If The Leader Is Visionless He/She Will Always Lead The Citizens To An Unknown Destination

Leadership skills in the 21st Century are an essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their countries’ goal and objectives, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives for a better society. Unfortunately, 10 years after Independence Africa has not only produced corrupt leaders but clueless and visionless leaders who don’t wish anything good for their citizens.

The last time I checked Africa has witnessed its fair share of traumatic experiences due to the thieves we elect into public offices to oversee the affairs of the State. It is on record that in Africa one of the most common symptoms of survival is lack of empathy and compassion. In terms of natural resources, Africa is the world's richest continent. It has 50% of the world's gold, most of the world's diamonds and chromium, 90% of the cobalt, 40% of the world's potential hydroelectric power, 65% of the manganese, millions of acres of untilled farmland, as well as other natural resources. Despite its natural wealth, Africa is home to the world's most impoverished and abused people.

Furthermore, Africa has been politically backward and immature throughout the ages, with lots of violence, injustices and above all corrupt practices. Her children on the other hand, while thinking about better days to come their way, have been proven wrong by people they voted into public offices.

Nowadays, any responsible person could be easily offended by the increasing mayhem in the continent. This is particularly true for Africans as the continent is highly suffering from various atrocious misdeeds and mischiefs. The major cause of all existing wrongdoings in our beloved and resource-rich continent is primarily poor leadership.

Fanon, in his wisdom, already saw the crisis of lack of leadership in post-colonial Africa. He saw a leadership that was so eager to fill the shoes of its former colonial masters. Without failure we must critically assess those who vie for leadership positions in our societies, least we select comedians, as opposed to strong visionaries for a better Africa we all want to see.

Indeed, many people in Africa do not have trust in their leaders. This is because most often than not leaders tend to abuse power for various reasons. It is often said by many that African leaders put first their personal interests than anything else. It is obvious that their self-interest may not be the interest of the public at large. Corruption, nepotism, egoism and abuse of power are the major characteristics of African leaders. (Gebremeden, 2016)

Mugwiji said being an African, to continue blaming Western powers for under developing Africa decades after most countries have gained independence, is simply failure to take responsibility. This is not to discount the continued negative effects of imperialism and neo-colonialism, but a sheer understanding that for us to turn things around we must take responsibility for our own actions.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Re: New Political Party Being Formed

Dr Sidat Yaffa

Reference is invited from the publication on the Standard Newspaper as per the above subject matter dated Friday 19th October 2018 ‘'A new political party is being formed and due for registration at the Independent Electoral Commission soon''. ‘'The party to be named Citizens for National Development, CND is headed by a UTG lecturer, Associate Professor Dr Sidat Yaffa and Dr Madi Touray''.

The said Professor should focus more on transforming the University of The Gambia to meet international standards first before eying for the presidency. However, if we want to have a better nation where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on the university where it all began. As such will build trust within the citizenry to rally behind him in achieving his dream of the presidency.

Furthermore, how prepared and serious is Prof. Yaffa to run a State considering the calamities at the University of The Gambia which he and the colleagues need to address as soon as possible for a better educational system we all want to see?

Is Prof. Yaffa not aware that there is a need for basic furniture for lectures to take place at the UTG, the environment needs to be conducive to learning and as it stands the boards are so old? Their needs to be developed with regard to learning, the times have changed and in the 21st century, there is a necessity for the use of technology in the classroom. The University still lacks basic projectile or video presentations of important lectures. In a nutshell, there is zero use of the latest technological innovations to help students at the University of The Gambia in their learning.

The current infrastructure at both programs needs expansion in order to accommodate the increasing number of students particularly when other programs such as the medical and public health classes are held simultaneously. The said challenge should be the agenda of the Professor on how to address it for good.

Leadership in the 21st Century is an essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their institution's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives. That's what the UTG need now in which Prof. Yaffa is a stakeholder. Sheryl Sandberg said Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.

To be continued…

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

The Society That Ignores Religion Fall A Prey To Corruption

I write to express my concern over the issue of corruption in government. Since after independence there has been total and open corruption by both Governments officials who have been placed to manage the affairs of the State.

