Gainako Newspaper

Kudos to Solo, Gainako's excellent correspondent from Banjul. His
recap of the legendary Halifah Sallah's book, Treatise on Founding a
Federation of African Republics, is elucidating and inspiring as far as
the ideal of African unity is concerned. There's no denying Mr. Sallah's
place of honor in the political development of The Gambia is solid.
There is a drawback, however, to the main theme of his new tome, an
African federation, because it is posited on archaic ideas that have been
espoused by so-called African leaders who have failed miserably to
deliver on their much vaunted promises.

First, the notion of an African federation ignores the gross under development of African sovereign
entities. Insufficient political sophistication eventually leads to the failure of federations as exemplified
by the demise of the Senegambia confederacy in 1989 and the laughable union of Nigerian states that
has resulted in 1 brutal civil war, many years of military rule to hold the federation of states together
and embarassing economic failure in light of that nation's natural riches.

Second, Mr. Sallah's wishes are in dire contrast to Africa's daunting realities especially where
differences are concerned. There are major religious divides between North African and Eastern
states which are mostly Islamist, West African states which fall in between and southern African states
which are mostly Christian. The increasing hardcore desire of some Muslim clerics in some states to
institute Sharia law, the heightened tensions between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and other
places and the implications of which laws to follow in states with significant minority populations who
resist any resorting to laws other than secular ones will prove to be nightmarish challenges to the
federation of African states were it to come into existence.

Another crucial stumbling block will be the oft troublesome tribal and internecine feuds that have had a
long running prominence in African history. Failed states like Somalia will never get to have
comprehensive and united representation at an African federation parliament. One can imagine what
the maligned clans and groups will do to their rivals if it is perceived they are not being heard out.
What about Burundi? Will the rebels see the federation of African states as an unbiased arbiter in their
simmering feud with the seat of power in Bujumbura? Better yet, will states with oppressive policies
toward tribal minorities harken to the commands or recommendations of a united African federation
and agree to arbitration? If the UN or the useless AU have not proven successful, who says the
African federation will pull it off?

As iconoclastic as this view might seem, the truth is Mr. Halifah Sallah's role models are failures
through and through when the immediate post-colonial leadership of Africa is objectively examined.
Kwame Nkrumah failed to harness Ghana's mineral and intellectual wealth during his tenure and was
eventually dismissed in 1966. The fault was entirely his. No sentimentality will replace the fact that he
erred in judging the changing times and the urgent need to reform a colonial strucutre that didnt serve
its previous African subjects. Gamal Abdel Nasser took Egypt down the road to war with Israel and
caused great pain and havoc to his proud nation. His only visible legacy is the Aswan dam. What
about Kenneth Kaunda, Siaka Stevens, all paragons of Pan Africanism? Where have they led us? We
need new, better role models for African progress and I'm not talking about Thabo Mbeki or Nelson
Mandela either.

Implicitly or perhaps overtly, Mr. Halifah Sallah's treatise seems to be inspired by the creation of a
European Union that has thrived to the point where ex-Soviet satelites like Bulgaria , the Czech
Republic and Poland are now members, after years of coveting EU acceptance. The comparisons
between African potential for unity versus actual European oneness are ill advised. While the concept
of African unity is a post-colonial ideal, European unity has been in the works since the reign of
Charlemange king of the Franks who ruled from 746 to 814 AD. While Europe has undergone years
of violence political upheaval and economic revolution, Africa's experience in these two spheres is
relatively thin. Moreover, Africa has not yet developed the economic heft nor the military infrastructure
to enforce the rules, prestige and might of an African federation the way the EU has to the point of
being on par with the US (at least economically). To accelerate the progress to total union of African
states in federation form will no doubt yield unwanted consequences.

Finally, with the numerous tragedies, disgraces, and failures of the OAU and now the numerous
tragedies, disgraces and failures of the AU, what makes Mr. Sallah so blindly optimistic? In any case,
I admire and share his love and intensity for the looming greatness of Africa. I am only a little more
cynical and maybe too gun shy where I could have shown more resolve. I hope Mr. Sallah proves me
wrong.

