a whole week, the Diaspora opposition sounded more like the people of the Tower of Babel, characterized with confusion and in-fighting. After a week of arguments of tactics and strategies, and personalities, titles and ego, cooler heads seem to be taking over. The adults are making their voices heard again, louder this time that we are losing sight of the ball.
As painful as this infighting sounded, it is very natural for struggles like ours to go through this phase of growth and maturity. We have too many egos to nurse, on other words, too many Chiefs and not enough Indians, sometimes it seems like that! We may have come from a small, geo-politically insignificant country but we are not made of small minds, and should resist small minded and reductionist talk. We need to all cool down the tempo a little, or reduce the decibel level. Sometimes it is true that empty barrels make the most noise, but not the best sound!
We are fighting over the loot, but the battle has not yet started. We are fighting and criticizing others on their tactics and strategies, but few are willing to commit their necks or resources to sustain the resistance. It is so easy to ask of others, yet reserve or grudgingly give your own.
One thing is very clear, to honest observers of Gambian history, this struggle against Dictator Jammeh did not make Lawyer Ousainou Dabo, OJ Jallow or Lawyer Mai Fatty ( to a lesser extent) . All three are accomplished in their own rights, individually and professionally, unlike the Dictator. So it would be wise and prudent to resort to modesty and respect in our language and interactions with each other. I consider myself a serious observer of Senegalese ( and W/African) politics and media, especially during the campaign to defeat President Wade at the polls, but I do not remember this level of vitriol and immaturity, and we have little to show for it! The Senegalese Diaspora single-handedly funded the opposition to President Wade during the 2012 elections.
Enough of the unsolicited reductionist, adversarial and antagonistic language when we address each other! Enough of putting each other down, minimizing or diminishing others achievements! I am convinced, when the dust settles down, when the shouting has stopped; these opposition will not mind a professional dialogue on the air at any time. There is no point or reason in dragging their names, family and reputation in the mud. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
I absolutely believe, in my heart, that Pa Nderry Mbai is not a tribalist, from just listening to his story about his diverse upbringing, exposure wide and diverse audience. At the same time, loose and unmeasured talk can trigger this kind of dark and tribal emotions and backclash. We cannot be victims of the same deeds we accuse the Dictator – disrespectful to our elders and customs, my friends. Fifty years of inter-marriage between the tribes ( including President Jawara ) has largely blurred tribal lines! Show me any person today who does not have 2 or 3 tribal blood lines running through their veins! Yes you, show me! If that does not work for you, let us flip ourselves inside out and then see what color are you inside!
I understand Pa Nderry has made a public apology today, December 27, 2013 ( I did not hear it myswelf, not sure if it is true) for igniting the furor. If that is true, then other players must publicly accept and let us move on and keep the target in our sight – Dictator Jammeh! Too many egos have been bruised, we know, but we must move on for the sake of the struggle against the Butcher of Kanilai, Yaya Jammeh. People and personalities come and go, but the fight must continue! Now others need to stop fanning he flames and let us bury the old rusty hatchet. We do not want to hear any more angry emotive, chest thumping rhetoric. Enough is enough! Lesson well learnt! Thanks
Kaba Sallah