Alagi Yorro Jallow
I know Ousainou Darboe. I like lawyer Darboe. I don’t want to seem like a sycophant, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I admired him. I disagreed with much of what he said, sure, but I recognized he is a giant for justice and down-to earth human inspiration.
I’m touched and inspired by his latest statement “ I’m ready to go the streets to demand justice for my children”, he added “ If they want to shoot, let the first bullet land on me” Here is a man I trust more than I trust myself, a man who understood the sufferings and conditions of the Gambian people : Our idiosyncrasies,language,philosophies,spiritualism and our political demands.
Ousainou is a unique political figure at a unique moment in Gambian political history. Through his leadership and courage, he did not write his political obituary into the new era of politics characterized by dictatorship and tyranny. Darboe is being praised rightly for his inspirational ability to rise above the brutal dictatorship unlike other politicians and civil society activists who have written their political obituary and nailed their political ambition in the coffin.
If ousainou Darboe has ever committed any political sin or blunder, his recent actions have forgiven him for the simple fact, he demonstrated a source of inspiration to the oppressed people in the Gambia.Darboe made unparalleled personal sacrifices .The indefatigable spirit which he demonstrated throughout his life continue to inspire present and future generations.
Darboe will always be remembered and honored by all Gambians as one of the leaders.liberator, a wise, courageous and compassionate leader, and an icon of true democrat. When history speaks of the very best examples of humanity, we will speak of lawyer Ousainou Darboe. His life is dedicated to greater good. He held strong beliefs and did not give up on his dreams to end tyranny in Gambia.
The art of great statesmanship entailed two qualities, “extraordinary devotion” to public good, and “wisdom in deliberating about it”. This tend to support wise judgment, which on the personal level would lead to intergrity and in the public sphere that lead to the promotion of political fraternity or “emphatic pluralism”.Darboe perhaps the most respected person in the legal profession. However, few have recognized that the values that Darboe put his life on the line for democracy, human rights and rule of law are the highest values of the legal profession, shared by many lawyers around the world. In all likelihood, Darboe’s life in law played a significant role in the formation of his character as a decent human being.
By focusing on providing legal representation to Gambian people who may have otherwise entered courts without proper representation, Darboe serves as a sort of legal aid and public defender wrapped into one, fulfilling the core mission of the legal profession by providing access to Justice.
Recognizing Darboe as the ideal lawyer is the type of reorientation that would highlight the real tangible goods that lawyers can contribute to society today, including the ability to help provide access to Justice and create civic cohesion. Ousainou Darboe’s image should replace image of the scales of lady justice as the iconic image of the legal profession.