Author can be reached at gambiaswatchman@gmail.com

.....Public Announcement:
..The Watchman Launches a Blog on Less Industrialized Nation Matters
Dear Pa and GON editors:
First I want to thank Freedomnewspaper and Gainako for giving me mostly unfettered and
unrestricted liberty to contribute my humble opinions on the political and economic fate of The
Gambia. Your very generous and highly professional approach to making sure that all voices are heard
and that various solutions are considered and implemented in steering the course of our beloved
republic gives me and all others concerned hope that the journalistic trade in so far as The Gambia is
concerned has indeed evolved and despite its growing pains, will succeed in sowing the everlasting
seeds of democracy and prosperity for all.

From here on out, I will maintain a blog that covers not only Gambian matters but all so called Third
World issues that are of the utmost import. I will still continue to contribute to Freedomnewspaper and
Gainako in light of their excellent permissive policy vis-a-vis allowing a contribution to be published
even if it roils the feelings and shakes the sensitivity of other parties. This is what true freedom of the
press entails and I am ever so grateful for the opportunity to have made my voice heard. My e-mail
will continue to be the same. The new blog address is: http://watchmansreport.wordpress.com/

Thanks to All,
The Watchman.
.........................................................NEWS
PRESIDENT JAMMEH�S THROWING OF
BISCUITS CAUSES ACCIDENT; KILLS
ONE AND HOSPITALIZED TWO OTHERS
..........................By Solo, Banjul correspondent.....May 29th, 2008
One youth killed and two others hospitalized is the result of the
accident caused by the president�s convoy on Saturday near the
Tabokoto junction on the main Brikama High way at about 8pm.

The accident occurred when the president on arrival at the place
threw a packet of biscuits which landed on the tar road instead of
off the road. This reporter was in a vehicle which was going towards
Tabokoto junction and found a vehicle that appears to be like a state
house vehicle standing and surrounded by a group of people. He
then alighted from his vehicle to find out what had happened. He
discovered that the victims of the accident had already been
evacuated to the RVTH hospital in Banjul. He could however see
blood stains everywhere.

The reporter then spoke to an elderly woman named Binta who said she was an eye witness to the
accident. Asked whether the accident was not serious, she said it was very fatal and went further to
explained that by the time the president was throwing his biscuits when his convoy arrived at the place
but one packet dropped on the road which the youths raced to get. She said the youths did not know
that another speeding vehicle was coming behind them; that before they realized that, that vehicle had
already caught with them which hit all the three of them. She said she observed one to have been
dead, the other was crying and calling her mother and saying that she is dying while blood was
dripping from his body and head. She said the third was not talking but has signs of life.

This reporter made some effort to verify whether the youths are at the RVTH and discovered that one
of them had died on the spot as narrated by the elderly woman and was sent directly to the mortuary.
He has also found out that the two are hospitalized with very serious injuries. The two are seen to be
recovering at the time of going to press.

Rumour also has it that a similar accident occurred in Basse which took the lives of two people but
this could not be independently verified. Many people wonder why the president�s convoy move with
such a high speed especially when in town and the president is throwing biscuits.

.............THE BOOK
TREATISE ON FOUNDING A FEDERATION OF AFRICAN
REPUBLICS, (FAR) LAUNCHED: 2016 Set For Africa�s Unification
...........................By Solo, Banjul correspondent.....May 29th, 2008
The Launching of the Book �Treatise on Founding a Federation of
African Republics; (FAR) took place at the paradise Suites on Sunday
25th May 2008 with the objective to also mark the African Liberation
Day celebrations,(A.L.D).

The launching attracted over a thousand people from across the country
including Pan Africanists in the Diaspora, religious leaders like Hafiz Faye
who did the Muslim prayers and Mr. Bah of the Ahmaddiya Jammat, Pan
African youth groups and progressive individuals and sympathizers.Dr.
Assan Jaye of the MRC chaired the occasion.

The print media is fully represented but the GRTS, National and Television Services has not made any
representation or coverage.The children of Nyakoi Nursery school mesmerized the crowd by naming
the capitals of any African country asked by members of the audience.

A Pan African musical and theatre group sang a song written by Mr. Suwaibou Touray entitled,
Africa, we should unite now or perish, we must unite Africa! The song cited names of many Pan
Africanists and freedom fighters in both the Diaspora and in the mainland, such as Patrice Lumumba,
Cabral, Samora machel, Edouado Mondlane, Steven Biko, Marcus Garvey, Dubois, Sylvester
Williams, Titina, Nzingha Ngosi, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nkrumah, Mandela etc who have in
one way or another sacrificed their lives for the African continent.

