Dishonourable Member Seedy S.K Njie with a Million Reasons book of Yahya Jammeh!

In a somewhat bizarre move, members of the Gambia’s National Assembly on Tuesday, 8 April 2014, debated two books of President Yahya Jammeh, about his Million reasons for withdrawing the country from the Commonwealth of Nations.

In most democratic nations, the people’s parliament would be expected to have debated such an important issue, before it takes effect. However, in the Gambia, it’s the other way round. Almost 6 months after the President exited the country from the Commonwealth, was the time the nation’s parliament deemed it appropriate to debate the subject. What a democracy!

The two books, claimed to have been authored by President Yahya Jammeh, were presented to the deputies by the APRC nominated mouth piece of President Yahya Jammeh in Parliament, Dishonourable Member Seedy S. K. Njie.

The books are entitled; ‘A million reasons to leave the Commonwealth’; and ‘How the tragic consequences of British looting and misrule in The Gambia inspired the founding of the United Nations and its drive for decolonisation in January 1943 and beyond’.

The APRC dominated parliament sided with the contents of the books to castigate the British colonialism of the country, despite that ending 50 years ago. They said the British had massively looted the West African nation of its natural resources during the colonial era, but failed short of specifying the natural resources looted.

Dishonourable Njie added that “The books exposed the manner in which the descendants of the same colonial power winked Africa in the so-called name of democracy, human rights, and good governance. The books are well detailed and written and have exposed the looting of both the United States and Britain during the colonial era in the poor West African nation. The Gambian leader is determined to lead this country from colonialism and slavery with dignity by ensuring total control of the Gambia’s natural resources at any cost and by any means necessary”; the praise singing Dishonourable Njie explained to the members of parliament

The members also posited that the Gambia gained less than what it contributed to the Commonwealth organisation and that was one justifiable reason, why the Gambia ought to have pulled out of the Commonwealth of Nations. They said the Gambia, as a sovereign and independent state, should not be a party to any colonialism or neo-colonial institutions.

Honourable Neteh Baldeh, the National Assembly member for Tumana constituency, said Western Nations’ double standard had affected African countries and they have also looted the natural resources of the continent. He noted that Africa’s lack of a permanent seat at the UN Security Council shows extant signs of colonialism.

President Yahya Jammeh’s government had withdrawn the Gambia’s membership from the Commonwealth of Nations in October 2013, and vouched never to be a member of any neo-colonial institution or party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism.

However, the ordinary Gambians who spoke to Kibaaro News begged to differ. “Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth have affected many development projects in the country; especially in the education sector”, one concerned citizen explained to Kibaaro.

“It was a terrible decision to withdraw the Gambia from the Commonwealth. This is why we need a matured and educated leader, who can lead the Gambia along the straight path and not into the bush”, said another citizen, who begged for anonymity.

We totally concur with the comments of the last citizen!

Ousainou Mbenga – Democratic Union of Gambian Activist

“Goam bunyudul lal du werr muk” – An untreated wound will never heal!

By: Ousainou Mbenga

In my humble view, the treatment must begin from a historical analysis of how this wound was inflicted on us in order to establish the appropriate treatment and safe subsequent generations from living with this “political blind spot” of tribe and tribalism.

As the pressure of the resistance against the AFPRC –APRC mounts, with Jammeh’s back unquestionably against the wall, it is most disheartening to see the resurgence of the monstrous head of “tribalism”, quietly condoned by the crippled spent –force politicians but aggressively championed online by the new gang of “aspiring predatory politicians” – predominantly pseudo – intellectuals, who have nothing to offer us, but to drag us into the swamps of ignorance. After five decades of “independence” with nothing to show for; the general saying in the Gambia is that: “karanlal leh yeh nying banko teenya” –“the intellectuals destroyed this country”. In alliance with the impotent elite, this tribe driven “paper tigers” have always undermined our national collective efforts for their own narrow selfish interests.

The down trodden masses of our beloved Gambia are aware of this game and history of tribal politics. If the truth be told; no so-called tribe is doing well in that hell-hole of a country – Gambia. The vast majority of our people have always caught hell, never mind your blind tribal affiliation. We must resist this calculated opportunism equally as we resist Jammeh’s tyranny.

