A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
By Baati Jollof
Dear Sir,
As
the 2006 Presidential Elections in The Gambia draws near, there are
already indications that rough, tough and violent times lies in wait
for the entire citizenry that would be involved in the election
process, most especially the members of the opposition. The
nature of the recent attack by the Arrogant, Perturbed and Restless
Criminals (APRC) on the UDP/ NRP campaign team in the Central River
Region is a clear signal that your thugs will be geared into motion
come September, in order to cause havoc and create confusion and panic.
Mr President, it is a president greater than yourself, in the person of Tabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa,
who taught us that on occasions like this, we need to start at the very
beginning. So please allow me also to start at the very beginning. I am a Gambian in every respect. Unlike
you, I was born in the territorial confines of the entity called The
Gambia, long before we even attain our independence from the British. Like
most Gambian youths, I grew up in a strong extended family setting
where the virtues and ideals of a decent life are cherished and adhered
to in all respect. Respect to the elderly is cardinal. The
virtues of love, sharing, respect for one another and the respect for
human life and dignity appeared to have been in-born principles that we
grew up with.
Few
years ago after spending time to acquire knowledge beyond the shores of
our land, we came back to our beloved country with the hope that we can
make our nation great like those nations that we have truly admired. Though our entire dreams have
never been fully realised, there has always been that conducive
environment for us to strive and work and play that all may live in
unity, and eventually to achieve those dreams. Today, Mr. President, you have frustrated our dreams. Ever
since you came to power through a coup, you have been systematically
oppressing the citizenry to the extent that only very few people can
stand in public to challenge your unmannered and uncultured abusive
utterances.
The
environment is no longer conducive. The people of the land are no
longer happy. Fear and agony grips the entire nation. You have killed
our children on April 10 & 11 with the help of Baboucarr Jatta,
Ousman Badjie and Isatou Njie Saidy because the children want to
address issues of oppression and intimidation that concerns them. You
have killed Deyda Hydara with the help of Musa Jammeh, Kwasu Sanneh,
Solo Badjie, Kalipha Bajinka and Aziz Tamba because he wanted to expose
the classic corruption orchestrated by state house. The students like
Deyda and the numerous soldiers that you have summarily executed,
including Lieutenant Barrow, Dot Faal, Lieutenant Camara and Captain
Ebrima Lowe have lost their lives in the struggle to defend our
freedom. Today, there seems to be an audible silence from the general
populace on these grave atrocities that you have committed against the
citizens of our Dear Motherland, but this is just for a brief period
for we are still shocked by the wickedness that you have introduced in
a country that has been known for her generosity and peaceful
co-existence. We will never dishonour the cause of freedom, for
freedom is a necessary condition for human existence. Mr. President,
our hearts bleed and tears continue to flow from our eyes. There is
serious suffering in our Dear Motherland, The Gambia.
Yahya, your emergence to power was seen by most Gambians as a welcome development, as
it was very much evident that the former administration had started to decay and get rotten. Most
Gambians including myself were very much pleased when you said that
you are soldiers with a difference and that you are open to
criticisms and the public should criticise you anywhere you go wrong. Today, I can confidently say that you never meant what you were saying to us on July 22, 1994. There
was no sincerity of truth in what you said and no sincere desire in
your heart to accomplish the genuine desires of the Gambian people. Like
Idi Amin Dada, Mobutu Sesesekou, Katoka, Samuel Doe, Bokassa, Blaise
Campoare, Hussien Habre and Mengistu Haile Mariam you were just a
poverty ridden soldier, who came to salvage himself by looting the
scare resources of the state.
Jamus,
what ever you have said to us has today turn out to be absolute lies.
You have buried Accountability, Transparency and Probity in an
unmarked mass grave. Within just a period of twelve years you have
become the richest man in our Dear Country. You
are probably the most corrupt president in the continent, with your
dirty octopus tentacles spread over all sorts of illegal business
deals, from the smuggling of blood diamonds, arms trafficking,
prostitution, money laundering and the falsification and issuing of our
national documents to criminals like Babading Sissisoho, Tarik Musa and
lately Salif Sadio and some of your Moroccan in-laws.
Greed has submerged your senses to the extent that the nation seems to you like your personal property. Today you have shares in every lucrative business entity in the Gambia.
It is a known fact that you own the majority of shares at the Kairaba
Beach Hotel. Mr. President you also own significant shares at Africell.
The Sindola Resort belongs entirely to you. Mr. President, we as senior civil
servants who walk along the corridors of power with you every day know
that you have forcefully acquired massive number of plots of land along
the TDA from Kerr Serign to Burfut, which you have developed and it is
occasionally rented out to foreign business tycoons who visit the
country and make payment to you in foreign currency through the members
of your cartel. Mr. President you said that you are the greatest farmer in our land today. By
achieving this undeserved title, you have robbed the family
entitlements of most of the farmlands of your people. Today, more that
40% of the entire Kanilai territory belongs to you, not to mention the
huge farm lands in Dorbong and other areas in the Foni District. I am
afraid that very soon, the entire AU Villas will also be your own.
Junkung,
at this trial period there are serious speculations that there is a
grand design to take the lives of prominent political opponents, most
notably Honourable Halifa Sallah and Ousainou Daboe. If
I were to advise you I will tell you to bury this idea and to start
thinking of how to abdicate the presidency and to move quietly to one
of your villas in Morocco until an opportune time when a new government
of national unity will request for your extradition so that you will be
tried in a competent court of law, for all the atrocities that you have
committed against the Gambian people. Mr.
President, those that you have financed and trained to kill will sooner
or later be forced to face justice too. Musa Jammeh, Kwasu Sanneh, Aziz
Tamba and Solo Badjie have already been identified by Gambians as those
who kill for Jammeh, to whom killing is directly proportionate to their
personal welfare. These people though misled by you, have followed
greed and hence will also equally face justice.
Jammeh Musa (Mendy) on a final note I will caution you to avoid as best as
possible in these final days, the three demonic daughters of Jezebel. Isatou Njie Saidy, Nenneh Macdoll and Fatoumatta Jahumpa
Ceesay have together continued to fan the flames of discord among the
Gambian people. Despite the fact that you are the one who corrupted
them both morally and spiritually, these devils made women have
entangled themselves in shame, greed, lies and deception in order to
gain more favours from you, Satan. They have been constantly behind
your back, undressing you to repeatedly rape our constitution and to
pull everything in your own personal interest against the wishes of the
majority of the Gambian people.
Mr.
President, Let this elections pass peacefully without any major
terrific incident. Let the people of our dear country regain their
pride and Dignity. Let justice guide your actions.
There is nothing that can stop the winds of change, as change is the only permanent concept in life.
Yours truly,
Baati Jollof
( Ken na chi doom mi rew mee)