Lamin Sabally Reacts To Mathew Jallow’s Petition Letter

Freedom Editors Described Sabally’s Letter As “Mischievous and Deceptive.”
By Lamin Sabally
I respectfully ask you to delist my name from a list of exiled Journalists posted in Mathew's letter addressed to Ecowas. I considered it very unfair to name my name without my consent. I have been a responsible Journalist in the Gambia without a doubt and I had worked for both the private media and also for the state owned newspaper, The Gambia Daily without abandoning that principle. I am disassociating myself from any group either politically or not with the intension of opposing the Jammeh regime. This is ascribed principally to personal reasons.  I came from a political family and since the demise of PPP of which my uncle served as Vice president, I have quit active politics and concentrating on developing myself academically. I am a journalist that writes objectively and operate within the fullest tenets of the ethics of the profession. I shun irresponsible journalism and remains a patriotic citizen unflinchingly. It is why my writings are usually on social  and human interests issues and not politically induced and Ialwys indicate my full legal name without fear. I don't insult, don't character assassinate but objectively dwell on matters of social interests. Egamble of such pieces I have authored included: Are Gambian in the Diaspora abandoning their local languages for English? Joking relationship in the Gambia. Obama' s election and what it means for racism in the US etc. I will never use the power of my pen to write about anybody negatively without backing my piece with concrete facts because I am a true Muslim who is more concerned about the day of Judgment, the day of reckoning. A day on which every soul will be accountable for their deeds before Allah, the almighty in whom I seek refuge to protect me from Satan. Surely, that day is coming and we as Muslims must always reflect upon that as the Quran states in many Ayat of the noble book. "Ifalata Kulun" meaning will you not reflect as a reminder to all believers about this day.

Thanks,

Lamin Sabally   

Editors note: We do not know who to trust in today’s Gambia. Almost every tom dick and harry is becoming an apologist or a praise-singer to the Jammeh dictatorship, because of selfishness.

While Lamin Sabally is entitled to his privacy, he stooped too low by making dishonest statements about himself, and the realities on the ground.  

It is about time we keep these folks honest. A lie left unchallenged, might later turned out to be the truth, as rightly argued by veteran American  journalist Ted Roberts.    

We just cannot fathom how on earth can Lamin Sabally of all Sabally issue such a misleading statement, and expect us to remain mute about it. I think he owe it to America, and her people by stating the facts. Making such blatant lies, just for the sake of appeasing the dictatorship would ruin his credibility. 

We are proud to be called exiles, and shall never backed down from our principled stance against the dictatorship.  We also do not care living all  our life as exiles,  since we have a genuine cause against the very Government Sabally lied against behind closed doors at some point.

The truth be told,  the likes of Sabally wants to visit The Gambia untouched, and at the same time, they want to dine with us the perceived “unpatriotic, and irresponsible” journalists. 

Sabally is free to employ any line of journalism he wants, but he should not be economical with the truth. He could have issued a short rejoinder, without going all out to make such unsubstantiated statements.  Who cares if his family were in active politics during the first republic?  Who cares if he Sabally shunned irresponsible journalism? Who is he trying to impress here? What does he aimed to achieve by making such mischievous, and deceptive statements?

While we are not holding brief for Mathew Jallow, it is imperative to point out that there is no offense in reporting the truth. Sabally never denied in his rejoinder that he is an exile, as reported by  Mathew K Jallow.  At least our APRC neighbor Cherno Kebbeh did. Kebbeh stated emphatically that he has not been exiled by the Jammeh administration, which was a commendable move on his part. He was bold enough to speak his mind.

Instead of addressing the issues, Sabally was busy projecting himself as a decent , and patriotic citizen of The Gambia. Sabally is not  more patriotic than some of us,  who risked our lives by challenging the dictatorship openly, without enslaving our minds, as he did.  We write, and say whatever we feel about our Government, as long as it is in line with the dictates of the law, but Sabally can’t because he does not own his mind. He wants to appease the dictatorship all the time. You can’t have it both ways  Sabally.

On a final note, we hope our friend will read this editorial note with an open mind. Our conscience could  not allow us to sit on such a misleading reaction without commenting on it. We owe it to Gambians, and friends of The Gambia, by stating the facts. We expect  Sabally to be honest, and stop playing with the gallery.