Contrary to world view, the abolition of slavery was not out of the goodness of the white abolitionists – the “white man’s burden” – rather this savage and barbaric attack on Africa was no longer tenable for Europe, America and all their beneficiaries the world over. Persistently down played in the “conqueror’s narrative”, the frequent and massive slave rebellions along the Atlantic, in the “Americas” and the Caribbean had become costly in lives and resources.  We need to coin a word to describe that barbaric assault on Africa and African people. A “holocaust” is unfitting.

The great Cheikh Anta Diop wrote that “slavery re- tribalized Africa”. That foul social system mischaracterized as the “slave trade”; a “trade” in which  Africa never received anything in return as expected in “trading”; rather it was the starting point of our unhappiness as an African people and the emergence and development of what we now know as Europe and all her off springs.

From Amilcar Cabral’s point of view, he argues that “the material basis for the “tribal” system no longer existed in Africa”. So, why is “tribe” still lingering in our consciousness? Cabral further argued that its “superstructure” was supported by colonialism. The historical facts point to colonialism as the primary source for the continuing survival of “tribes” into the present day neocolonial era. Because the “slave trade” wounded Africa the most, we became the most vulnerable society to succumb to tribal divisions.

After dismembering Africa and African people from each other and our resources; we were relegated to TRIBES, never to remember our communal and peaceful existence prior to the encounter with the “warring tribes” of what became Europe and the roving Arab warriors. Again, Diop questioned, was this “Civilization or barbarism? A people dismembered, without economic power, ultimately resort to “tribal politics”, the wrong solution to our economic powerlessness.

During the grandeur of Khemet (Egypt) and its subsequent off springs, Ghana, Mali and Songhai  empires, our social consciousness was so advanced that the practices of “tribalism” had no breeding ground to survive, more over to wreak havoc.

It is on this basis of our historic resistance against slavery that we should vigorously resist and overturn our untenable affiliations with tribes and the practices of “tribalism”. Just as slavery eroded our sense of sameness as one people; so does tribes and tribalism continue to hinder all our efforts to build an African nation, the only guarantee to our prosperity.  Tribes and tribalism has never done us any good and never will but continue to insult our collective – national intelligence.

First, tribe and tribalism makes no biological sense; it is not a genetic expression as in blood type, but a social creation that is held hostage in the “lower brain” via language (a medium of communication) to organize communities and effectively serve the needs of the people. Once released from the lower brain, “tribalism” will wither away and give way to a more revolutionary nation that will champion our collective interest as Africans.

We made up all these backward beliefs of “tribes”, hence the practice of tribalism we continue to hold on to blindly. Brothers and sisters, it’s a make –belief world of “tribes”. And we can unmake, abolish and eradicate these beliefs and realize our true commonality as an African people. Once we attain the social consciousness above TRIBES, only then can we create a viable economic base and wield political power for generations to come. To anchor this point, we all know that the issue of tribes and tribalism reach their most inflammatory point during ELECTIONS, the most violent period in Africa and other oppressed countries. Why is that? Our unscrupulous politicians of all stripes in alliance with our pseudo- intellectuals will never attempt to solve our problems outside of the sham elections that give the illusions of participating in the process for a life worthy of living.

Can any “tribalist” explain how he or she became a Wollof, Mandinka, Kikuyu, Yoruba or Bamileke other than speaking the language associated with the “tribe”? Language should be the basis of our relationship not tribe and tribalism.

Secondly, tribalism makes no philosophical sense because it betrays the rational principles of humans’ ability to rise above ignorance; the basis for the senseless violence manifested in “tribal conflicts”. Lastly, tribalism only seems to make “political sense” because of its potential exploits by the predatory politicians who subsist on “tribal” ignorance to maintain the status quo for their narrow selfish interests. Those who have nothing to offer us, always resort to mean – spirited ignorance to sabotage reasoning.

If tribe is a common occurrence in human societies, why is it extinct in some societies, particularly European societies but continues to wreak havoc in enslaved and oppressed countries, particularly in Africa? Slavery united all of Europe and the United States of America for the rape, plunder and pillage against Africa and consequently dismembered Africa into  non -  viable “tribalist nations”.  Therefore, our freedom and liberation will never come to fruition when we continue to speak in tribal interests as oppose to our national interests.

