Surprising Baba Galleh (never an intention of mine)

“Suntou, you really never fail to surprise me.” Galleh
With hindsight, my first impulse was to ignore that above statement. Bearing in mind the way I found Baba Galleh’s materials. Not all of them entirely. When someone said, you surprise me, every critical reader will know that statement is an incomplete remark.
I surprise you in what ways? Can I be accorded the privilege to know at least how a giant of Gambian literati circle find’s me surprising. I was puzzled and bemused as to what Galleh found profound or distasteful to react the way he did.
I wanted to ignore the remarks for one main reason. From where I am reading from, Galleh exposed himself to be oversensitive, distant and aloof of critical observations. He exposed a side to him; I for one would have never attributed or associated to him in a long shot.
I have known a while ago that paying too much attention on Gambian related matters can created unhealthy atmosphere especially with complicated undercurrent of vibes few are able to do away with. Writing is complex, and readers can take from a piece what the writer never intended.
Galleh’s comment threatens a side which arouse serious fears in me. That is, see my writings the way I am comfortable with or else? From the many materials that Galleh place in our public forums, some of the topics or subjects have similitude with what other writers have observed in the past.
The Village Idiot for instance was perfected by Nostradamus many decades ago. In fact one would find some making insinuations that, the village idiot is George Bush, and other writers explain it otherwise. Therefore communicating to us ideas that Galleh intended to throw us all in whirlwind of deep thinking should not then be a problem when people have a complete independent analysis of such materials.
Galleh’s major writings are ‘innuendo pros’ so far as the poems and satires are concern. From the kingpins of satire writings, the French philosopher who perfected the art to Galleh and co today, we the readers are left with little options but to see observations in our own way. That is the liberty the writer is suppose to leave at our disposal.
Now coming to what I thought may have caused Baba to react the way he did. I suspect it may have been the statement I made regarding ‘you never know about the kotokes’. Since Galleh didn’t made clear what I did that often surprises him, I can only assume that could be the trigger for his incomplete statements.
Galleh is very familiar with Mandinggo terminologies hence he knows what ‘kotoke’ means. I used kotoke in a jovial jibe at Haruna who I have a relax informal relationship with. I am not close to Baba Galleh, never has been. I don’t have an informal relationship with him. That is why I always formally agree with his thoughts with no fuss.
I and Haruna discuss the code name Jawula on few occasions here (Gambia L). It was a part of that code that the light hearted remark emanates. kotoke here refers to Haruna not Baba Galleh.

“I truly don't want to believe what my senses are beginning to tell me. I hope I'm wrong.” Baba Galleh

It is human that we assume things of each other. Sometimes our inner suspicion of each other’s motives sends us spiralling to dark pit of wrong conclusions. I take that statement to mean, Is suntou trying to disrespect me? If so, not at all.
Kathryn Armbruster’s Poem ‘I AM’ she made a remarkable statement
“I understand not everyone has compassion for the mighty”. I for one respect the elders, but can also be critical if need be.
In Elsie Prettyman’s famous poem ‘Things not Said’ she said
“the time to say a word flies by, that time again will not come”.
And close to the end of the poem she also said “Harsh words can hurt but those not said leaves void, too, that can’t be filled”.

Finally, I will end my response with the poem of B. Begeman
WRITERS BLOCK
“Cascade of thoughts
Images and ideas flowing together in a river of words
Only to be damned by a blank white pages
Leaving a stagnant pond in the bottom of a creek
Begging for a trickle or at least a drop”.

If i have anything to apologise for, is seeing Gambian writing fascinating and trying to celebrate the words from our little land. In the case of Gallehh, my fault was to find some of his materials educative and entertaining and doing the extra bit by expressing my own thoughts on them. Since this can cause offense and unexpected reactions. The best option is avoid materials and writers whose surprise packages at my thorny remarks has the potentials of damaging a non-existence brotherhood.

UDP SERREKUNDA MEETING VIDEO

The links to all the meeting videos:


The meetings are divided in English, Mandinka and Wollof.

