Gambia: ECOWAS OR NOT

ECOWAS? SO WHAT?

I'm an optimist but also a realist.  The Gambia and Gambians including myself welcomed ECOWAS' initial position of 'Jammeh must respect the will of Gambians', their subsequent position that was a strong communique signed on December 17, 2017 communique signed on December 17, 2016, to ensure president-elect Barrow isn't only inaugurated but his personal safety guaranteed. What we're hearing from Accra today, that they're still pursuing mediation efforts did NOT change anything. Their posture and commitment primarily, is to 'peacefully resolve' this crisis. That's what all responsible people, leaders and institutions do. These are not bodies of mercenaries with pens and guns. Gambian lives are what their priorities are, not anything personal against Jammeh or favouritism towards Barrow. So, we should expect them to exhaust all possible means that could yield us success with less collateral damage.

NOW!
When the Gambians were forming a coalition, going to polls and voting Jammeh and APRC out, there was no ECOWAS. They didn't even send an observer mission to the Gambia. Gambians were determined to end the dictatorship, the servitude, the oppression. They entrusted a competent, respectable group of determined patriots to steer their affairs. The COALITION are doing just that. Thus far, they've not put a foot wrong.

The Coalition asked that we be calm through all this. They insist that Jammeh is still president until January 18, and Barrow becomes legitimate president at the expiration of the term of Yaya. These are facts. When ECOWAS delegation went to the Gambia on a 'fact finding mission', the coalition were obliged to listen to them. And in good faith, had to welcome that mediation. NEVER did they tell Gambians 'you voted for us but now we're bequeathing our responsibility to ECOWAS'. They NEVER told us they're folding hands to wait for ECOWAS.

Whether ECOWAS comes to our rescue or not, Gambians are the ones to defend their votes and mandate and IT WILL HAPPEN. Yaya cannot do much about that. So DO NOT go into panic mode cos you heard a diplomatic statement from ECOWAS. What were we expecting? 'Oh we're going to Fuck Jammeh up at 3.47pm on Tuesday January 10, 2017'? They reiterated that they're 'standing by/with the people of the Gambia'.

My faith is in the thousands of Gambians who had the will and capacity to vote out a 22-year brutal dictatorship. The same people have the capacity to defend their verdict. That's with ECOWAS or not. Anything less than that would be not respecting them!

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First published January 7, 2017

Gambia: GRTS ARE A TRUMPETER OF CHAOS

I'm sick and concerned watching GRTS take a dangerous position that is sure to plunge the Gambia into chaos.

The political crisis that is heading to possible violence, has been one dimensional. Gambians voted. One man who doubles as president and candidate, took a rigid position that is neither in the interest of country and himself, continues to antagonize and project an illegitimate, rebellious position using the state media to illustrate his cause.

Two sides to a potential conflict, but a state institution is allowing a one-sided projection of falsehood, dangerous propaganda and suppression of alternative voices and dissent. Since December 9, GRTS have been on a campaign to decorate the devil in 'ganyila' dress while the side that is being pushed and provoked are left in shredded jeans. First, they refused to cover/air anything about the President elect and his incoming administration even when all they ask for us to respect the constitution amidst all the frustrations. Then they are bringing all sorts of idiots and disingenuous folks casting aspersions left and right.

These National Assembly Members are a shame. They are playing a dangerous game thinking they can change and control a narrative that's false. No Gambian but Yaya and his APRC are fitna-mongers. They are the aggressor and one edging us closer to chaos. So quit trying to defend the indefensible and speak truth to that psychopathic, Megalomaniac and suicidal being.

Majority leader Fabakary Tombong, Speaker Abdoulie Bojang and THAT woman, are foul and senile. Someone prevail on them and the GRTS.

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First published January 6, 2017

Gambia Armed Forces - President Jammeh Doesn't Care About You

Hey Soldier!

