By Lamin Sabally
Now that it is crystal clear that Lieutenant colonel Samsedeen Sarr (Rtd) has been sent to the cleaners for the gargantuan mess he has created for which, he has been evidently expose for attempting to fan an ugly tribal war against the Mandikas, I would humbly like to join the fray from a different perspective by simply appealing for a seize fire from both sides of the debate.
It is within the purview of my humble mind that even to the slowest dotard, Sam has demonstrably established himself as a tribalist for unleashing canons of tribal diatribes against mandinkas. Any reader with a modicum comprehension of English can conclude that some of the unpleasant articles he wrote on the Gambia echo were embodiment of murky tribal undertones against the majority tribe in the Gambia and have all potentials of eliciting anger from any mandika reader. I intentionally eschew making some specific references because doing that will push me into opening up some already healed wounds.
Thank God, he has woefully failed in his hidden attempt to succeed in pitching the wollofs against the mandikas in what would have bore ugly protracted debates. Admittedly, the deluge of swift reactions from many online contributors among them Suntu Touray, Ebrima Conteh, Lamin Darboe, Yankuba Jambang, publisher and editor of Senegambianews online and many other whose names I cannot enumerate have exponentially exposed the one-time respected writer and orator who has now soiled and bespattered his good reputation and have himself catapulted to the negative image of a graduated and celebrated tribalist in the eye of many Gambians both at home and abroad.
Hitherto to launching his unjustifiable outbursts, I have had some great admirations for Sam Sarr as an erudite writer and great orator. I was in attendance as a Reporter for the state owned Gambia Daily at a press briefing he had superbly executed at the Army Headquarters following the armed attacked on Kartong military post by some dissident Gambian soldiers. His mastery of the English language during the press presentation made me counted him as one of the intellectuals of the Gambia National Army. Additionally, his two great books, Meet me in Conakry and Coup d’ etat in the Gambia- recently published, have both provided an intriguingly interesting reading.
Now, for Sam to rescue that shiny reputation from burying six- feet deep further down the gutters, he should stand brave, give his unreserved apology to the Mandikas he offended and from there, lives go on. He will surely be forgiven because every one makes mistakes in life and no one is infallible. Sir, you should carom from your intellectual seat, swallow your pride and muster some bravery as a former top military officer and apologize now
One fundamental thing that eludes my imagination is how Sam with all his intellectual prowess could not fathom that ours (The Gambia) is nation of God-fearing, love and respect and compassion for each other and God willing, tribalism will never gain root in that small nation in size but huge in image globally for its hospitality, peacefulness and friendliness. Agreeably, we are divided into tribes just for positive identifications as elucidates in the noble Quran in sura 49 Al-Hujurat, The Chambers in verse 13 “ O mankind, we have created you male and female and make you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Surely, the noblest of you in Allah’s sight is the most pious’.
But, at the national level, we are homogeneous because every tribe in the Gambia intermarries without exception or discrimination thus narrowing the gap for any tribal separations or hegemony as evident in some parts of Africa and Asia. If Sam the retired colonel could not figure that out till now, one will not be at fault by inferring that he is dabbling and wallowing in irreversible stupidity, intellectual dishonesty and above all in a megalomaniac world of his own that can cause him an irreparable image damage. Sorry for my blunt and biting outburst but this is the reality as the common mandika dictum has it ‘ some people deserve to be awaken from their slumber by hammering them hard just as the way a Fulani Sheppard will some times do to his herd”. It’s not by any means a coincidence to say that Yorro Jallow a Minnesota based Gainako editor who himself is a Fula will corroborate this postulation.
As I hope that this humble appeal of mine may serve as a clincher if heeded to by the retired lieutenant colonel, I must attest that I have to indulge into a frantic mind-scratching episode to wanting to determine Sam’s real rationale for heaping unjustifiable tirades against the Mandikas.Perhaps, his only motivation may have been that he had had some past bitter personal experiences with a few former mandika key public figures as alluded to in his high-sounding barrage of articles. But using that and go ballistic in his mankinka bashing and vilification cannot have an atom of justification.
What is evident though is Suntu and others have contained the former mighty figure in the Gambia military brass with their very powerful rebuttals accompanied by some very sensible explanations thereby by dealing some very serious blow to a giant writer who has always exhibited his excellent writing skills.
This debate must cease now and Sam must be encouraged to apologize now I guess.