They also sang a song entitled, our transformation shall succeed, succeed! With dedication and
determination! These two songs have achieved their purpose, ie. to thrill entice and inspire the
congregation.

The group also staged a play written by Suwaibou Touray on the present day realities of ordinary
Africans as they tried to eke out a living in their various countries, such as a Somalian beset by the
endless war which has not made any sense to them but create all kinds of problems. Another from
Kenya who lamented about her country�s problems such as the lack of peace and inter- tribal
warfare, instability etc. The one from Nigeria is from the Niger Delta worried by the exploitation of
their resources without any regard to the environment or the people living in the area. Another from
Zimbabwe who laments on the fact even though they had fought for independence in which they have
sacrificed everything, they are still without Land, Work, peace or progress. The one from Dafur
Region of Sudan spoke of the fratricidal war which has made untold suffering on them the ordinary
people and another, a Gambian youth lamenting about the smiling coast not providing any outlet for
the groundnut crop while they the youth continue to experience unemployment and low pay etc. He
insisted that since he has no future in his homeland he would go anywhere his legs could carry him, and
said he would go and no one would stop him etc.

Then a voice of Kwame Nkrumah emerged to greet the people and to remind them of the Hour of
Decision, THE UNIFICATION OF AFRICA. The voice also explained what Kwame had told his
fellow leaders in 1963 and 1965 on the merits of Unity and demerits of Disunity, in a brief speech
which has given answers to the main problems cited.

The Theme of the Book Launch is, �Awareness is the Mother of Liberty and Prosperity� In a one and
half hour speech, Halifa Sallah espoused on his book. He emphasized the importance of knowledge
and awareness building. He also said the era of heroes and heroines has passed and Africa does not
need saviors but that we now live in an era when knowledge must become the property of the people.
Mr. Sallah moved into the realm of philosophy and quoted Aristotle who he said indicated the stage of
development during his epoch in the Athenian states in the following words; That �The Nations that
live in cold regions and those of Europe are full of spirit but somewhat lacking in skill and intellect. For
this reason while relatively free, they lack political cohesion and the ability to rule over their
neighbours. On the other hand the Asiatic Nations have in their souls both intellect and skill, but
somewhat lacking in spirit, so they remain both enslaved and subject. The Hellenic race, from which
he Aristotle came from, occupies a mid position geographically has a measure of both; being spirited
and intelligent. Hence, it continues to be free, to live under the best constitutions, and given a single
constitution to be capable of ruling all other people�

Citing Dubois, Sallah said Dubois argued in his writing that Black Africa influenced Rome; that many
of her great men were called the �African� because of their birth and blood ties; that the culture of
Egypt went across the Mediterranean, lighting fires in Crete, inspiring Asia from Southern Arabia to
Syria and the Western Asia Minor. In Cretan art, Negro heads appeared, and in the late Minoan age,
at the time of the expansion overseas, a black Minoan captain led Negro troops and so on.
Sallah said Herodotus, a great historian also mentioned in his accounts the names of nearly all the
Greek Gods derived from Egypt, and certainly the Greeks continually turned towards Egypt for
cultural inspiration and scientific information.

Sallah said in the age of Pericles, Black Africans were considered equals to, though different from
Greeks and superior to European and Asiatic barbarians. According to Sallah, the Pan Africanists
intelligentsia read widely and drew lessons from the mythology and history of other Nations.
Citing Dubois further, he said, science for years tried to separate men into great groups called Races;
at first the object was to explain human history by human differences. He said that it was later evident
that mankind would not fit accurately into any scientific delimitation of racial categories; no matter
what criteria were used.

The author then went into the evolution of African nationalism that History teaches that the struggle to
unite the African peoples found an African nation which can protect them from their woes, which gave
birth to African nationalism, is older than the struggle to unite African micro-states to found a united
state of Africa.

The author cited the global slave trade and African Nationalism. He cited Oluadah Equiano, who was
kidnapped and sold into slavery at the age of 11 years but managed to buy his freedom in 1766
before the U.S gained independence, did not hesitate to recall the horrific experience he and other
slaves went through in his autobiography which should be standard reading in literature classes in all
African schools, Sallah opined.