Only a thinking nation can see the benefits of unity and the eradication of the senseless imagined “tribal superiority or inferiority”. These attitudes must be confronted whenever and wherever they surface.

All keen observers must by now see the collective inroads we are making in the struggle to uproot the Jammeh regime and its neocolonial infrastructure. Therefore, we who are clear on what is to be done must never sweep anything under the rug; rather we should come up with solutions in preparation for a post Jammeh society. We must create the conditions to heighten our social, political and economic consciousness. Yes, the struggle continues but against what?

Let’s uproot all divisive behaviors in our midst. This is our own internal battle; we must defeat this enemy in order to win the final battle.  The roles have changed, Yaya is now on the defensive and our forces of victory are on the offensive. We must seize the time!

Lastly, we must put into practice Cabral’s prophetic teaching that, the African intellectual must “commit class suicide” to genuinely join the masses in transforming our society for prosperity. Likewise, there must be a campaign to “commit tribe suicide” in the interest of national unity and a return to the SOURCE of our commonality. The cultural unity of black Africa has been established on irrefutable historical facts. And Cheikh Anta Diop, again notes that three factors make up the collective personality of a people: historical factor, linguistic factor and psychological factor. He said the historic factor is the cultural cement which unites the disparate elements of a people to make a whole. Slavery disrupted our historical continuity and relegated us to a population of tribes.  Our quest is to seek the “unifying elements of our languages” not the divisive elements of TRIBES and tribalism.

Long Live SeneGambia! One Africa! One Nation!

The GCC Logo

The Gambia Consultative Council (GCC), recognising the growing need for action, is pleased to present Gambians a platform for communicating and exchanging of ideas.

The imperativeness of using all avenues of communications, in a fast changing media and communication landscape, cannot be overestimated. The GCC website will allow every Gambian dissident and non-dissident to freely express themselves and articulate their visions and ideas about how to return Gambia to a tolerant, multi-party and a society governed by the rule of law, The website is equipped with an online radio as well as social media features as Facebook, Youtube that can easily be shared instantaneously with friends around the globe in order to further broadcast the atrocious behavior of the Yahya Jammeh regime of death and destruction. The GCC website is a work in progress and ideas to make it even better is solicited from the public. The website will constantly undergo changes and updating to make sure it is user-friendly, but above all, that the sites is effective in disseminating useful information that can hasten to demise of a military  regime that has brought so much pain to Gambians over the past two decades. To link to the GCC website, clink the following link: www.gccfreegambia.com

The GCC, having been exposed to the visions of similar organisations working tirelessly to for political change in the Gambia, can attest to the objectives similarities with like-minded organisations, but must emphasise the existence of yawning strategic dissimilarities that have hitherto been a barrier to coalescing around a single leadership. The practical nature of GCC’s Platform, which has received widespread support, recognizes that as a society, Gambians are closer to seeing the downfall of Yahya Jammeh than ever before. In contrast, visions expressed in other organizations suggest the formation of an awfully long list of committees which may take a lifetime to establish operationally. The ideas of forming so many different committees made sense three years ago and perhaps even as late as early last year, but the winds of political change in Gambia are blowing so swiftly that the idea of forming committees is now out of sync with the times, but also fails to recognize the current political situation at home and the depth of the regime’s vulnerability. In an effort to move the struggle further closer to demise of the regime, GCC calls for the formation of a National Transitional Council (NTC) of up to forty Gambians nominated by their political parties, civil society organizations, Gambian academics and professionals around the world. The selected National Transitional Council would in turn elect a twelve-man Transitional Government from its membership to oversee preparations for national elections and the return to multi-party democracy and the rule of law. GCC, on its website, therefore, seeks contributions from Gambians to facilitate a Conference in London, this summer, to elect a “Transitional Government” from the National Transitional Council, represented by all interest groups; both political and civilian. By acting now, Gambians can preempt a political vacuum and the possibilities of lawlessness in the event of a change of government.

Signed

GCC

Author – Amadou Kuyateh

By Amadou Kuyateh

Dear Editor,

May I response to the comical and the illusionary statement of President Jammeh, that, “I am going to ban English in public schools”, and his further description of Queen Victoria as the bloodiest person ever to live on the face of the earth?

Sir, it is obvious that imperialism is one of the worst atrocities ever to be committed by man against man. With the discovery of the New World, European powers were eager to make a vast land, a dream which couldn’t turn real at the time without the exploitation of our human and natural resources. David Diop, a Senegalese poet once described the imperialists as “The Vultures”, which depicts or connotes barbaric and ruthless consequences inflicted on Africans (during the human enterprise), on whose sweats and blood, the imperial world was undoubtedly built upon! This was followed by colonial bondage which has also deadly retarded our development progress.

Sir, we are aware of the damage of what imperialism has done to us and no amount of compensation or apology could be used as reparation. However, some of the western values or ways of lives have gone so far into our societies or lives that it becomes practically impossible to take off those values away from our societies like education and language. Furthermore, any attempt made to ban English language in The Gambia, will slow down our paste of development. This is because we need time, effort and resources to invent our own alphabetical letters and numerical or mathematical numbers, so as to translate all our syllabuses from nursery or primary to university into one or all the major local language (s) for official use. This will further bring in the question of which language (s) will be the official language(s) and failure to achieve unanimity, may bring tribal feuds in the future, may God forbid! It is a utopian ideology or thought to establish a perfect Gambian or African language(s) as official language that would be taught in public schools which is expected to be practiced further to our offices. Sir, has the president forecasted the international trade, his bilateral or multilateralism, and other protocols that cannot be operational more widely in our own dialects. Thus I interpret this statement as utopian or a mere wishful thinking of reaching perfection or cajole meant to prick the side of the west, whose eyes are fixed staring at the point of higher heights.

On the other side, Queen Victoria is presumably not rank as the most wicket or ruthless person or ruler ever to live on earth. The average life expectancy he was talking about is not as a result of slavery or colonialism. This was a problem that affected the whole world especially the third world countries where medical facilities were not available and if there was, it was at its lowest ebb. It was  due to the lack of these facilities and on large scale science and technology did not marched to the rapid population growth.  Robert Malthus had to prophesise that if the world population is not checked before, the year, 2000, it would be reduced by war and famine. However, the unexpected growth of science and technology turned the dream of Malthus unreal.

 Hitler and Stalin killed vast amounts of people before and during WW II, and in terms of sheer numbers, these two would score highest. The systematic killings of the Holocaust and the Stalin’s purges were responsible for tens of millions of deaths, as well as those caused by starvation as a consequence of their policies.

Communist China has probably caused even more deaths under Mao, though these are mostly due to starvation as a result of incompetence and mismanagement than deliberate killing. North Korea’s Kim Jong 1I is also guilty of this.

Finally, how about the president himself, who has killed hundreds of people in cold blood, only by way of expressing their freedom of speech and their political rights? He claimed to have come for our redemption and to salvage us from poverty, which was an outcome of bribery and corruption but today his tyrannical administration is built to defend his despotism and corrupt practices which cost the lives of many innocent Gambians and non a like. Would a pot call a kettle black?

In a nutshell, the president statement of the President about banning English is utopic and mythical. It is better for him to focus on more robust development issues and restoration of democracy rather than pricking the side of the west by disguising or hiding behind Pan Africanism.

Late Numo Kujabi former NIA DG 

The sudden and untimely death of the former Managing Director of the Gambia’s notorious and nefarious National Intelligence Agency, Numo Kujabi, had bewildered his family and love ones into crying foul play for his death. Numo Kujabi died yesterday morning, 8 April 2014, just as he was dressing up to go to work.

His family members explained to Kibaaro News that he was healthier yesterday than he had ever been. They said he did not even had a hiccup much more a heart problem.

However, for some unexplained reasons, he just dropped and died whilst he was dressing up to go to work at the Gambia Police headquarters in Banjul. All efforts and wailings couldn’t bring him back. They confirmed that he died at his home in Serrekunda.

His sudden death had bewildered his family members to suspect poisoning, by way of secret assassination, as one possible cause of his death. A family member who spoke to Kibaaro News explained that Numo was sacked as NIA Director, but had since remained very close to President Jammeh. They said not long ago he was posted at the Police Headquarters at a position that none of them in the family had any clue of He interacts with President Jammeh, as if he had never been sacked from the NIA.

