Contrary to sound advice from most people who contacted me not to engage Pa Nderry Mbai for very many good and valid reasons, I am minded on doing so. Some said as a Mandinka, Mr. Mbai and his clique will never appreciate anything good in me because of their bigotry. This is not the sort of issue that should weigh in my considerations. I know that anyone who has that motive will learn sooner or later that adversity, controversy, irresponsible and injurious personal attacks can’t beat me down. I welcome criticism. We cannot truly construct a tolerant democratic society if we vigorously eschew sensible political interrogation. My fundamental concern should be, is there substance in the criticisms against me or GMC? The honest answer is I have learnt so much from my opponents and critics like Mr. Mbai. Responding to objections for his alleged Mandinka bashing on the air very recently, Mr. Mbai admitted that no one is perfect. Pleading with Gambians not to hold his frailties against him, it would be a mark of maturity for Mr. Mbai not to hold my imperfections against me either. Fairness is fairness.
This is not about Pa Nderry Mbai or me. It’s about our society and our future. It’s about the right political discourse and the tough issues and challenges we experience as a people and Nation. If we must confront and defeat our demons for a prosperous and strong democratic nation, we must be willing to look at each other eye ball to ball, courageously and frankly dialogue the sensitive issues such as the glorification of cult patronage and ethnicity. I agree with Mr. Alagie Sowe that we are tribes people, but I also agree with Mr. Demba Baldeh that tribalism is only evil if it becomes a versatile arsenal for political power or influence in the hands of bigots. It is therefore a legitimate issue to be discussed and like Mr. Sidi Sanneh averred with a view to banishing it from our national political psyche. By running away from it, we will fail in resolving or averting its calamitous complexities that destroyed some contemporary societies.
I will engage Pa Nderry Mbai. Why not? I disagree with Mr. Mbai on a range of issues, and we might never agree on some of those. Yet we are both entitled to our views. We may not even like each other but that does not render either of us more Gambian than the other. It is my obligation to engage every Gambian citizen like Mr. Mbai particularly those who may disagree with me passionately or even despise me. If I truly claim to stand for all Gambians, why should Pa Nderry be an exception? Simply because he said uncomfortable things about me? The sort of tough questions Pa Nderry sometimes inquiries, including my credibility as he alleges are all legitimate questions any Gambian should inquire into. That is nothing to be bitter about. It is my obligation to be willing and ready to engage on those issues so as to be worthy of public confidence. I am not an angel, and I am not beyond reproach. I seek to lead, and those who would determine that – you Gambians – should be able to scrutinize to make informed judgments. In this process, we need to provoke sensitive and sometimes “no-go- areas” and I hope for the greater good. I would not have it another way.
Do I like Mr. Mbai’s style of doing things? Many times no! Does he have the right to do so? I may not like the way he goes about it sometimes, but you bet hell yes! So by all means bring it on Mr. Mbai. My beef with Mr. Mbai is not his incisive criticism of me or GMC. My concern has always been his seeming unwillingness to avail me a fair opportunity to respond to attacks emanating from his airwaves. I went on an alternative medium to condemn divisive tendencies I perceived to be irresponsible speech. If we were not denied the right to the airwaves for the regular aggressive onslaught against us from Freedom, we would not have gone caucusing under a different tree on the issues raised by him. Liberalize the airwaves for GMC Mr. Mbai.
I know the intrepid value of criticism and the expression of divergent views. Any politician who is unwilling or unprepared to effectively stomach both constructive and destructive criticism should stay away from public affairs. President Nixon once said if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen! Pa Nderry Mbai has apologized, and like Mr. Alagie Sowe indicated I hope sincerely. I endorse the principled position of Mr. Momodou B. Krubally who eloquently and succinctly portrayed the diabolical impact of the meaningless, superfluous swipes we take at each other. I urge us all to heed the clarion call of Mr. Krubally to avert creating circumstances that may over-heat the polity. Let us move on, focus on ending impunity and how we would build a strong nation free from the propensities of the past. The Gambia is all that matters. Let’s get to work! God Bless the Republic of The Gambia!
Dated the 27th of December 2013.