Sallah said Equiano indicated clearly how attempts were made to obliterate the sense of dignity and
self worth of the person of African origin by compelling him or her to accept bondage through
floggings and subjection to improvident avarice; that over 100 million Africans were transported
across the Atlantic to become chattels in Brazil, the US and the West Indies.

Sallah did not forget the efforts made by Africans on the home land to stop the inhuman trade. He
cited the king of Congo (Bakongo) who petitioned the king of Portugal who turned a deaf ear to his
concerns for human and peoples� rights.

After citing the struggles of various Africans such as the Black Jacobins of San Dominique which led
to the proclamation of the Haiti Republic in 1804. He said even after the abolition of the slave trade in
1807, the slave trade continued clandestinely while the internal slave trade flourished in many
countries. The revolts therefore spread unabated toBarbadoes in 1816, Brazil in 1828 and 1837,
Bolivia in 1840, Cuba in 1844 and Jamaica in 1861.

The author then concluded that these revolts spelt doom to the reliance on slave labour for raw
material production. This was why he said a new system had to emerge to safeguard the sources of
raw materials for industrialists of the North. �That new system is called Colonialism� He said.
Sallah then explained what Colonialism meant and dwelt into the first Pan African Conference, the
juridical instruments proposed by the Congress, how the Pan Africanists helped shaped the thinking of
the League of Nations through their petition and the demand for Self determination. This was how the
links between the African peoples at home and Diaspora developed in form and scale.

The author Halifa Sallah took his audience through the process towards Independence at a National
congress of British West Africa, and how the Second, third, Fourth and Fifth Pan African Congresses
influenced the UN Charter etc.

Sallah explained how Dubois influenced Nkrumah when a breakthrough was made on the 6TH March
1957 when the Gold Coast became Independent. Quoting Nkrumah who expressed his conviction
that no single African country could emerge from colonial economy and build industries and the
necessary infrastructure to compete with the capital base of the multinational corporations and
emphasized the need for Africa to be united to make use of its abundant mineral and natural
resources. Halifa then went through the experiences of those who like Nkrumah wanted unification
and those who they considered as gradualists. He gave a long and tedious explanation on the purpose
of Pan Africa, expounded at conferences of independent African states and the All African Peoples
Conferences; that Nkrumah examined the material and subjective conditions which prevailed at the
time and observed the enthusiasm everywhere.

Sallah explained how Ghana and Congo tried to form a nucleus of a federation, how Lumumba sought
the help of the UN and how Ghana sent troops which served under the UN commanders and how
Belgian troops snatched Lumumba from the UN troops and how he eventually got murdered by the
Belgian troops; that even one of the Belgian troops confessed recently that he took a tooth of
Lumumba after they murdered him as a souvenir which he said shows how dehumanized they were at
the time.

He then explained further how Ghana and Guinea tried to forge a union government but argued that
that could not serve the same purpose with that of Ghana and Congo because as he said Congo has
vast mineral resources.

The author followed the second All African Peoples Conference, the achievements and challenges of
the liberation struggle, the Birth of the OAU,the progress made after the failure to adopt the major
proposals of Nkrumah. He said the OAU established the following commissions which became
operational before African Nationalism went through its greatest crisis with the overthrow of Kwame
Nkrumah in February 1966;

1) Economic and Social Commission
2) Defence Commission
3) Educational and Cultural Commission
4) Scientific, Technical and Research Commission
5) Transport and Communication Commission
6) Commission of Jurists.
7) He said these key institutions were established in 1964 to complement the operation of the
Economic and Social Commissions such as the African Development Bank.

Sallah went through the nature and goals of each of these Commissions and draw the conclusion that
all the institutions were established to create an African Union Government, but it was only left with
the political will to implement it. �Instead of redirecting these institutions, African countries therefore
drifted into unequal relations with the developed countries and remain producers of primary products
and importers of value added products� He asserted.

But the author summed up the failure of micro- Nationalist States and the opportunities of African
integration, which he calls the lost decades; 1970-1980, 1980-1990, 1990-2000 as first, second, and
third lost decades respectively, in which sub Saharan Africa became the most heavily indebted region
in the world, at 270% of export earnings and 75% of GNP, and is chronically in arrears.
Halifa asserted that the indebtedness and marginalization of the African continent compelled the Heads
of state to meet in Sirte in Libya, in 1999, to look at the factors which have been stifling the movement
of the continent towards sustainable economic, social and cultural development.

