This editorial is intended to caution Gheran Senhore, a Gambian resident in Kansas City. Mr. Senghore is being advised to refrain from meddling into Freedom Newspaper’s Editorial policy. If you have any advise or suggestion for the paper keep it. We do not need your advise or guidance in shaping the future or welfare of this leading Newspaper. Enough is enough. No more unsolicited calls or emails from your end.
Sometime last month, Mr. Senghore telephoned Editor M’Bai requesting for Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sey’s phone number. Mr. M’Bai sought Mr.Sey’s approval before releasing Sey’s phone number to Mr. Senghore.
We are aware of the forces trying to bring Freedom down, but they shall fail miserably. God is on our side. This paper was formed on the basis of truth and there is no amount of blackmail that can bring us down. We do not have time for pettiness.
We do not know what makes Gheran Senghore to believe that Essa Sey can direct or influence the editorial content of this paper. The Freedom Newspaper is an independent Newspaper, which do not dance to the dictates of anybody. We tell the Gambian story as we see it. The Freedom Newspaper editorial content is decided by team of editors and not an individual person. Our editors enjoyed high degree of editorial independence and as such there is no outside interference that can make us change our editorial line.
While we hold Ambassador Sey with high esteem and respect, we urge that Sey should not be included into a fight which he is not privy to its genesis. Calling him to complain about what Freedom published will not help the situation. Sending us private emails would also not help the situation.
We respect your opinion as a person, but we do not need your advise. Mind your business and we mind ours. You are free to set up an online paper if you feel that we are doing disservice to Gambian journalism. No lectures on responsible journalism. We are masters in our own field whether you like it or not.
If you feel that we have violated your rights or that of Sam take us to court. This paper refused to be intimidated by forces from any quarters. We came with the domain name Freedom because we cherishes people’s rights and basic freedoms. We shall defend your own rights if anyone tries to trample on it.
Gheran had complained about Ebout Conteh’s piece in which he criticizes Former Army Colonel Samsideen Sarr. Gheran also emailed this editor Sunday, which he copied to Essa Sey accusing Editor M’Bai of violating journalistic ethics among other things. He also dismisses Conteh’s argument on Sarr’s portfolio saying that Sarr is a qualified to be called a retired Colonel for the rest of his life, whether fired or prematurely retired. His arguments were that once one attains the rank of Colonel you lived with such titles for the rest of your life.
Since he had not given us the permission to publish verbatim the full text of his letter, we shall draw the curtain here. We deem it imperative to give a backgrounder about what transpired.
We have no qualms with Senghore defending Sam, but he should refrain from meddling into our editorial policy. He is at liberty to read or not to read the Freedom Newspaper. He is also at liberty to express his views here at Freedom uncensored.
During our phone conversation, Gheran also advised our Publisher to be very careful because in the event of a regime in The Gambia, his status might be in jeopardy since he was supposedly under asylum status. That America is not his home country. Well Editor M’Bai told him that he is no longer an asylee, but a US Subject who enjoys equal protection like any other American in this country.
Today, Gheran can be walking in and out of The Gambia, but who cares after all? Who is afraid to return home if Yahya Jammeh was out of power? What enemies have we make that would make us not to visit the Gambia? We have no regrets whatsoever for exposing the leadership back home.
On a final note, we say leave us alone Gheran. We do not need your advise. Put it in your pocket. We do not need any ill conceived advise from any quarters. Freedom Forever!! No turning back!!!