Sanusi & Bakary,
I am also truely amazed that this notion to bring Jawara back as a
presidential candidate has even surfaced at all. It goes to show you that
when it comes to Gambian politics, many of us do not have the political
maturity to comprehend what the aim of a political system should be. We are
not able to assess candidates according to their past performances and make
the necessary changes to move forward as a country and as a people. It is
abundantly clear that people make their choices of who to support based
purely on opportunism and what they can get out of it, as opposed to
examining their record of performance.
Unfortunately for Africa, politically, we have evolved into a people who
choose our political allegiances for the above reasons, and the future is
equally as bleak because we are raising generation after generation of young
people who watch this scenario and also come to believe that you lend
political support to politicians for what you can personally get out of it.
Even in this struggle of ours to unseat this brutal regime that is always
polishing it's cunning tactics of pretending to be a respectable, fair and
democratic government, and where one thought that all of us alike were
motivated by a sense of justice and a love for our people and country alone,
one can see factions fall off as we go along.
It is becoming evident that some have been contributing to this effort
because they want the Jawara camp to come back so they can continue their
life of priviledge, or perhaps acquire one as a reward for assisting that
particular cause.
Others have a totally different agenda with similar allegiances to yet other
political camps but nevertheless towards the same end.
Yet another group who are sincere in their pursuit for justice are also
motivated by other things that are becoming clear. They are in it for what
they think they can ultimately get as a reward, and the game playing and
attempts to be the first to do this or that, and even the gathering of other
people's ideas and rushing to stake a claim to it are all going on.
How sad for Gambia and for Africa, because we the people are ultimately the
loosers. We are led by people who do not seem to realize that a democracy is
not the same thing as a monarchy, and they hold on using all manner of
tactics one can possibly think of, and even ones you never dreamed possible,
and they leave only against their will.
In the instances where these same people have been at it for decades without
any meaningful progress in terms of quality of life and other achievements
that are manifest as progress for their countries, and which any respectable
and competent government's performance can be measured by, they still strive
to come back, and there are people who support them in this venture.
It is indeed very sad that the lust for power seems to be the motivating
factor in all of the instances I have cited here. The charater of those who
aspire to lead us is what ultimately determines whether Africa will have
competent and dedicated leaders who are motivated by the right things, and
not a lust for power. The fact that there are all sorts of game playing even
in the factions that claim to be motivated by high ideals kills any hope of
any kind of meaningful change for us anytime soon. One can clearly envision
that even this group of high idealists will be at each other's throats were
they t oibe in positions of power tomorrow. This is a very bleak prediction
for us.
We have not learned any lessons despite 30 years of corruption, nepotism and
favouritism in the Jawara regime, and seven years of brutality, human rights
abuses and a vittual destruction of our reputation as a respectable country
by people who engage in all sorts of disreputable ventures to make money, and
who use our meager national coffers as their own investment portfolio.
Even as all this has occurred and continues ot unfold, we have people
standing by on the sidelines, ready to take their turn at continuing the same
practices. Oh Africa, when will you have sons and daughters who are motivated
by the high ideals we need to rescue us from all of this endless greed and
lust for power fueled by total disregard for all the reasons leaders are
chosen to work towards.
Jabou Joh
In a message dated 8/3/2001 3:59:04 AM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> Bakary
>
> Well done, You have definitely made my day. I hate to
> say it but it appears some of our comrades in the
> opposition camp are trying to advocate for Jawara's
> return as Presidential Candidate for the October
> Elections. The truth of the matter is that the Old man
> ruled ther Gambia for thirty years. Of those thirty
> years, so much has happened. Rather than us focusing
> on those brave Second Republician Politicians-the
> Darboes, Jattas. Sallahs and the Bah, we seem to be
> looking on to Jawara as a saviour for our redemption.
> Moreover, most of us fail to realise that Jawara has
> been absent from the scene for almost 7 years and any
> attempt to give him that mantle to lead the opposition
> coalition would be suicidal. Believe me, Jawara is
> seen by many as a moderate, but the reality is the
> average Gambian believe that his return to politics
> would be suicidal.
> The only suggestion for us now is to draw up a
> strategy for coalition against Yahya Jammeh. I would
> propose that the Coalition should be lead by someone
> who played little or no part in the last PPP
> government. This is my take, any other proposals, I am
> happy to discuss.
>
> Have a wonderful day.
>
>
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