We have seen the privilege given to some individuals to manage the affairs of this country being misused, some have enriched themselves and their allies and in turn, the very people who have elected them to serve have been neglected and the country is saddled with huge debts which our children and grandchildren will have to repay. Every day newspapers tell us tragic stories of many incidents of corruption. In offices, no file moves until the dealing officials get the bribe.

The society that ignores religion fall a prey to corruption. If the man who is committing corruption has the fear of God, he will never make a fuss of in this act. As we have broken our links with religion, we have no sense of right or wrong. We have forgotten the golden rules set by our elders as per the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.

The best way to tackle this crisis is to create a social consciousness amongst the people on this very vital issue. The corrupt elements should be thoroughly exposed and given an exemplary punishment. Those who bring the cases of corruption to the notice of the authorities should be publicly humoured and richly rewarded.

The corrupt rulers have forgotten the practices of Hazrat Omar (RA). Hazrat Omar (RA) kept awake during the nights and had a round of the city to see the real situation of his society. He held himself responsible if even a dog died of hunger. Do our rulers or politicians show this type of the character?

To control corruption, we have to make our people true Muslims and Christians. Only our religion can guarantee the purity of body and soul. It teaches us the lesson of simplicity and satisfaction. It will make us God-fearing people. If everyone becomes gentle and considerate, there will be no corruption at all for a better society we all want to see.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger

Casamance The Untold Story (Part.10)

In 1907, Galandou Diouf was the first African Originaire elected as Legislator Councilor in Rufisque. In 1914 Blaise Diagne, also an Originaire became the first African to win a seat at the French National Assembly. Diagne subsequently became the most important politician in the four communes. He worked to gain full voting right for the Originaires in 1916. At Diagne's death in 1934, Galandou Diouf succeeded him in the French Assembly. Lamine Gueye, the last Originaire politician in Senegal, replaced him during World War II.

In 1946 Gueye gained voting rights for all African subjects in Senegal, equalizing their status with that of the Originaires. With the Independence of Senegal in 1960, the special rights awarded to the inhabitants of the Four Communes were permanently abolished. (Encyclopedia of African History).

The policy of assimilation was promoted vigorously in the Four Communes of Senegal. The African inhabitants of the Four Communes, called the Originaires, had the status of French citizens and thus were unlike other African inhabitants, who were subjects of the French empire and controlled by the Code de l’Indigénat or the Colonial penal code.

On Christmas day 25th December 1982, there was a mass demonstration by MFDC led by one Alieu Ceesay Badjie, a retired military sergeant from Thionk Ecile, and Salif Sadio of Kartiath calling for the independence of Casamance whose population is religiously and ethnically distinct from the rest of Senegal.

At the time of the demonstration Diamacoune was not in attendance and when the leader of the movement Alieu Ceesay Badjie was shot and killed by the Senegalese security forces, the rest of the revolutionaries ran into the bush and regrouped in the border along Guinea Bissau and Salif Sadio became the Commander in Chief of MFDC.

Diamacoune Senghore did not take part in the said demonstration but he later managed to established contact with the revolutionaries in the bush whose aim was to liberate Casamance for independence. The composition of the armed separatist movement has the hallmarks of an ethnic conflict given fact that the separatists are mainly from the Jola ethnic in a region which is comprised of multiple ethnic groups. This can be attributable to the fact that the Jolas are the dominant group in Casamance and yet the most marginalized, but it also points to the fact that there was no broad consensus in the so-called claim for independence among the various ethnic group and even within the Jola ethnic group there was no broad support and therefore the armed separatists resort to terrorizing communities that do not support them. The deliberate attack on non-Jolas especially Wollof of the North also contributed to the dwindling support among the population of Casamance.

The movement also got support from the Guinea Military top brass some of whom were engaged in illicit drug trafficking. The MFDC support the former Guinean Chief of Staff, General Ansumana Mane during the power struggle which ousted President Nino Vierra and brought Anusmana Manneh to power.

The assassination of General Ansumana Mane by Kumba Yalla marked a turning point in support and sustenance of the MFDC because Kumba Yalla drove the movement out of their base in Guinea Bissau. This weakened the movement and divided the MFDC into small faction scattered in mainly the borders of The Gambia and some still at the Bissau border.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

Casamance The Untold Story (Part.9)

Historically the Casamance region has a diverse colonial heritage due to the Portuguese, French and the English control for over 200 years. The region was a Portuguese colony until 1866 when control of the territory was ceded on the British in exchange of the territory.