He dilated on the constitutive Act and the building of a united Africa, the need for a programmatic
policy document, the introduction of NEPAD which he opined could bring development but not the
ultimate development that is required. He also argued that NEPAD has not captured the fundamental
lesson of global economics that multilateral trade negotiations are best conducted by regional trading
Blocs which have built up intra- regional trade links to enhance their international competitiveness and
bargaining power.

The author finally went into the way forward and said the arms of the state has been established; that
the treaty establishing the African Economic Community, the Constitutive Act and the Protocols which
emanated from them provide for the establishment of continental Executive, Legislative, Judicial,
Social and Cultural structures which are expected in a Federal state. He explains the principle of
Collective Sovereignty of states, irrespective of size, have been accorded equal voting rights; that
decisions are based on consensus or two-thirds majority; that the Pan African Parliament avails equal
representation to all countries in accordance with concept of peoples rights inherent in the African
Charter.

Sallah said the process to attain the full union or Federated state is in phases, from one to eight. The
8th phase leads to decide the faith of the Draft constitution and a summit should proceed in 2015 to
establish a task force to prepare an implementation blue print to be approved by the 2016 summit for
the establishment of the Federation of African Republics.

�History is indeed in the making� says Halifa Sallah; that the third and final phase of Pan Africanism or
African Nationalism; the total Liberation of the continent from poverty, dependency and tyranny will
reposition Africa in the world and set a new agenda for internationalism which will aim to transform the
world into a universal home for all human beings to live in Liberty, Dignity and Prosperity.
For Sallah, the African must build a civilization in the 21st century which will ensure a destiny of
liberty, dignity and prosperity which he said is a verdict necessity and dictate of conscience and
reason.

Africa he said shall rise like a star among the world constellation of Nations and as he asserted, we
have a contract with Destiny to bequeath a Homeland to the new generation than they have found it;
and that only unity can avail us that opportunity. Africa, he concluded must unite or perish. The future
is bright! ALUTA CONTINUA!

Gambian-US student graduates
with Top Honours Magna Cum Laude:
.........................By: Alieu Khan.....................May 29th, 2008
Ismaila D. Badjie made all progressive Gambians proud, when he
recently graduated with Top Honours Magna Cum Laude with
Bachelors in Chemistry at the prestigious Tennessee State University,
USA.

'It was truly a tribute to the hard work and sacrifice of my beloved
parents Dembo and Haddy Badjie along with endless support from
my siblings Malick, Fatim, Ebrima and Isatou. Our family's success
has always been the top priority on my parents list and therefore it's
a great feeling knowing they are proud of what we have grown up to
be. That to me is and will always be the greatest gratification possible.
' He said in an interview.

Ismaila, the son of a Gambian Diplomat and also brother to Gambia's new Information Secretary of
State, was the head boy of Gambia Senior Secondary School in 2003. He was keenly involved in
youth initiatives, until in 2004 when he left to pursue his first degree in the USA.

During his four years studies at the Tennessee State University he has always been on the Dean's list
of academic excellence. He was the team captain of his university's quiz bowl team for almost three
years. His team won the National Championship in 2007, bringing a sum total of 50,000 US Dollars
for the university.

In a university of 9,000 students coming from 46 US States and 45 countries, this 23 year old
Gambian was highly respected by both the students and lecturers for his academic prowess. Last
year, he took the bold initiative to establish the Beta Omicron Chapter of the first Black Greek Letter
Organisation Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. This organisation was formed in 1906. It is mainly
service oriented and promotes manly deeds, scholarships and love for all mankind.

Ismaila's high scholastic through out his studies also led to his induction in to national honors societies
Phi Eta Sigma, Golden Key international and Phi kappa Phi.

In August 2008, he will be starting his doctorate degree in Pharmacy (PharmD) at the Purdue
University School of Pharmacy. Already, Ismaila is nurturing plans of creating a pharmacy and
research lab in The Gambia, focusing mainly on diabetes, malaria and high blood pressure.

In another development, the first batch of Gambian students in Taiwan is graduating next month, after
successfully completing a four year degree studies. Almost all of them are currently in a frenzy of
excitement as they eagerly wait for the big day.

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