However, his closeness to the President, despite his dismissal from the NIA, is what aroused the family’s suspicion of foul play into his death. They suspected that he may have been poisoned by President Jammeh during his last visit of him over the weekend at Kanilai.

Furthermore, their suspicion is not assisted by the fact that “he was quickly taken to Foni for burial without any postmortem carried out to establish the cause of his death” one family member explained to Kibaaro.

Numo Kujabi was the commanding officer of the Gambia Police Force’s Interpol Unit, before he was appointed as the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on 10 August 2009. He served as NIA Director from that date until his removal on 13 March 2013.

His tenure as Director of the NIA witnessed a continuation of the brutal legacy of the agency against innocent Gambians. He oversaw numerous arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detentions, tortures and other inhumane treatments of innocent Gambians, such as: Imam Bakawsu Fofana, Imam Baba Leigh, former Police IG Essa Badjie (Jesus), Lang Tombong Tamba and many others.

Numo was a native of Kalimu Village in the Foni Bondali District, where he was also interred yesterday, 8 April 2014. He was enlisted into the Gambia Police Force in 1991. He later left the police force, but in 1996 was re-enlisted and later promoted by Yahya Jammeh to a Police IG from the rank of a corporal.

He died aged 44 and survived by a wife and children.

Picture – courtesy of Freedomnewspaper

Pa Bojang reconnoitring his great escape

Reports reaching Kibaaro News have confirmed  the arrival of Gambia’s most wanted fugitive and nephew to President Yahya Jammeh, Pa Bojang to the Senegalese Capital city of Dakar.

Pa Bojang, who was declared wanted by his uncle, President Jammeh and his government on Friday, 4 April 2014 is believed to have been aided and abetted by certain members of the Jammeh security forces, who defied his orders of no aiding and abetting of his nephew to escape from his claws.

Pa Bojang is believed to have arrived to the Senegalese capital of Dakar yesterday night, 6 April 2014. Our source in Dakar explained that Mr Bojang’s life is still at risk in Dakar due to the bounty on his head of almost a Million Dalasis. As a result, he reckons Mr Bojang will a maintain a low profile in the Senegalese capital, like Ben Jammeh former NDEA head.

Our source however explained that the news of his arrival into Dakar disseminated within the Gambian community in Dakar like a viral.

According to our source, unlike many former Jammeh enablers, who had committed crimes against Gambians, Pa Bojang was mainly known for his extravagant life style. The sorts of privileges enjoyed by having anything to do with the Jammeh clan in the Gambia at present.

“He is simply the thief of the thief! As he steals from President Jammeh, who is the biggest thief in the Gambia”, explained our source.

Pa Bojang was the former head of the President’s family business conglomerate of Kanilai Group International (KGI), Kanilai Bakery and Kanilai Family Farm. He is accused of embezzling more than 25 Million Dalasis from the conglomerate.

However, he is reported to have reached the Senegalese capital as a pauper without that much capital!

He was reported to have been arrested by the country’s National Intelligence Agency for sometime. However, how he escaped from their custody remains another great escape mystery from the lion’s den.

Disappeared Bubai Sanyang of Bwiam Town

Disappeared Ndongo Mboob of Bwiam Town

By Fabakary B. Ceesay

They were comrades in politics and very good friends at all levels. April 4^th, 2014, marks exactly 8 years after their abduction and disappearance without trace. On this evening, little did the families and loved ones of Momodou Lamin Nyassi, Buba Sanyang and Ndongo Mboob, know that that would be the last time they would set their eyes on their family heads. The trio were arrested by The Gambia’s notorious National Intelligence Agency {NIA}, led by one Momodou Lamin Tamba, who was then O/C NIA in Kanilai.

Since that fateful evening, 8 years ago, the three families lived in agony and uncertainty about the fate and whereabouts of their fathers, uncles and brothers. Alagie Momodou Lamin Nyassi, former Chief of Foni Kansala, Alagie Buba Sanyang {alias Bubai}, the APRC District Mobiliser and Mr. Ndongo Mboob, District Youth Mobiliser, all natives of Bwiam Village, were arrested one after the other shortly after they dispersed from chatting at Sanyang Kunda.

