GAMBIA: LET AMADOU, MAMUT & EBOU GO!

In the past couple of years, a few things about the Gambia and are her affairs had me devastated and broken down to a point of withdrawal. I'd doubted if I was indeed emotionally and psychologically prepared for this fight to rid Gambia of the repressive jaws of the 21-year old tyrant with all the emotional rollercoaster.

When the video clip of a visibly tortured Amadou Sanneh paraded on GRTS surfaced, I was crushed. I was sad and wept for the old man who was physically manhandled to coerce and force a confession of wrongdoing out of him before he had his day in court. The humiliation had me livid.

On December 30, 2014, when an attempt to effectively terminate the worst regime subsaharan Africa has seen including during colonialism. It was bad enough that Yaya Jammeh was not caged or riddled with bullets, the lost of lives that we suffered of decent patriots who risk it all for country and her people still feels like a nightmare that wish I could undo. We've still not recovered from that.

The reason I reserved a lot of respect for sister Juka Ceesay is beside her unflinching commitment to getting work done, this young lady embodies what 'true family' is. She is relentless and courageous in refusing to budge as she fights on with hope and faith that her brother Alhagie Mamut Ceesay would come home. Same can be said of a devout, bravehearted wife Mai Badgie. When I saw her at the demonstration in DC with her son under the scorching sun, I stared and applauded. But things were unbearable when the whole family including the mother of Mamut Ceesay, broke down on radio, pleading for their family loved ones to be let go. That faithful Friday afternoon was tough.

All these are caused and brought to us by one person - Yaya Jammeh. The President of the Gambia, elected and sworn in to serve and protect Gambian lives and properties, has chosen to not only abuse but maim and disappear innocent nationals who pose no threat to him or his regime. This man, who had from childhood been a beneficiary of the people and families he derives pleasure from hurting, has been nothing but a vindictive, mean-spirited renegade. He's become synonymous to Gambian State and his paranoia has morphed the State into a heartless Dracula.

When news of 'Amnesty' and Prisoner 'Pardon' broke, I held my breathe with anticipation that many innocent people languishing in state custody, but must especially Amadou Sanneh, Alhagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe, would be let go to reunite with their families. Until very recently, when I wake up the first thing I do is to check 'breaking news' headlines to a point that I'd recently dreamt about them granting an interview on radio. That is how emotionally invested I am in this. I've struggled to comment about them because the many questions about why they're detained in the first place and obvious uncertainty of their condition is tough to imagine. Why they're still kept when murderers, rapists and large-scale drug dealers walked is beyond me. Well not really. The explanation could be found in the hateful, unreasonable, erratic nature of an unfair, unjust president in Jammeh.

I've been deflated for over a week and thought I'd tune out to take a break but it's impossible. Despite our disappointments we must never relent or despair. The resolve and faith of the families who are going through this are an inspiration. We must redouble our efforts to demand the release of these gentlemen by hitting all pressure points. Yaya Jammeh, the State are solely responsible for the wellbeing of these people, and we'll continue to hold him personally accountable.

FREE AMADOU
FREE EBOU
FREE MAMUT

Pata PJ

August 6, 2015

THE GAMBIA DEMOCRACY FUND MUST NOT DIE!

YOU ARE GDF. I AM GDF. WE ARE GDF.

This is YOUR project. OUR project. The people who have had enough of the mal-administration in the country by an executive ran by one selfish individual, who has no regard for you and your existence, are reminding you us that we cannot endure this burden any longer. The people have seen 21 years of tyranny which is evident of the existential threat that the Gambia and her people face. The people have cried under the yoke of oppression that has taken away what's yours to replace it with a replenished crop of unconscionable draculas whose everyday occupation has been to keep you a downtrodden nation and a people.

We're left with no choice but to pick ourselves up, raise our voices, hands and #pockets to put an end to this. We have the capacity, with the human resources at our disposal. You may say a lot about the thinly stretched land that we call home, but since her coming to being, the Gambia was never short of better, greater, able sons and daughters to keep her alive since the 'improbable nation' tag was thrown at it. The tag didn't stick because WE refused. This period isn't any different. The long, hard but temporal undemocratic space that we are in is about to crumble. Crumbling not by itself but because you and I refused to entertain it any longer. All what is required is actionable action to walk out of this abusive relationship.

GDF is here to be a #vehicle for a needed change. There are 'Drivers' at GDF but YOU the Gambian, the only donor, are it's #engine. Let's oil the engine and be our own GPS and/or map. Let's support in anyway, any capacity we can but most importantly with our pockets to uproot the current system and replace it with a big, better system of our choosing. Let's chip in what we could, and NO amount is too small.

YOU ARE GDF. I AM GDF. WE ARE GDF. Don't accept anything to the contrary.

Pata PJ
August 17, 2015

FOR THE GAMBIA? NAH, SOME WILL THROW SAND IN THE MEAL.

NOW, I know I'm NOT the best grade of #weed in the dispensary but I'm above average.

If you're born into a family of dummies, with parents the ultimate definition of STUPID, you can't undo that relationship because they're your parents. But if YOU signed up for a relationship of any kind with a friend and they're as stupid as it could get, you have a choice to live with the embarrassment. You can always undo a friendship where the other party's stupidity is contagious.

I can kinda tolerate if you play like you're smarter than me. But when your head gets swollen to believe that you're the smartest cookie in the jar, you lose me.

This is one reason Yaya #Jammeh is bad for humanity, including his own kids. He forces the worst out of Gambians at home and abroad. He's made Pata PJ believe that he'd make the best village Chief. I've seen nail cutters turned overnight legal experts, teachers became wrestlers, drug dealers/abusers are now moral police, wife beaters the marriage counselors. Our dislike for a person or thing turned the best among us into bitter, potential killers pointing the pistol at any head just cos we've been possessed by our inadequacies. Insecurities.

IF my aim is to rid the Gambia of repression, I'd not break anyone's GPS if they're set out for the same mission. You'd think it'd be that easy but I guess NOT. We hate leaders as much as we do followers. Nothing hurts me more than getting disappointed by the people I'd respected.

Let's PRAY!

Pata PJ