Portugal originally colonized the region including Guinea Bissau in the 17th century and subsequently gave the Casamance to France during the Congress of Berlin negotiation in 1886. The British then assumed control of the region shortly but finally ceded the region to the French. The Casamance region has since then become a French colony until Senegal attained independence on 4th of April 1960.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) was formed on May 7th, 1947 by four revolutionaries; Ebrima Diallo and Edward Diallo of Kolda, Emil Badian of Bingiona and Edward Diatta of Oussouye. The main objective of the MFDC then was recognized as a party in the Senegalese independence movement.

Readers could recall that; during the French colonial rule in Senegal only four regions were allowed to nominate/elect representatives to the French parliament and this regions were Saint Luis, Gore, Dakar and Rufisque. The deputies were; Galandou Diouf, Blaisse Diane and Lamin Gaye whom all came from these four stated regions.

Leopold Sedar Senghor

‘’Leopold Sedar Senghor a prominent Senegalese scholar who was brought up by the Catholic Church was said to have supported the founding of MFDC on the understanding that the MFDC will back him up in his bid to become the leader of Senegal. It was quite obvious that Senghor will not get the backing of deputies from the four regions simply because he hails from Sine Saloum a region outside of the four regions mentioned above’’. My source, Said.

When Senghore was finally elected into the French Parliament and eventually led Senegal to Independence in April 1960. He introduced one-party rule thereby banning all other parties. MFDC became dormant and some of its founders died in mysterious circumstances.

In 1974 when the multiparty rule was reintroduced in Senegal Lamine Kura Senghore a National Assembly deputy from Cassamance made a call in parliament for the revival of MFDC party. He also called for the Senegalese government to produce the remains of Allen Sitoiye Jatta, a female Activist of Casamance who was arrested by the French and sent to exile in Mali for resisting French influence in the Casamance region. Lamin’s call did not go down well with President Senghore and as a result, Lamin fell out with the PS party. It was later reported that Lamin spent the rest of his life in jail (Source not confirmed).

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

Re: Don’t Blame Police Officer David Kujabi – there are many out there like him!

David Kujabi

Reference is invited from the article published on the Freedom Newspaper dated September 27, 2018, as per the above subject matter. The aforesaid immortality article of accusation is a hateful fabrication of huge lies and dislike at the highest level on top of Mountain Everest, mathematically calculated wrongly with the intention of ruining and undermining the status of David Kujabi, are we in the area of character assassination?

The aforesaid evil, wicked article, was a malicious mixture of offensive mammoth lies, hatred, deep-rooted academic and intellectual jealousy, designed and projected to portray David in a bad light, and to nastily wipe out the dignity and impeccable honour he is known for as a Police officer. In fact, the author has the audacity to add hatred on our noble, splendid Police Institution.

Dalasi Keme should note that David is exercising his constitutional rights “right of freedom of speech and expression” and “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.

The author name Dalasi Keme, hypocritically hiding behind the keyboard has the guts to spew garbage on an honourable and finest Police officer of our time. I will advise the author of such an evil article to utilize the opportunity well as such will not take him/her any were.

‘’I am watching and monitoring and I intend to continue to contribute henceforth because some of us cannot remain silent watchers. Apologies, but I can’t be bothered to use my real name, a protection social media also provides’’ Said, Dalasi Keme.

Surprisingly, enough Dalasi Keme has the backbone, and the moral fibre to accuse David as a disgruntled officer. This saw how academically raw, crude and evil he/she is since he/she is hiding behind a fake name.

I refer Dalasi Keme to the 1997 constitution to familiarize himself/ herself on Section 24(3) A of the 1997 constitution (Presumption of innocence). Furthermore, David is serving this country of ours with sincerity, honesty, integrity, passion and courage.

I think it is high time we help the government with how government's function. Our collective responsibilities should be how to bring back the lost glory of the country for the past wasted 53 years of so-called independence. Fact, no one but us can make our country a better place for us and generation unborn. Let’s try to put The Gambia first before anything else. (Badjie, 2017).

Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist