Imagine a that the majority of us were born in relative poverty. The majority after attaining a little commence to show off and talk big. The majority of us reraly think wider than our own immediate interest.
The exposure that we attain is mainly through films (movies), and the travel to the developed western countries. What do we understand by development?
Is it the street lights? Is it the tall buildings with magnificent designs? Is it the bridges and water ways? Is it the night clubs and free life, the cars, trains, dresses?
The exposure to a variety of things that we once use to only see in Hollywood blockbusters are more or less in our midst. To some this is development and that any semblance of it anywhere is term a developmental oriented gesture.
The average Gambian in the west is not notice, he/she goes to work or school, come back home and go back into his/her shell. Just another foreigner. Yet he/she is somebody as soon the 747 touched down in the dusted field of Yumdum. The amazing things that are seen and feel in Europe or America are glimpsed in musky Serrekunda. The Street lights, the fast cars, the new rising buildings and some new roads.
The journey to home is more than what is expected. Now wearing the smart dress and raising the shoulder even higher can begin. Is it a dream or did i show a street light?
To these people Yahya was the messier whose coming was anticipated but finally, just finally the man is here. Development is here, progress is here and the dream is no more.
These people unload their psychological traumas of not being notice in the west to not just being notice but at least feeling the things that make the west glorious.
The sentimental Psyche in-built in all of us begin to take control. If Yahya a semi-educated former military officer can do better than a university educated doctor, why should he not be supported?
Yahya Jammeh's leadership has trigger numerous complicated and dynamic problems for Gambians. The issues at play goes beyond mere politics. Yahya personify the divide in Gambian politics like no other.
His defenders and they are many across the ethnic divide view others as enemies of conscience and haters of development and all that it embodied. But to a minority of Yahya's own ethnic group, not supporting Yahya goes beyond politics in a much sensitive way. Yahya they analyse as the only one who has over centuries of existence claim to be the only person who is able to govern over a country or region where the ethnicity is not uniform. Yahya then becomes a messier!
There is no case to see or even contemplate talking or discussing Yahya's wrongs, his crimes and oppression. His eccentric life styles, his arrogance and rudeness. They attribute all of Yahya's crimes as someone reacting to the threats of ENEMIES, TRAITORS. The hash reactions of Yahya against undesirable elements is necessary for his survival, because they naturally know that, being a minority, pre-emptive strike is the only solution to longevity.
Yahya understand the aspirations of Gambians in the most twisted way. The love of fame and glory, love of titles and name. Yahya bid to face lift all the visible areas of the greater Banjul region, construct some roads across the Provence's, and early on the spread of new schools. Those who fall for the cheap propaganda tools swallowed all the traps set by Yahya and his key faceless advisers.
The propaganda machine is easy to turn on and off. Speak against the regime, expect hash reactions and no sympathy from the majority of Gambians. This is why, the government plays dumb on the plight of journalist, opposition members, military antagonist, former spies etc.
Yahya can even afford to pretend not to know the noises about human rights abuses and suppressive atmosphere prevalent in the country.
The successful sacrificing of close aids becomes an art for him. The continual dismissal of staff made him blameless in deaths, torture and unlawful jailing. In fact some will go as far as say, Yahya is not the one responsible for crimes against Gambians. How interesting!
But when a divide and rule mechanism is entrench, critics are enemies and saboteurs, whilst praise singers are patriots.
Next the definition and real meaning of development will be laid out from experts who know the word's technical meaning.
To Gambians in the west who have fallen for the flashy as development, think wisely. Why did you come to Europe or America? Is because of the street lights or roads? Is it because of the tall buildings? Think...
Hello Sountou,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog very much.
I am an East African and am enjoying reading what you write.
Thanks Kaasa. Lovely to read you as well. Stay bless.
ReplyDelete