Part 1/7: The introduction and fan fare before the meeting commences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K60Rf3Et3qA&feature=related

Part 2/7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQvkVe2aQRQ&feature=related

Part 3/7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPr2Z_pogZc&feature=channel

Part 4/7: The UDP leader spoke in English in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT-7iwdpB6Q&feature=channel

Part 5/7 This speech is in Mandinka. Darboe talked extensively on Yahya personalising the institutions of the Gambia. Calling things by the name of Yahya's daughter and son. The practise of making civil servants work for Yahya like slaves. The farm managers of Yahya are mostly soldiers. Darboe also talk at length on the difficulty farmers are facing in every evenue of their work. The leader state that Gambians should feel sorry for themselves,as the price of basic commodities are unaffordable. Darboe commend the collective leadership of the Gambian opposition. To me that is a brave stance, as politics is never about highlighting the strength of an opponent. The diffifculty the Kombomkas are facing at the hand of the governement. He said Kombo is now lacking farm lands, he said the government has taken wide areas of lands from the people of Kombo central making them tourism development area and housing estate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9b0ETTK3k&feature=channel

Part 6/7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6izc9pjcI&feature=channel

Part 7 of 7http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwaQxogVrgM&feature=channel

Alh. Ousainou Darboe in action. Brilliant talk and brave in addressing relevant issues at the time. The meeting culminated in the arrest of Femi Peters. An unlawful action to say the least.
The UDp leader's speech was vibrant and personate, we want more of this.

Fragile Hearts---- Silence Please

It is puzzling reading some Gambian writers expressing fears in the discussions of political issues especially opposition politicians. If the leaders are ready to lead, what sort of discussion will affect their intentions to unite or form a coalition?
I am baffled by all this warnings of us regular writers of the affairs of opposition politicians seen as spoilers of unity efforts.
Give us a break. If Halifa wish to bring ideas tantamount to stalemate in all talks, what should we do now? Be quiet until the matters fails to materialise?
I am also equally disturbed by the backing of Essa Bokar Sey of Halifa's misguided Agenda 2011. Did Essa read the last few paragraph of the piece before risking his name to a documents that will fail to convince the biggest sycophants of Halifa.
How can people who don't support the Agenda be exempted from voting in a primary to select a united opposition leader?
How can each person convince 50 people, who will then make contact with Halifa before voting in the primaries?
Halifa is promoting an undemocratic document which will be rejected by the biggest opposition party.
Halifa doesn't have support in the Gambia. Why should he think that, doing a primary will favour him over others? He lose his Serrekunda seat cheaply yet, he continue bringing unworkable ideas promoting it has the ultimate for a successful union.
I am baffled by Essa's write-up on this matter. I enjoy reading all his materials but his latest is a mistake and a miscalculation to say the least.
The UDP don't mind going on a primary with Halifa, they know he will lose spectacularly but the efforts will cost money and waste valuable time. Instead of Halifa promoting disingenuous materials as the solution, let him come and back a UDP led coalition. He will have his rightful place and ideas which can buttress all other efforts. The Gambia require smaller efforts not grand pronouncement leading to false hopes and back stabbings.
The complicated nature of our situation makes the whole affairs stinks. Our leaders don't require baby sitting. Let us talk, and agree or disagree. That is the way to bring the best in us. Thin skin or thick skin, we are all subsceptible to emotional tantrums. But the bigger picture is that, we need to take a back seat when discussing the Gambia. Getting angry and fuming is not the solution.
I advise that, those promoting the Agenda 2011 read the last eight paragraph. They will see the clear tricks in the paper. No sane opposition politician will even comptemplate backing such ideas.

Attending a Wedding in London

I am in the hectic East end of London today. I manage to visit most of the places i live during my long stay in london. But the suprise of all is when the person whose wedding I am attending told me to conduct the religious side of the program just one hour before the actual program.
What do i say? This are new couples. Should i say go ahead and enjoy the honeymoon before things get serious? Help me.
Laugh. Anyway, I am having a good time with my family, a day out before school commenses.

NADD, The Crocked Alliance: Only PDOIS Can Hang Onto It

Responding to Halifa Sallah's statements on Freedomnews paper
http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/mid/367/newsid367/4670/PART-ONE-HALIFAS-RESPONSE-TO-FREDOMs-EDITORIAL/Default.aspx

The UDP U.K branch knows that, this analysis of Halifa's Sallah comments may irritate a section of his support base, that is not our intention. We hope to respond in clarifying and putting a different perpective to his two part response to Pa Mbye.
Halifa's comments are in inverted comas and italise. We hope to foster a healthy dialogue which cannot at all times be friendly. But trouble societies must go through difficult discussions, burying our heads in sand and pretending as if all is alright is futile. The path to unseating Jammeh will take strange turns, but it will happen. We put our trust in God.
So help us God.