The trio were arrested by NIA agents led by Momodou Lamin Tamba, on board a numberless Four Wheel drive vehicle. Bubai Sanyang was picked up at his home while performing ablution for Maghreb Prayer. He was told he was needed at Kanilai urgently and was only allowed to hand over his cell phone to one of his wives. Former Chief Nyassi was taken at his compound gate from visiting Sanyang Kunda.  Only few of his family members knew what was going on. Ndongo Mboob was also picked up at his house, shortly after he arrived from Sanyang’s home and was prepare for Maghreb prayer.

The three friends were all driven in the same vehicle by NIA agents and speed towards Kanilai. That was the last time they were seen by their family members and loved ones. Though, they search with tooth and nail and left no stone on turn within their limits, but to no avails.

Mr Pa Bojang – President Jammeh’s Nephew, reportedly on the run, but is he killed?

The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and his government have announced a reward of 1 Million Gambian Dalasis for the head of his Nephew, Pa Bojang, who is reported to have absconded.

In a press release read on the country’s only television station, the GRTS; the government admonished all its citizens against aiding and abetting the fugitive nephew of the President, Pa Bojang. The government press release further appealed to anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mr Bojang to report it to the country’s security forces.

Mr Bojang was the former head of the President’s ever increasing family business conglomerate of Kanilai Group International (KGI), Kanilai Bakery and Kanilai Family Farm. He is accused of embezzling more than 25 Million Dalasis from the conglomerate.

However, a friend of Mr Bojang had informed Kibaaro that Mr Bojang had not been seen since the middle of March 2014 and his whereabouts had not been known to both his family and friends. As a result, he suspected foul play on the part of the authorities. “You never know, they might have killed him and now wants us to believe that he has escaped. As far as his family are concerned, he was last arrested by the state Intelligence Agency.” 

Another source had however hinted that he may have escaped arrest from the President and may be hiding in and around Manjai Kunda and Kololi areas of the country. “Today there are high security check points mounted within the greater Banjul region especially between Manjai Kunda and Kololi, where many believe he might be hiding”, according to the source.

Pa Bojang is alleged to have recklessly embezzled more than D25 million from both the Kanilai Farm and Kanilai Bakery. As a result of which, many staffs of both businesses have not been paid for more than 6 month salaries.

Although, it is confirmed by our reporter on the ground that the Kanilai Bakery, which is claimed to have suffered such a huge financial mismanagement from Pa Bojang, is currently renovating its premises, which are expected to restart operations very soon, despite the huge financial loses claimed.

“It is hard to understand what is happening in this country. Everything will seem fine and progressing, until of sudden, there will be a problem. Then you hear someone had gone with so many millions. It makes you wonder, how could that happen. Not just thousands but millions, when it is harder for one to have even a hundred dalasi,” a source pondered to Kibaaro.

Kanilai Bakery Farm

Gambian Bakers have been on strike since Wednesday 2^nd April 2014 to showcase their determination to increase the price of bread after the price of flour has been raised and the high taxation on bakers.

“Yes we are on a sit down strike because we want to raise the price of bread from D6.00 to D7.00 or D8 since the price of flour has been increased to almost D2000. Secondly, there is high taxation on us which cannot make us any profit from a bag of flour”, retorted an angry barker.

“Things are getting more expensive every day in the Gambia including high taxation levy on business. The government doesn’t want business men to increase the prices of their commodities. This is absolutely ridiculous”, another baker told Kibaaro News.

“It is now more than 48 hours and some shops are still not selling bread and those selling it said they could not sell only bread unless you buy butter or mayonnaise with it”, complained a customer.

Gambia has no price control and business sectors increase commodity price every month while price of other goods skyrockets daily. Currently few local bakeries are operating in greater Banjul region while “Senfurr” the machine made bread bakeries have temporally close till further notice.

Gambia is hardly hit by serious economic crisis. Prices of both basic commodities and other goods are beyond the earning of civil servants and ordinary Gambians who could not afford to buy a bag of rice for D1225 out of a salary of D1500.

Farmers in West African nation are transporting their farm produce to Senegal for better price compare to the price of Gambia government that could not even enable farmers to buy food for their families.