While Yaya Jammeh is either planning to find a way out of the Gambia for himself or wanting suicide by ECOMOG, he's left you exposed and vulnerable. That man never cared about you when he gave you the license to kill Gambians and sure does NOT care about you now that he knows you can't protect him. So DESERT HIM NOW cos those ECOMOG soldiers are not coming to give you hugs. I'm particularly worried for the 1000+ recently graduated recruits and junior NCOs who are inexperienced or will not know any better. Your  CDS pledging allegiance to an outgoing commander-in-chief  is a front and a waste. 'Men', your officers are not going to fight with, by you.

MEANWHILE, Keep eyes on that old #Well in Kanilai that reportedly is the designated grave for Yaya's many victims AND the #Crocodiles that allegedly his 'evidence destroyers'. Both would someday need to 'talk'.

In under 10 Days, Yaya will be gone for #GambiaHasDecided. Let's talk to our brothers/sisters/friends in uniform to not die for/with Jammeh.

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First published January 4, 2017

THE COALITION'S POSITION & MESSAGES ARE CONSISTENT

Between the President-elect's statement read by Hon. Halifa Sallah and this Interview with Hon. Mai Ahmed Fatty, it's fair and accurate to acknowledge and respect the consistency of the incoming Administration.

Yaya Jammeh can file a million petitions and thousand TV appearances to kick and scream about his delusional Rejection or Annulment of the outcome of the December 1 all he wants. What's a fact and unchangeable is that NOBODY or ENTITY can usurp the will of the people - which is that Adama Barrow is president-elect and he'll assume office when Yaya Jammeh's term expires.

The Coalition team is very well grounded, especially legally, and are composed and confident in belief and position.

THEY SAID go about your businesses and DON'T GET PROVOKED into creating trouble. They're working all around the clock to get the ball rolling from the moment they get sworn in. That is SATISFACTORY to ME! Amidst all the frustrations, my confidence is this team of Leaders is unshakable. Our mandate is in good hands!

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First published January 3, 2017

THE REBEL LEADER'S SUBDUED-DEFIANCE SHOW

In the 22 years that Yaya RULED the Gambia, I've never seen him mentioned, respected and wanted to invoke the Constitution of the Gambia this bad. I've also never seen a subdued and defeated man this defiant. He looks lonely, scared, afraid, weak, helpless and pleading for sympathy and understanding. What him here!

He insists that

*People are asking him to accept his initial position cos they're afraid of military confrontation. 'But with who?', he asked;

*ECOWAS broke her entrenched clause/protocol of non interference in affairs of members States;

*ECOWAS are partisan, so he's not going allow her mediation;

*he's not going start anything but he's ready to defend himself cos he won't be intimidated;

*Interest Groups and Individuals are leading a campaign for him to step down;

*As a candidate he has a right to petition elections results;

*Mustapha Carayol is more patriotic and Allah-fearing than Mr Alieu Momar Njie;

*As president, he has to ensure Gambians go back to the polls to vote for candidate of their choice;

*by my counts, he's mentioned the constitution 16 times.

Delusional as he is, Yaya has always known that power resides in the people that's why he'd always wanted to inhibit that by dividing us. Today, he sees that all taken away.

ECOMOG are going to GBAGBO him on January 17, since he's effectively rejected ECOWAS mediation.

#GambiaHasDecided
#YayaHasDecidedToChooseSuicideByEcowas

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First published December 31, 2016

Gambia: ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT PROSECUTION OR REVENGE

Companies hire Auditors and Compliance officers, and have them do their functions NOT because they do not trust their employees or want to divide their businesses and employees. The primary function of auditors and auditing is to ensure that  financial records are accurate (free from errors and fraud). A Compliance officer ensures that businesses/individuals are compliant with national and international laws and regulations, professional and business standards. These are checks and balance instruments. That is why governments have Auditors General's offices.

