Government Wrongs, Media Wrongs, Public Wrongs, and My Hard Test on Gambia’s Protests:
First we must understand our wrongs are chain or relay like between actions and reactions. I certainly fault the government most, then the media, and a fraction of the public that I still simplify as public. The Gambia is a very small country with a bunch of under-educated folks even at government levels. So we must be very careful because the dangers of protests are very real, but I equally admit protests are sometimes sadly needed, because government branches do sometimes fail us beyond the tolerable.
Government Wrongs: We will have to ignore some of them to avoid ending up with a book. The first wrong is lack of a good system of communication and understanding of the importance of transparency. You need a strong communication team, but do we even know how many people work with Ebrima Sankareh, the government spoke-person (press secretary) and their competence levels? Well, the drama hints very low. I think a six monthly update on the sales of seized assets of Jammeh would have helped. They want blind trust, or endless begging, which is wrong upon wrongs.
Media Wrongs: When some crazy members of parliament (MPs) repeatedly ask for information about the sales of the assets, the media should not just echo, but ask the MPs questions, actions to take, and even suggest solutions better than protests.
Public wrongs: Again, it is a fraction of the public and multiple demands may mean splitted fraction of even the protesters. I think the public is right in wanting to know how much money and where it goes. However the public or fraction of the public is very wrong in wanting to know who bought each property. The buyers have privacy rights and safety issues matter. For the public to choose protest as the first public option is sad, because we must debate what other options each branch can do before protest. I have repeatedly said: As war should be the last resort option for the government, protests should be the last resort option for the Public. We must educate the public on the importance of protests, but also its dangers, especially in our age.
Then the cycle of wrongs recycle through reactions:
Government Wrongs: Government should not deny them permit to protest. Issue the permit and repent where need be. Go prepare the list of sales so far and redact the names of buyers with explanations.
Media Wrongs: The media wrongly echo without suggesting to the government and the public, what and what to do? Well Jarga, you do not read every paper, listen to every radio and TV, so you cannot verify all what the media said, but only the wrong echoing you heard… fair enough, but enough truth tends to subdue at least one party, if not both.
Public wrongs: Proceeding with the protest is a gamble that eventually gave you what you wanted in this world, but at what cost in this world and how will God re-judge the matter is just guessing. You can rejoice with the information, but was it the corruption many of you silently suspected or even claimed? Some of you got arrested while how many members of the branches enjoyed and refused to admit where they could have helped? They may re-send you to protest where other better options exist.
Then the escalatory cycles continue:
Government wrongs: Arresting even the journalists will only give you a bad name internationally and with God and the Godly. We certainly know all or most governments do arrest at protests that are genuine and non-genuine. Even harmless MLK was repeatedly arrested for protests, when options were a lot more limited. Even this week, the Mayor of Newwark was arrested in what he claimed was not even a protest. Government widespread of unnecessary arrests and intimidations does not mean it is right or normal. It actually endangers all of us, because some may choose up to terrorism, because our tolerance levels vary, and government evolution seems too slow.
Media Wrongs: Covering is part of the job, but educating and fair covering matters. Where need be, you must educate, and sometimes even fault the public. Riots and any form of violence, or rude behaviors should be reported.
Public Wrongs: You finally got what you wanted, including our weak government failing to fully protect the buyers. Intentions matter, but effects or potential effects matter. Yahyah Jammeh is a very controversial figure of the Gambia and still with tens of thousands of varyingly crazy fans. Jarga Gigo or xyz bought his xyz compound. How bad is jarga or xyz, with all what Yahya jammeh did for him. I will deny him or her which dues where I have power. I will go to the marabouts against him or her. I will go set the place on fire, etc. Accuse me of assumptions, but we all know some people will at least talk, and what percentage may act at what levels? People have unnecessary expectations and when you have tens of thousands of people or fans, even one thousand crazy fans can do lot of damage.
I am not saying there may be potential good in releasing the buyers list, but will you agree potential harms exist? It takes a visionary to see far, so short sighted Gambians or governments may not agree. If governments will always release the names of buyers (winners), then expect slow sales when such sales re-occur in any country. Sometimes you have to weigh the advantages versus disadvantages of things and information, because even alcohol has some benefits…
My Hard test: I thank God for many things, but I truly wish he helps ease my test, beyond enriching me. I have a cycle of re-educating people who do not want to learn, or God or xyz put a seal on their faculties?
I lived with President Barrow in the same compound in the Gambia for over a year, know his family, have love for him and have to publicly criticise him? Well, I was a writer before he became the president or ‘bus driver’ of the Gambia… Since I prefer the ‘bus of God /truth’ and he seems indifferent to those outside “his bus” than ‘God’s bus’, then conflict becomes inevitable. I have not seen or spoken to Barrow for years, nor am I trying to, except on issues that can uplift humankind. I visited him only one time and am not trying to see him again, unless he calls me about the many issues I write for Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, etc to adapt…
I lived with Ebrima Sankareh in the same apartment, the government spoke-person (press secretary), for months in the u.s and I have to publicly criticise him and his team. Well, again, I have not seen or spoken to Sankareh for over fifteen years, nor am I making any effort to see him or talk to him. If I can have love for someone I do not know in South Africa or xyz, I certainly have love for Sankareh. No bad blood, will shake his hand if we meet, but my responsibility to shake his head and others head is about ch.103. Will they see me as a bad person, fight me, deny me dues, etc are not my fears.