“Pa, the other issue of concern to me is your insinuation of lack of sincerity and principles within the NADD leadership. You mentioned lack of sincerity, principles and greed as the cause of the split in NADD. Could you identify those you consider to be lacking in sincerity and principles in NADD which led to its collapse? Could you also identify for me who are currently the insincere leaders in NADD and explain what led you to draw such a conclusion? If those leaders in NADD and those who have left NADD are insincere, unprincipled and greedy then why are you calling on them to unite to remove Jammeh? What is the significance of your lesson that unity is strength? How could the unity of insincere, unprincipled and greedy people give rise to strength to liberate a country?” Halifa Sallah

The questions raised by Pa Nderry Mbye were legitimate and requiring less aggressive answers from Halifa. The true colour of the leader of the defunct NADD has surface in every passing day. Halifa was holding key positions in NADD at every turn from the onset to the down fall. Any sincere and serious politician would have asked himself, why? Halifa knows for a fact, he is a political light weight whose main command base in writing on Foroyaa or to some of his fan base online. Twisting of facts on the breakup of NADD is clear to many Gambians who paid attention to the process which lead to the disintegration of a damned union. Halifa was always having an eye for the leadership yet, pretending to Gambians that, he is less interested in power and more interested in sovereign preaching. Who does Halifa thinks he is deceiving?


“Many people marvel at the fact that two parties with diametrically opposed objectives are the last to leave NADD but few marvel at the ingenuity which makes it possible to achieve the impossible. What is more intriguing is that the architects of the irony are calling for another marriage of convenience while at the same time calling for a dissolution of the earlier marriage of convenience.” Halifa Sallah

It is clear then that, Halifa now has a shore relationship with some members of the group who were the architect of NADD. He is blaming them for having the courage and wish to rid the Gambia of Yahya. This is interesting. Didn’t Halifa with over twenty years of political experience read or even show marriage of convenience in many parts of the globe including Senegal, Kenya etc? Is Halifa saying that, politicians must have one ideology to unite over anything?

“You the youths in the Diaspora made it a principle that any body who refused to join the alliance of opposites should be seen to be insincere, unprincipled, greedy and unpatriotic. Hence you forced people to become what they were not and then accuse them of being insincere when they show their true colour.” Halifa

The regular media propaganda of the lone ranger in NADD/PDOIS wishing to heap blame on others except himself yet again by blaming committed well meaning Gambians on wishing to have a united opposition. Halifa’s reference to “...when they show their true colour” is a cynical attack on the UDP and others who pulled out of the coalition of NADD. What Halifa fail to admit and make clear with all his self-righteous rants are that, he singlehandedly became the thorn in the whole NADD set up.
Halifa’s delusion and false pride in his academic all roundedness means, he will never concede to any opposition leader no matter what. Therefore he will always use means to trigger a stalemate in negotiations and possible coalition talks. Halifa may be read on line by those Gambians interested, but on the ground, Halifa don’t stand a chance in any leadership primary elections. His equation is either him or no one else.
Halifa the political strategist, Halifa the constitutional expert, Halifa the Historian, Halifa the educationist, Halifa the sociologist/academic, Halifa the everything. What chance do other opposition candidates have with a man who belittle and looks down on all others? Yet seeing through Halifa’s inadequacies are much easier than he would make them out to be.
Him being the only sincere Gambian politician, and others power hungry, less educated, inarticulate, and less eloquent as he regularly puts it, Halifa’s arrogance surpasses every ounce of a humble and patriotic politician. If others show their true colour by refusing to bow down to his singular wish of becoming the flag bearer using treacherous means. Halifa is today the one showing his true self, by blowing his top in simple matters like that raised by Pa Nderry.

"Sincerity and full adherence to original principle means that opposites should not be allowed to mix. By now we would have had a more vibrant opposition and more opposition members in the national assembly by forming tactical alliances of one sort or the other." Halifa

Tactical alliance couldn't be possible because Halifa's craft was expose by then. He knew without such alliance he doesn't stand a chance to regain his seat, his campiagn was all base on attacking the UDP. Who does Halifa think he is? castigating an opposition party regularly and wanting them help you win a seat. Let him come to terms with his own contradictions.

