Your Excellency,
A nation is not about its leaders but of its people. It goes without saying that the people are the symbolic mirror of their nation. That is precisely why foreigners particularly investors and development partners assess and evaluate a nation through its people. In other words, a happy people are citizen of not only a peaceful and happy nation but one which adheres to the principles of democracy, rule of law and human and people’s right. On the contrast, grieving, timid and unhappy people most often than not are subjects of dictatorial, callous and brutal regimes. Such people are robbed of their humanity through systematic harassment, intimidation, unlawful detention, extra judicial killing and disappearances by their leaders who transformed themselves into lords. Mr President, the Gambia under your 19 years of undemocratic leadership has turned into a nation sobbing in the dark. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure this out. All it takes is a closer look at any Gambian in the face. The story is the same on all the faces: fear, uncertainty, and an unquenchable thirst for freedom. The disturbing melody of the sobs in the dark echo the rhythmic desire to break free from your dictatorial shackles.
Mr President, albeit I keep reminding you over and over to decipher the writings on the walls you always choose to look the other side. Yes hibernating in self-denial provides temporal cosy comfort but reality always comes knocking back on your thin armour. Has it ever occurred to you that a Gambian in his right mind will ever in your era state on GRTS that “there is no freedom in the Gambia?” I am certain that it has never even in your wildest dream that such could happen on a live television programme in the Gambia. Well …well…well it has happened Mr President. What lessons can you draw from such a patriotic step and bravery? First and foremost, one can undoubtedly assert that Gambians are now breaking away from the fear factor that you are alpha and omega. Most Gambians have now come to terms with the fact that you are just like anyone of us: weak, emotional, vulnerable and powerless. As a result, Gambians are now prepared to speak out their minds irrespective of what danger awaits them from your elite assassins, kidnappers and torturers. Captain Ebou Camara’s honest and bold statement in saying that there is no freedom in the Gambia brings to mind what Essa Bokar Sada Sey once said in one of his radio talk shows that soon “a Gambian will either phone you or look at you right in the face and insult your mother” Mr President, Essa’s prophecy isn’t far from surviving the test of time.
The wind of change has started to blow in the Gambia and no amount of intimidation, unlawful detention, extra judicial killing, kidnapping or torture will halt or avert it. In the recent past, Gambians from all works of life converged in North Carolina to map out the way forward to restoring democracy and the rule of law in the Gambia. A similar gathering was also held in the UK, Mr President. These amongst others speak volume of Gambians been wary of you and your misrule. If there is any iota of sense left in you, you will do the right thing by handing over power and call for presidential elections now. You see Mr President the arm of justice is too long and it always catches up with criminals, drug barons and dictators. Perhaps in your little mucky brain you think that you are untouchable by international law. Please do not fool yourself. There are enough evidence to prosecute you both national and internationally for all the crimes you have committed. Even your own kin are running away from you to seek international protection elsewhere. Do I have to remind you that with everyone who escapes you goes with a handful of incriminating evidence against you? Your shady arms deals, drug tracking, unlawful killings, detentions and kidnappings are all authentically documented and ready to be presented to a competent court of law to prosecute you. Essa Sey often says that no one is your enemy but yourself. How right is he Mr President that you are your own enemy? The reason being you believe no one is right but you. Perhaps that explains why you do not listen to reason.
Mr President, your fall is eminent and near. While you are on your last leg at the helm of power, you can undo some of the atrocities you committed. For instance, you can release all those who are unlawfully detained in your various torture chambers. Allow them to seek justice and redress against your callous regime. Uphold the rule of law and repeal all the draconian laws you enacted to prosecute innocent citizens. Establish commissions of enquiries and truth and reconciliation commissions to look into every crime that has been committed to any Gambian dead or alive under your regime. If you do that Mr President, perhaps, when it comes to your turn in the dock, Gambians might sympathise with you. Until then, you will only be making more enemies than friends, Your Excellency.
While counting on you heeding to the voice of reason, I remain in the service of the Gambia and her people.
Yours patriotic Gambian,
Sulayman Jeng, UK