Opinions
THE COUP ATTEMPT AND THE STORIES IN REVIEW
By A Concerned Citizen (Banjul, The Gambia)
Apr 11, 2006, 00:15
"CHI GAMBIA,GAMBIA SUNU REEW", these solemn words song by Gambia's future should always be our guide just whenever we think about running the red pen on the country or sit behind a keyboard and just shoot online. Food for thought;
What is going on within our citizenry is the saddest thing anyone can imagine. Since the foiled coup, Gambian papers and some of the “jotalanteh” outlets have been busy reporting things that make one wonder at times what the purpose of writing and reading is.
It is now a competition of who can put out the fastest lie to tarnish President Jammeh and make everyone in the Government look like a monster. Of course, with fairness,there are one or two who atleast get their stories verified.The least you can say about those few is they made the passing grade.The rest you wonder what is the gain for the daily embarassment of not being able to substantiate their reports;a fundamental of the trade,save for the Tabloids.
Recently, the Foroyaa paper reported that the Vice President was asked not report to work pending being investigated. The day I read that paper was the day I had a meeting with the Vice President. I was shocked and I called the Foroyaa only to have them tell me that it was a report yet to be confirmed.Well if anyone is to question what the motive of such a report is,the answer is simple,the headmaster is responsible for preparing all the lesson guides for the staff according to what I was taught back in the days at Yundum College.
The following day, as I was driving I met Samba Bah in traffic. I thought I was dreaming. The Independent reported on that day that Samba Bah was arrested and detained.Ofcourse he vehemently denied ever being arrested,however the Independent reported otherwise which is not unusual.
What is going on? I asked myself. Now I just read that Yankuba Touray was arrested and and I just passed Mr.Touray at the traffic light junction.Also arrested is Colonel Tamba for refusing to accept the position as CDC after it was posited by the same that he was the catalyst for the coup's failure.I see no sanity in this report.Lang Tombong everyone knows is one of the most loved men in uniform in this country and for any outlet to misrepresent facts about this noble man,you wonder what the motive is.
Preceeding the aforementioned,the death of Daba Marena or summary execution as the bantaba puts it.For the sake of his family and his children,the truth needs to be reported. I ask again, why was it being reported that Daba and his fello escapees were killed? I think we as Gambians have an obligation to ourselves and our God to report what is right if we have to. Divulging on issues which we do not have any authority or knowledge of is not only outright fabrication, but disgraceful and unwarranted.
I am sure not everyone can love President Jammeh, but why can’t we all love ourselves? Why can’t we love our own country? Gambians are so good about comparing the goodness of some countries to ours, but at times if only we can compare ourselves with others may be we will see The Gambia we are criticizing in ourselves.
May God bless our small nation and keep us away from folks whose lives are so messed up. May God keep us away from the folks who cannot see that may be the image they are seeing, is themselves and not the whole country!
© Copyright Progressive Africans..
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