“...all other alliances are based on one party putting its own agenda and principles on ice and render support to the principles and policies of another without any conditionality. You see a conflict of interest in the NADD alliance but not in the other Alliances.” Halifa

Here the PDOIS Serrekunda East failed candidate has declared openly that, they will not put their weight behind any other party thereby freezing their party’s principles. But in reality, it doesn’t have to be that way. Lesser parties can still promote their principles whilst openly backing and strategising a formidable election campaign for the bigger opposition party. What Halifa wish to convince us is that, NADD has a winning parliamentarian in Sedia, which proofs that, the new party was well received, all that is needed is uniting behind NADD regardless of the size of the opposition party.

“The existence of the law would have enabled PDOIS to determine whether it could continue to operate under NADD, since it has provided a victorious candidate for both National Assembly and Council seats in Wuli or fully assess the full implication of its withdrawal from NADD.” Halifa

The writing is all on the wall now. PDOIS produce a winning candidate in Wulli and Serrekunda, yet similar result occurred in NADD. What is baffling is that, why is PDOIS executive trying to hide away from the party’s identity in the guise of NADD? Is it that, PDOIS is synonymous with communism? Or that Gambians could not be attach to the party for over twenty years and now a fantastic idea emerged in NADD were the past can be masqueraded and reinvented in NADD.

"Are you convinced of the ineptitude of most of our critics who do not think holistically to evolve relevant strategies and tactics to shape the destiny of this country or do you want me to proceed to expose their barren conception?" Halifa Sallah

Now who would have thought, the man dupe the calm and intellectual brian power of the Gambia losing his cool. If he convince himself that, he has the best brian yet could not device any serious plan to unite the Gambian people, what else does Halifa has to boost about? 'Barren conception' that is a joke.

"Hence NADD could not die a natural death because people from a party who were never in for alloying their political principles accepted to bow down to the demands for unity and having done so on the basis of sound principles stayed the course and are now exploring how to achieve the same aim NADD set out to achieve while gradually breathing life into their own political organisation." Halifa

PDOIS will wish NADD remains. The support base hardly have a say, Halifa is the spokesman, leader, thinker, strategist etc. Why does he think people will believe the pretentious idea that, he will involve his party rank and file in NADD's future? NADD should be dissolve as political party, and alliance base on party lead utilise.

"For your information, since 2008 the PDOIS membership is being consulted on the need to hold a congress to review the way forward including its future relation with NADD or its nullification." Halifa
We eagerly awaits the result of the pending consultation. The irony for now is that, all we see is one man being the everything of a party. One wonder whether any body else's opinion matters in NADD or PDOIS.
Halifa's part two will be analyse so far as areas where he made explicit or implicit remarks against the UDP is concern. The UDP leadership will be convince not to respond to a frustrated politician who enjoys the media misinformation.
The part two is quiet similar in remarks to part one, hence the analysis will be less wordy as this one. The UDP reserve the right to respond to political advantegeous comments from its rivals. When the leadership of other opposition parties avoid making comments against the UDP by giving unity a chance, we will relent and also give unity a chance.
Halifa's supporters cannot silence us by using unity talks as tool, unless Halifa desist we will not.
The can call us lacking soveign education or civic knowledge, we don't mind, we too have our opinions on him.
UDP U.K coordinator