I used the word criticise because that is what people understand, but my writings tend to have suggestion leanings rather than blaming. The world of suggestions tends to demand comparison and even naming for details, but the fact that someone in Jamaica or South Africa can learn from this very piece is a testimony that my intentions are not meant to harm anyone, but uplift minds.
As I publicly complain about my hard test, it does not mean I do not appreciate what God gives me, but even God employs unnecessary denials in my opinion. My health is going up, but not yet perfect, giving me perfect health will not harm God in any way, but when will He speed up to my satisfaction? When will he give me millions of dollars, not just millions of words and laughs? Unknown. Hey Jarga! How can you blame God! Well, whether I speak it up or hide it, he knows it, including that I do not like seeing wrongs or publicly criticising Barrow+. On a more positive note, God has blessed me with an amazing mind. Chief Justice Roberts of the supreme court of the u.s was saying: ‘equal branches of government’. He is a Harvard graduate who rose above many graduates, yet he is delusional in echoing or lying about ‘ equal branches of government’. Well, God has helped me to know beyond such minds. There is a huge difference between some claimed theories and practical ones. The executive branch is the most powerful, with exceptions. The Judiciary is second most powerful, but they are like waiting ‘hunters’ who depend on information and bringing cases. The legislative branch is the least powerful, despite what your books say…
You cannot claim powers do shift and still claim equal powers exist. Last year you claimed equal branches, then some powers were taken away from a branch, but they are still equal? Essentially, most powers are with the executive, it is when the executive abuses powers, then we begin to see and demand more powers for the legislative, the people, or even the companies. Although human taste can be subjective, some areas are also about routes. Unless you study law, you cannot be a supreme court judge, no matter how much you envy their limited privileges. Those privileges can sadly be taken away, then chaos tends to follow. There is a reason why the qualification demands for the legislative branch is sadly the lowest, and we should demand higher formal education and/or special challenge exams to be a candidate. Evolution demands it or fools will choose fools to represent them, including the executive. Then when the ‘deep state’ gives them any new knowledge, they arrogantly marvel like a growing child. Then folks like Barrow may beat up his chest as ‘wisdom man’; or MPs will lick asses to ascend to the executive, or gamble their folks to protest where better ways exist.
When over 90 percent of those in the legislative will gladly take executive positions, then call the about ten percent blind or happy with talking than actions. The limited powers like impeachment are very specious, not about power, but containing power abuse or only super evident power abuse, and you may still fail where partisanship is extreme… Every executive branch has a living hand in the legislative and a semi-dead hand in the Judiciary. Every executive branch can at least present bills towards making laws in whose favor? Recently, President Trump fired the ‘Librarian of Congress’ without solid reason, and until a new law demands a firing process, new executive power is tested and earned from a sleeping branch or branches… I do not want to make the article too long, but only evolving fools think the branches of governments have equal powers, and may then never demand more powers for themselves or the people… Even those in the media, many gladly take executive positions than try to run for the legislative branch. After years in the lowest branch or legislative, why no automatic qualification, or many claim ‘Tulsi Gabbard’ and who are not qualified for which executive branch or sub-branch? As your eyes open up, you know the importance of power, but I still consider choice more vital than power. Power can be sought rightly and wrongly, then after attaining, it can be rightly or wrongly used.
The government wrongly used power in denial of information before denial of protest permit. So will Barrow fire or downgrade the advisors and ministers+ who were pro denial of needed information? Less likely, because a leader that can be misled is certainly “full of wisdom”, graduated from the illusory university of presidency that is increasingly making Barrow arrogant in at least words. Will Barrow+ apologize to the buyers and take which measures next time? Will some of the buyers sue the government and cost all of us money, if they win. By surrender without solid explanations, he and his team embolden the pro protest folks. Now every little thing, ‘let’s protest’ may be the first option rather than the last option. When you call for a protest without security, you are gambling others because you do not know who will come with other motives… When it gets out of hand, a smart or ‘coward’ like me fears how many atom’s weight will God judge beyond why or above the circumspect six of : what, when, how, who, why, and where. I do not have billions to give to Barrow, the government, or the public, but the character I am instilling in you may be worth trillions, except many of you are prostitute minded, so only money counts.
Despite my differences with Barrow, he is not deeply corrupt to use the proceeds of Jammeh’s assets or allow folks to blatantly abuse the funds. Such funds from the assets can be specifically separated, but they often just go to the general treasury for the executive to use as they deem fit, through budgetings… If our Mps were of much good, they would know that, or just make a law to settle it beyond this case. If I were to guess Barrow’s corruption level, I will estimate it at zero to ten percent on financial corruption. He does have other moral corruption and other ills, but Barrow may arguably be the least financially corrupt Gambian leader to date. The problems with Barrow are largely on ‘low intelligence’, trusting wrong folks, and weak ability to see when presented with choices between things and people. May God bless me a lot more, bless the Gambia and humankind a lot more, and raise his blessings of Showlove Trinity: Let’s learn, let’s work, let’s have fun.
By Jarga Kebba Gigo
An Activist and Transformer
Author of Juts Quhr-aahn.