Any public servant should expect that your position and responsibilities have a degree of expectation attached to them. And those responsibilities can only be passed fit if your executed functions measured up to the carved expectations. THAT PROCESS IS CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY! It does not in any way means Prosecution, Vengeance, Retribution or Exoneration, nor does it disregard the presumption of innocence.

Therefore, it is very troubling to think that asking for public servants to tell the taxpayers how they ran a public office and performed the functions they're paid for, especially when chances are that someone else could succeed you in that position, to be Divisive, Retributive or Unconciliatory. I'm assuming even if we were not coming out of murderous dictatorship, that would be a standard benchmark in any administration or country.

Gambia and Gambians are all in for Reconciliation. But to admit that we need reconciliation is admitting that wrongs were done that divided us. And we must know the truth about these possible wrongs to be able to reconcile and move forward. That does not mean people have to be prosecuted and certainly not persecuted. Let's not confuse the two. Most importantly, this was the front and center of the change agenda all these years. Not just to remove Yaya Jammeh but a change and cleansing of a SYSTEM.

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First published December 27, 2016

AMBASSADOR FAYE CONCEDES WHY HE WOULDN'T GO BACK TO GAMBIA IF JAMMEH REMAINS

NPR: IF president Jammeh remains in power, and you returned to the Gambia, do you believe your personal safety could be at risk?

Ambassador Faye: Absolutely! Absolutely! There's no questions about that, because of the HISTORY AND REPUTATION of the system. So YES, my safety will be at risk. There's no doubt about that. (listen to audio)
______ ___ ___

THESE are the people representing and embellishing the image of Yaya Jammeh and the System (NOT the Gambia) to the world for two decades. When concerned Gambians and friends of the Gambia go to State Department, White House, other development partner to cry about the doings, history and reputation (killings, disappearances, illegal arrests) of this barbaric regime, these ambassadors and reps come after them to say 'it's all lies. THESE are disgruntled dissidents who meant no good for the country. They have personal issues and agendas that they're pursuing. Yaya is a great leader and the Gambia is peaceful'. But they knew 'the system' and its 'reputation' of torturing, disappearing and killing Gambians for speaking their minds and doing the right thing!

WHO is going to tell Gambians to cuddle and let's-move-on these people? ALL are opportunistic bastards that cannot move forward a decent Gambia.

Ken doffu fee!

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First published December 26, 2016

#Gambia: ECOWAS SHOULD KIDNAP YAYA INSTEAD

ECOWAS allowing Senegal to take the lead in any possible military intervention in the Gambia to ensure the will of the Gambians is enforced should the Rebel leader Jammeh choose to continue his treasonous buffoonery, is both apt and strategic. Senegal by virtue of our geography, would understand the terrain and other dynamics.

Yaya Jammeh's Army are not going to war. No army, wins a war against determined citizens backed by regional forces, especially when that Army is not only divided but has no incentive to fight. Why would the Gambia National Army fight for Jammeh? Let him don the military fatigue and go lead his platoon of rebels in battle. Let him 'wipe them out the world map' himself.

I'm sure ECOWAS are factoring in all things including collateral cost. But I hope they measuredly descend on Banjul, KIDNAP and EXTRACT Yaya without a shot fired. Or one bullet to his spine that wouldn't kill him. Shouldn't be that hard.

#27DaysToThirdRepublic

First published 12/23/2016

SECRETARY GENERAL AND MINISTER: HOW LEGAL IS THIS MARRIAGE?

By: Pata PJ

Even before confirmation, swearing in and assuming office, The Gambia’s newest Secretary General is already an accessory in violating the Supreme Law of the Gambia. This might be deliberate or unknowing to him. Secretary General and Head of Civil Service AND Minister of Presidential Affairs? Even a non-legal student who scantily scanned through the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia would know that these two asymmetrically opposite positions must not be in the same box, much more under one person.  Their roles would have to conflict.

On the Appointment and Removal from offices in Public Service, Chapter XI Sections 1 and 2 of the Constitution categorically state:

(1) The President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service commission, shall appoint a person holding an office in the public Service on permanent terms to be the Head of the Civil Service. The Head of the Civil Service shall be the competent authority for the Civil Service.

(2) The Head of the civil Service shall not hold any other office of profit or emolument in the service of The Gambia.

Unless the definition of emolument has changed, the position of a Minister is an office of emolument. It is a salaried or income earning position. Therefore, it was not an abuse of discretion that the President appoints the Head of The Civil Service to double as a Minister of Presidential Affairs but a purposeful executive ploy aimed at flouting our laws, except if the newly created Ministry for Presidential Affairs is a voluntary, non-paid position. So many had hypothesized that the said Ministry was created to (un)lawfully grant the ousted Secretary General and Head of Civil Service a blanket mandate to be spewing his well-concocted and unnecessary political utterances that would toe the thin line between his political position as a minister and a Secretary General. And evidently, Mr. Njogou BAH trekked this line by hauling distasteful shots, threats and daring statements at those he perceived as ‘enemies’ of the President. That includes registered political parties and their members, civil society groups, religious leaders and ordinary people in the society who dissented. Basically, he became the fall guy, mouthpiece of the Government.

Now that Mr. Sabally has been appointed to the same offices, would we be blamed for expecting him to be assuming the same responsibilities that his predecessor had? Are we safe to expect our Secretary General to don a political hat, grace political platforms and take part in party politics? Personally, I would not be surprised. There are people who force themselves into the President’s payroll and I, at some point thought Mr. Momodou Sabally is one of those. But I have come to the realization that he must have shared the same political, economic and development visions with the president. He’s subscribed to what the President believes and stands for, for Sabally is a very intelligent guy. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, though a lot of us see those beliefs and visions as not the most progressive for the Gambia.  The main issue here is the danger of compromising the integrity of the man and an important office of an SG.

I believe Mr. Sabally, academically, is qualified to be appointed as a Secretary General. I think his experience (though not sure if any is needed) is also sufficient to man the post. However, what I found to be a little too disturbing is the fact that some 'Qualified' Gambians do not hesitate to stain their reputation and dent their integrity by lobbying and politically 'buying' their seats in President Jammeh's bus. It wouldn't look any more coincidental, that just a couple of weeks ago, Sabally had penned a gold-coated griot-like eulogy or laudation to the man who appointed him, on his birthday. See the May 24th Daily Observer edition and read: To my President: Wishes for a Happy birthday and many more Returns. "Economic growth has been commendable throughout the 18 years you have been in office" - he bloated.

If one is willing to take up an appointment that draws moral, political and legal controversies, especially when those controversies are legitimate constitutional issues, what more confidence could we have in that person to execute the functions of his/her office with utmost integrity and fairness? What are the guarantees that our civil service would not be compromisingly political than it already is? When an appointee accepts these positions with hazy clouds hovering over their legalities, what else would they do or not do without any regards to what our Supreme Law says?

I keep reminding myself that someone has to do the job. Although we have an awful Government that we wish we could change this minute, we need some people to work with/for the Government to save whatever is left of our country. I call some of those people enablers. But it is not more about holding those offices in the regime as it is about what you do in those offices. Serving the country with honesty, utmost impartiality and integrity instead of working for an individual is what we expect. But is that possible working with/for Jammeh? Let's hope Mr. Sabally would not do a Njogou Bah and be political to the extent of wishing Jammeh lives for 400 years and threaten Civil Servants and Imams.

If Sabally would listen to my unsolicited counsel, I would advise that he respectfully but rightly decline one of these positions and accept the other. That would not only be the right thing to do for self but for the country and the people. At some point, we must have to have people of genuine conscience who are going to be willing to preserve their dignity and uphold integrity to not do unconstitutional things. Only then and there, could we meaningfully change the system for the better. If the President is not ready to uphold the constitution he swore to live by, we must not be accomplices in flooring the Holy Scripture that legally guides us as a Nation.

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First published in June 2013