Sharing the Booty: Why Blame The Islamic Scholars

Suntou Touray
It is attractive and plausible for desperate Gambians to support statement against clerics in our current plight. The mere fact that, some clerics occasionally support Yahya Jammeh is sufficient grounds for all out assault on the personalities of our religious scholars.
The fact remains; Yahya Jammeh is a product of secular Gambia. He emanate from an institution whose members bluff more than any other of their extreme secular nature. The security apparatus of the Gambia is seen by many as the least place for committed Muslims. The culture of boozing, womanising and regular engagement in voodoo fetish spiritualism is common currency among the men of the security services. The army, police and customs lay no red carpet for puritans.
Yahya Jammeh came upon us through the army, a place where anyone educated only through the Islamic tradition is disqualified from admittance. The army is just one sector where religious educated or Arabic educated graduates have little or no opportunity whatsoever.
Yet today, few occasional comments by one or two Imams irritate secular Gambia so much, every single religious scholar is quantify as insincere, an hypocrite, and have you. Yet who stands to gain in a Gambia where a dictator like Yahya reigns over?
It is we secular educated Gambians who are enjoying with our dictator of Kanilia. It us who do all the jobs for him which he use to blindfold others in the name of development. It’s us who do all his PR propaganda for him; it’s us who act as his diplomats, validating him across the globe. It is us who form opposition parties against him and contest elections with him, making him legitimate in the eye of the international community. Yet we feel that, religious scholars who gain crumps in all of our mess should be blame because they are men of God and should stay away from politics.
The real reason some religious scholars make statements favourable to Yahya is simply in defence of the one thing that they can rely on to salvage comfort and satisfaction. Their religious principles and the environment in which they can promote what is also important. Yahya Jammeh plays Christians against Muslims, by privately and publicly making favourable comments toward the minority Christian community and attacking the Muslims scholarly base.
The strategy of divide and manipulate is deliberate and a ploy to force the Islamic scholars to favour him, if not he will make the environment in which Islam operates pollutant and difficult for the advocate of Islamic values. I know some people find the whole religious discourse a waste of time and unnecessary, but to others it is more important than any other activity. Therefore the Islamic scholars thread the actions of Yahya with utmost care. They use the scriptures to highlight the effects of dictatorship in a general context. They cannot name Yahya as the President and attack his actions. They have little to gain by confronting Yahya head on.
To make matters much clearer, how many educated Gambians live in the diaspora? How of the educated Gambians are then willing to criticise Yahya’s administrative styles and question his crimes against Gambians in the open witha real name and identity? Now we have to bear in mind that, some conservative estimates put the amount of Gambians in America to be 25,000, in U.K 15,000, In France and Spain much more. Yet this Gambians live over 6,000miles away from the claws of Yahya and his security agents. Only a negligible amount confronts the injustices of the APRC governments and its bully boys.
Comparing the inaction of secular educated Gambians who can go home, take good jobs with pensions and all sorts of benefits with or without Yahya’s government. Gambians who can’t compete with us in the civil service, private sector or for international jobs, we want those people to act in open defiance of a dictator who can kill or lock them on no grounds for what?
Yes, the argument may also be, if you will not condemn a dictator then don’t openly support some of his actions. A valid point, but as I alluded to earlier, if massaging the ego of a dictator means, he will leave people alone to practise their faith and go about preaching religion freely, then the scholars (few) of them for that matter, make comments favourable to Yahya. Whilst any open attack on his government will be taken as a case of hostility and open defiance. Which in turn means, jail or be ready for martyrdom.
Dictatorship is the worst form of government anywhere in the world. But do Gambians want religious personalities to fight secular political battles for them? In our current position, many will say, anything that can unseat Yahya is welcome, but post Yahya, how do we reconcile seeing clerics talking politics?
It is vital that we divorce the spiritual from the normal every day activity. Our Islamic scholars are well meaning and dedicated people. This men and women are educated to highest level. They know the implications of causing harm to people. They also understand the current political situation in the country. The means of involving them in resolving the political dilemma in our country should well be thought out. They have families, responsibilities and with little means from the state or private sector.
Most of the scholars gain their livelihood from NGO’s from other Muslims states. They teach, operate charities and so on, and get paid from charitable sources. Although many of the Arabic educated Gambians specialise in different field of studies, ranging from language, geography, engineering, electrical mechanics, education, theology, history etc, they don’t have the facilities once in the Gambia to learn Basic English language in converting their skills.
Finally, the Islamic scholar that went through proper training and attain high level education will never report one of their own, by doing so many know the implication of that. The Likes of Dr Mbye Kah, Sheik Muhammed Lamin Touray, Sheik Gibreal Kujabi, Imam Abdoule Fatty, Sheik Sidiya Ceesay etc, don’t need any financial reward from the state to sell a fellow scholar. They are all well remunerated through other sources. They are involved in well funded charities and recognised for their sacrifice and academic qualities. Dr Mbye Kah’s PhD thesis was a sort after book in the prestigious Medina University. These men are not recognised by many simply because the Gambia lacks a culture of religious patronage like Senegal. These men will not even entertain anyone venerating them. Islam doesn’t have any window for Priesthood. All this scholars earn their living by engaging in work, the Imam roles are only one part of what they do.
I hope we accord our scholars the respect they deserve and channel our frustration where it will make an impact.

Suntou@btinternet.com

The Life of Usman Dan Fodio.

http://www.hakimquick.com/an-interview-on-uthman-dan-fodio/

Dr Hakim Quick explain the life of the Nigerian Islamic scholar, Sheik Usman Dan Fodio. May his soul rest in peace. Amen