By Ebrima Conteh 

Thank you The Gambia’s Watchman for your advice, your points are well taken. Contrary to your observation, my intent was never to use my position to besmirch a person I do not know. Contrary to what you may think I am a humble man who is blessed by the Almighty to reap the benefits of his hard work and sacrifice. It had never crossed my mind that sending an email from work would be so over analyzed. Trust me when I tell you that these walls are overrated.

Due to the nature of my job and reasons that am not at liberty to share in a public forum I do not have access my personal email at work. I am at liberty to use my work email as long as I do not do anything that illegal, unethical and most of all against the interest of the United States Government. Please do not take this the wrong way; I have been around the block so I am quiet familiar with federal government rules and regulation that govern use of government email.

I do not know you and I do not know the history behind you and Sankanu, what I noticed is that Sankanu’s interview was addressing why he choose to be centrist, his interview was informative because he eloquently explained why he has chosen to be a centrist and he bemoaned the “you are with us or against us” trend that is showing its ugly head in the Gambia’s national discussion. He said he is advocating a middle ground between two groups who believe one has to be with them or against them. Is this a sin, does this warrant some one attacking him? All of a sudden out of nowhere you came out swinging with personal attacks. I humbly question your point and objective for attacking Sankanu, what is this Sarahule man guilty of? Other that being a Sarahule of course (am a Badibunka and may be am defending my son lol). Since he included me a group email that was never intended to be publicized, (not that I have a problem with my comments and email address being publicized) I use the opportunity to caution him not to reply to you because I think it will ignite another fruitless debate.

This is not about you, I absolutely stand against fellow citizens attacking each order and highjacking our national discussion. You see Watchman; this is not about you, Sankanu, Cherno or Ebrima. It is my humble believe that the burning issues that affect our dear nation demand more attention; we ought to sit with our selves and ask what are our common goals are? What are the issues that bind us? And what our common problems are? You might not agree with me but I do not think these personal attacks, macho posturing, name-calling will solve any of our problems. Our problems are real and in our face. APRC has a mandate and they are enjoying an undeniable political capital, Gambians do not have a choice today but to accept the fact that unless there is an alternative to APRC we have to come to terms with living with this administration. So I think our focus should be on providing such an alternative, unless and until there is an alternative to APRC what choice do Gambians have? Let us get real for a second and addresses the reasons why APRC keeps wining election after election while the Diaspora and the Opposition stay divided and lack to take corrective action.

 It is my humble believe that the Internet revolution will be derailed if we continue to attack one another and forget the underlying problems that affect all Gambians.

Thank you Watchman, thank you, thank you again for toning down the personal attacks in your last article, I will seize this opportunity to thank you for focusing on issues of common concern in you next article. This soldier salutes you.  If you will permit me I suggest you use your command of the English Language to enlighten our people about our common problems, please use your God given talent to unite Gambians, raise issues that will benefit our people. I commend you, the freedom newspaper, Gainako, senegambianews, thegambiaecho, allgambia and the gambiajournal for the tireless effort but at the same time I fervently believe we need to shift our focus and redirect our energy to uniting our people. We ought to make a concerted effort to resolve our common problems rather than attacking one another.

I do not think the original intent of the Internet Revolution was to wage a personal attack campaign against people who do to agree with you. I do not and cannot speak for independent, centrist leaning, politically savvy and high-minded NPR listening Gambian in the Diaspora but I can tell you this, some people see a cause of concern, the way and manner in which our national discussion is heading is troubling. Quite frankly I don’t not think personal attacks and character assassination is the way forward. Some Gambians do not agree with the way the Internet revolution is heading. It is my humble opinion that unless and until we see the dangers of a derailed Internet revolution we risk rendering this wonderful medium counter productive. Some choose to be centrists and independents due to the fact that neither APRC nor Opposition camp is heading in the right direction.

This might be a hard pill to swallow but there is no way I can say it, so pardon me if I offend anyone. Some highly educated, very successful Gambians in the Diaspora who did not have a hand in neither the former regime nor the current one do not support the APRC but at the same time cannot stand the hawkish stand against the APRC, this does not men we support what the APRC administration is doing, it does not mean we are looking for a position. We think there is a better approach to the current one Gambians has become accustomed to. The constant bickering, petty personal attacks actually undermine the overriding goal of instituting a functional democratic system back home.

I learnt in Military science and tactics class that when two opponents face each other over time they employ the same tactics. The APRC is not tolerant to its critics so APRC is always right on all issues all the time and the APRC critics do not accept criticism and in fact they go out of the way to smear any one who does not see eye to eye with them. Both APRC and its critics are right at all times, no one can bridge the divide so we will throw in the towel and keeping fighting amongst ourselves till the end of time right? When will we bridge the gap and standing applying common sense to the future of our country?

I do not think a fellow countryman should be attacked just because he or she chooses be a centrist and independent, I do not think some one should be attacked for choosing not to oppose a regime change at all cost, and finally I do not think some one should be attacked because he or she sees that a hawkish stand and a you are either with us or against policy is in the best interest of the Gambia.  

Listen fellow countrymen! The part that our nation is taking is not envious, while other countries namely Ghana are sowing the seeds of democracy and hence progressing politically The Gambian is not. So it is high time we wake up and stop this personal attack, let us deal with the issues at hand, hold intellectual discussions as mature people. I call on our intellectuals to take the lead in our national discussion.

Please enough is enough! Respectfully requesting permission to fall out?  Till next time I leave you with the infantry mans cry.

Follow me!

V/r

Ebrima Conteh