By Demba Baldeh, Commentary
Mamma Kandeh and the GDC party continue to make headlines and also attract scrutiny and support from many angles. The supporters of Mr. Kandeh and GDC tout him as new, fresh, charismatic and ready to take on Jammeh. They point to the large crowds he is able to attract from across the country not only during his first tour of the country, but his second leg of visiting other parts of the Gambia. They believe that the amount of crowd he attracts shows that the country is ready for new blood and political change. They dismiss critics who claimed that Mr. Kandeh is a mirror of the APRC because he was a member of parliament and supporter of the Jammeh regime.
On the contrary, Mr. Kandeh also attracted fierce opponents especially in the Diaspora who claimed that Mr. Kandeh’s educational background disqualifies him from becoming President in the Gambia. Many pointed out to his affiliation with the Jammeh regime and for serving 10 years as member of Parliament under the APRC. Some went to the extent of accusing Mamma Kandeh and the GDC of being financed by Yahya Jammeh to legitimize Jammeh come December elections and in an event the opposition decides to boycott the elections. Some extreme opponents without much evidence accused Mr. Kandeh of tribalism which may not be supported by the composition of his executive.
On balance, many Gambians especially on the ground and across the country flooded Mr. Kandeh’s rallies either because of curiosity or his newness. A commentator online said “Gambians may just like something new” and therefore are attracted to the new kid in the block. The closest credible critic of Mr. Kandeh and the GDC we have seen is Mr. Facuru Sillah who was purported to become the number two man to Mamma Kandeh and was instrumental in putting together the party’s manifesto. Mr. Sillah was Interviewed by Gainako (Recording on Sound cloud) who made a strong case that he left the GDC because of some uncomfortable policies GDC was about to embrace. GDC spokesman dismissed Mr. Sillah’s assertions as “A personal difference” between Mr. Kandeh and Mr. Sillah. The rest of the critics are yet to provide concrete written evidence on their claims against Kandeh and the GDC. The jury is still out on that and the burden of proof is on both sides.
On July 16th, I authored a commentary on Gainako titled “Should Gambians take Mamma Kandeh and the GDC seriously?. In that article I argued that Mamma Kandeh like any other citizen of age resident in Gambia for the past five years is constitutionally qualified to form his own party and contest elections. I also pointed out that for Gambians to take Kandeh seriously, he must address the political tension that was already brewing in the country. That he couldn’t ignore the arrest and killing of UDP’s Solo Sandeng and the then ongoing trial and now jailing of Mr. Darboe and others.
In advancing my points stated in that argument, I have some deep concerns about the rise to fame of Mamma Kandeh and the GDC overnight. My concerns are far from what the outspoken critics are dwelling on. I recognize the fact that Mamma Kandeh is a Gambian citizen constitutionally qualified to form a party and contest elections so long as he is able to put together the resources. I don’t buy the notion that any Gambian who vie for the presidency must have a high school or college degree measured in Western education, nor do I subscribe to the notion that anybody who served in or with the APRC government should be disqualified as becoming president. This argument does not hold water as Gambians who are educated in other areas such as Islamic or other religious studies should be qualified to become president in Gambia.
My biggest concern about Mamma Kandeh and should he become president is his level of awareness of Human Rights and constitutional violations the Gambian people have been subjected to for the past two decades. There have been serious destruction of governing structures and violation of fundamental basic rights of Gambian citizens and protocols of governance by the APRC regime. Yahya Jammeh has systematically destroyed or blurred the lines between the Executive, the Legislative branch and the Judiciary. I am concern that Mamma Kandeh may not have a full understanding of the magnitude of this destruction.
In addition, many Gambians have faced and suffered the most brutal oppression since Jammeh came to power any society and people have seen . Is Mamma Kandeh and the GDC fully aware of all the sufferings, pains and blood of Gambians spilled by the Jammeh regime? Is Mamma Kandeh fully conscious and aware of the lives of 14 students who were gunned down with live bullets in 2000 for simply exercising their citizen rights to express their grievances against their government? What role did he play in parliament and what bills he supported or opposed? Can he relate to the brutal killings of former Finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay; the assassination of Deyda Hydara and the total destruction of freedom of the independent press in the Gambia? Can Mamma Kandeh grasp the magnitude and destabilization of the civil service; civil society; Judicial interference and the utilization of the NIA, the Police and the National Army as an instrument of oppression against Gambians?
Can Mr. Kandeh relate to the total dysfunctions of our diplomatic mission and destruction of Gambia’s relationship with the International community? Will he hold Jammeh and his regime accountable to the unexplained enforced disappearances, state sanction killings and blatant jailing and unconstitutional detention of innocent citizens? Does he comprehend the pronouncement of Gambia as an Islamic State and what that means to our Christian brothers and sisters and Gambia’s secular provision as pronounced by the constitution? Is he fully aware of the level of brain drain Gambia has suffered and what it would take to restore that Human Resource back to Gambia?
In essence, given the fact that Mamma Kandeh may never have faced arrest, detention or force into exile by virtue of his alignment or silence on the many crimes committed against citizens, can he be the voice and beacon of hope for those Gambians who have sacrificed so much blood and lymph fighting for political freedom, justice and due process of the law in Gambia? Will Mamma Kandeh hold Jammeh and his military men accountable for rapping, torturing and killing innocent Gambian citizens for daring to challenge his regime? Or will he give Jammeh and his notorious NIA, the so called criminal junglers a pass for two decades of brutality and oppression on Gambians by easily walking into the State House as President? How would he hold to account those who openly admitted killing Solo Sandeng and torturing Solo Krumah to death? Would he remember Jammeh’s denial of burial of a noble citizen Buba Baldeh in Basse and the retention of bodies of Gambian citizens who have been killed under his watch?. How would he reconcile and heal the wounds of this tiny nation where every citizen seems to have suffered so much injustice?
Will Mamam Kandeh recognize the level of sacrifice of the political opposition and join them in forming a strong coalition in defeating Jammeh, or will he have a big head from all the crowds and contest the elections alone with Jammeh? These are some of the most basic questions many Gambians want answered from Mamma Kandeh and anyone who wants to lead the nation in the third Republic. Addressing these concerns and talking about the real pain Gambians have endured for two decades would be a solid start for Mamma Kandeh and anyone entering the political space and vying to lead the Gambia in the third Republic. Gambians have endured real pain and it will take a lot of consciousness to fully understand the magnitude of wounds. Forgiven as Gambians may be, empathizing with them on their decades of silent cries and wiping of real tears of mothers and fathers behind close doors may be the beginning of healing the wounds inflicted by Jammeh and his regime.
1 Comment
I think the most aggressive critic of Mamma Kandeh is MB Krubally. But this is a guy whose brother went home and is working at the the Gambian University(after so many years in the US,the Land of Freedom and unlimited Opportunities?). The Kruballys have been Chiefs in Basse for ages. Koba kunda is APRC. I listened to his interview with Seedy but his arguements were so vague. There can be so many wrongs to be discussed in this World but i think certain people should keep their oponions to themselves. This hunger for power is the root cause of all these atrocities.Tthese self-imposed exiles! As far as i know MB and many other mouthies were never exiled. Am a keen listener of Gainako but would prefer when you devote some more time on the hard life and sufferings of Gambians in the USA.