Reference is drawn from
the publication on the SMBC News Written by Sam Phatey on August
20, 2017. It is in that regards I write to register my total dissatisfaction as
per the statement you made against the Jolas with the intention of portraying
the noble Jola tribe at a bad viewpoint of light.
“Amongst those who are
among the prominent Jolas in the country, Bojang is the only person with a
clean record. The rest, he said, have committed human rights abuses, crimes
against the state and rained havoc on the economy”. Lawyer Darboe.(https://gambia.smbcgo.com/2017/08/20/ousainou-darboe-recommended-ex-speaker-bojangs-appointment/).
Your aforesaid statement
above is mathematically calculated and wrongly executed which when not handled
correctly might lead to tribal conflict.
As a political leader you need to possess good communication skills that
will reunite people despite of their political ideology.
Labeling the Jolas as
the only tribe that rained havoc in The Gambia is baseless on tantamount to
tribal conflict. The question maybe that one asked ought to be did Jammeh only
employed the Jolas during his 22years rule?
Who were the Ministers
of Works, Health, Basic and Secondary, Higher Education Research Science and
Technology, Tourism, Trade and the Secretary General and Head of Civil Service? Who were the Inspector
General of Police, Director of GID and GFRS? Who were the Managing
Directors of GRA and SSSHFC? Etc.
Just to name a few
these figure shows a clear testimony that the Jolas were the list privileged
people to occupy the key positions in the Jammeh’s lead administration. The last time I checked there was no Jolas Minister
in the Barrrow lead administration. This leadership style is undemocratic,
unconstitutional because in true democratic setting citizens should be treated equally
despite of their tribe, religion, gender, age, demographic and political
ideology.
It is arguable that the
negative effects of tribalism permeate all African countries. Millions have
been killed, maimed or displaced in civil wars in sub-Sahara Africa over the
past 50 years, mostly because of tribal agitation. Most of us are living witnesses
to the carnage that occurred in Rwanda and is still going on in Somalia. These
countries have fallen into the abyss mainly because of tribalism. (The Point,
2010).
Tribalism in Africa has
been a major stumbling block to democracy as well as socio-economic
development. It affects every sphere of development, from social economic,
political to educational spheres. In political spheres, tribalism persists
since it provides an avenue via which state goodies and favors trickle down
from those in power to their tribesmen. Therefore, loyalty to tribe is given
ever greater relevance than loyalty to the country.
Barrow is the presidents
of the Republic of The Gambia in which none of the Jolas deny therefore his
administration has to engage the Jolas and all other tribes for them to fell
that yes they are recognized by the barrow lead administration. But if they are
marginalized they will fell that they are not part and parcel of the new
Gambia. The Gambia belongs to The Gambian’s both those home and abroad. In
rebuilding a new Gambia we dream all regions need to be represented well and
treated equally despite of political ideology. In a place where trust does not
exist, love, respect and solidarity are also absent. The lack of trust destroys
family, country, as well as social, cultural, and economic life.
Politics is over let’s
heal the wounds and work together for a better Gambia. The real trick to good
governance is to place the needs of the masses above everything else; to lead
not just with words but with action. Actions define priorities. It’s the only
way politicians can successfully bring us the long sought dividend of
democracy.
“We have appointed a
law and a practice for every one of you. Had God willed, He would have made you
a single community, but He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you.
So compete with each other in doing well. Every one of you will return to God
and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed.” (Surat
al-Ma’ida, 48)
Note: I belong to both
the Noble Mandinka and the Jola tribe, tribalism have no room in the smiling
coast. “People who sow seeds of discord
by preaching tribalism, racism and religious misunderstanding should find
another place to go.” Mwai Kinaki.
Finally I’m expressing
my right of freedom of speech and expression” and my “right of academic
freedom”, which are expressly guaranteed by Section 25 (1) (A) and Section 25(1)
(B) respectively, of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution.
Sincerely,
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Blogger/ Activist
No comments:
Post a Comment