President Jawara is looking really great for his age. He was well groomed and
dressed very sharply as usual. The President also has lot of energy, because
he read to the audience for more than an hour without taking a sip of water.
This is because no kind of refreshment, even a class of water was offered to
him during his speech. The meeting was held in classroom without any form of
decoration to the environment, not even a microphone was on the dry table the
President laid his envelope containing his papers.
To sum up things, the President gave a very good speech with constant
derogative remarks about military governments in Africa and President
Jammeh's regime in particular. But his speech was contrary to his own period
of governance in The Gambia. The president talked about decentralization of
basic infrastructures, corruption, GDP, inflation, just to mention a few. In
his speech one can tell Jawara still want a second chance if not a third
chance if 1981 coup is to be included. There was no humor in President's
speech so some of the audience started to leave one by one. At last, the
President finished and he was applauded. Now came the questions and answers
time.
The first question came from a fellow African, who asked the President what
will he do differently if given a second chance, and why are African nations
still clinked to their colonial masters. Despite showing eagerness to be
given a second chance, the President never answered the question what he
would do differently. The second question came from a Ghanaian Professor at
Miami University, who said he bares no relation to neither Kwame nor
Rawlings, but want to know if another form of democracy can be tried in
Africa, like those of the "Ashante Tribe" in Ghana. The President said he
couldn't think of any other form of democracy other than the universally
accepted one. That is to respect human rights, free and fair elections, and
freedom of the press, freedom of movement, and all its other good qualities.
However, since no non-African raised his/her hand to ask a question, another
African was given the chance. His name is Kexx Bajo. He is the president of
The Gambian association in Cincinnati. His question or rather a comment
brought an abrupt end to the meeting or the lecture. Kexx thanked the
President for his wonderful speech. He said he has great respect for the
President. He told Jawara that his father has been a strong PPP Militant
until his death. He reminded Jawara how hard they tried in 1981 to gain
support for his return to power, hopping that the government will help them
to finance their education here in US, but Jawara never met or fulfilled his
part of the bargain. He said Jawara again contacted him in 1994 when he came
to America to lobby for his return to power, but he refused to be part of
that propaganda. Kexx reminded the President how people of The Gambia used to
keep their best outfits in their wardrobes just to wear it when welcoming him
into their towns and villages. Some wore it just to stand by the road to see
him past their neighborhoods in high speed sometimes without even
acknowledging their presence. Kexx reminded Dr Saine about their days at
Armitage High School when Jawara's government used to feed 300 students with
food that was to feed 150 students. Kexx said since he has been in US for
over 22 years, partly because of Jawara's corrupt regime, he can recall only
three major infrastructures of Jawara's regime. These are the Central Bank,
double-lane highway linking the Kombo St. Mary division, and the Independent
stadium. Also, that during Jawara's 30 years rein he has never built a single
high school, but here today he is giving a lecture in a university. Kexx
started to make references to President Jammeh's regime, when Jawara
interrupted, accused him as President Jammeh's informant and that Jammeh has
paid Kexx to challenged him. Jawara asked Kexx to at least accept the $35
million loan from Taiwan that President Jammeh put in his personal account at
Swiss Bank. Kexx said he can't accept anything unless if Jawara acknowledge
his $6 million frozen by Israel, in the 1970s. Jawara ignored that statement.
The occasion ended because Jawara refused to allow Kexx to continue and
constantly shouting, "he has been paid by Jammeh." "he has been paid by
Jammeh." "he has been paid by Jammeh."
However, many of the audience said they wanted to hear more from Kexx,
because it seems as if Jawara is hiding something. The audience then formed
small groups around few Gambians, including Mr Abdoulie Nyang of Brikama, a
former teacher, who is here on a business trip, to further shade light on
what Kexx was about to say. Mr Nyang told them how corrupt Jawara was and how
he miss led the Gambian people for over 30 years. However, Dr Saine
interrupted the gathering to express his anguish and disappointment to Kexx,
for interrupting his class. But Kexx questioned how democratic it can be if
he is not allowed to voice out his opinion. He quoted a phrase in Jawara's
speech that "talk is cheap" when Jawara made references to military
governments. Kexx also reminded both Jawara and Dr Saine that U.S. is the
land of the Brave and the Free, so he is entitled to his opinion. However,
Kexx apologize Dr Saine and shuck hands with Jawara. He told Jawara, although
they differ in principles and ideas, he loves him. Kexx said he is now
waiting Jawara to help him get his pay from President Jammeh
I am very sorry to bore you all with this report.
Your Homeboy,
Sulayman
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