Prof
Pierre Gomez Associate Professor of Comparative Literature Dean, School of Arts
and Sciences The University of The Gambia Brikama Campus, P.O. BOX: 3530 The
Gambia
Defying
Dictatorship: Essays on Gambian Politics, 2012 – 2017 is a collection of essays
that expose the writer’s challenge against the governance and leadership of a
dictator, in this case, Yahya Jammeh. The book is published in 2017 by the
Centre for Media and Development Research in Africa (CENMEDRA).
Having
experienced the brutality of dictatorship first hand, the author, Dr Baba
Galleh Jallow, is well placed to comment on the brutality the Jammeh regime had
wreaked on innocent citizens. Armed with advanced degrees in the humanities, Dr
Jallow has since then been deploying his formida¬ble intellectual might and
penmanship to defy and demystify Yahya Jammeh and his rogue regime. This work
is a compilation of the essays he has written and published using different
online newspaper and media outlets like Gainako, Kairo News and Maafanta to
defy dictatorship and tyranny, hence the title Defying Dictatorship.
I
wish to say a big thank you to these media, who over the years provided a
platform that made it possible to share the essays in this volume with
thousands of Gambian and non-Gambian readers.
In
his dedication page, the author claims that the book is dedicated to the memory
of all who lost their lives in the struggle against the backward dictatorship
that ravaged The Gambia from 22 July 1994 to 1 December 2016. He further claims
that publishing the book in The Gambia and making it available to the Gambian
public is testimony to the victory of truth over lies, of justice over
injustice and ultimately, of the pen over the sword.
The
foreword was written by the Gambia’s new Information Minister, Hon. Demba Ali
Jawo. In the foreword, Hon. Jawo recounts events leading to the author’s
unshakable position of defying dictatorship. He claims that in Defying
Dictatorship, Baba Galleh Jallow does not only criticize Jammeh but also
repeatedly warns him of his impending fall from power and asserts that he and
many other Gam¬bians refuse to be denied their right to express their opinions,
criticize their gov¬ernment, and record for history and posterity the nature of
the regime’s brutal crimes against the Gambian people.
From
the introductory part of this book, the reader could easily see how Jallow
thoroughly paints a realistic picture of a dictator. This chapter, titled “The
Dictator”, gives a comprehensive description of how dictators behave and
perceive society. Jallow claims that dictators are essentially paranoid and
feed on public insecurity and fear. That there is not a single moment of a
dictator’s life when they are not preoccupied with their personal security;
when they do not imagine daggers lurking in the dark shad¬ows of their mind,
waiting for an opportunity to pounce and stab them to death, that the
dictator’s obsession with exercising total and absolute control over all affairs
of the country causes them to by-pass all legitimate institutions of the state.
Moreover, because they feel that every brutal action they take is legitimately
taken in self-defense and self-preservation, the dictator manages to stifle
their conscience and justify the most senseless of tyrannies inflicted upon
their per¬ceived enemies.
This
section enables the reader to demystify and recognize the semblance of
dictatorship in the life we had lived between 22 July, 1994 and 19 January
2017. It offers all its readers an opportunity for self-reflection in order to
gauge how we lived such dark days in our country’s history.
The
book is written in forty-six chapters, and divided into two main parts. Part
one consists of twenty-four chapters that look at “the many faces of
dictatorship”, that the more you look into the life of a dictator, the less you
see. Part two consists of twenty-two chapters that look at what the author
called “People Power” showing the turning tide from first class complacence to
outrageous defiance against tyranny.
The
chapters in part one were published between November 8, 2012 and July 20, 2016.
The articles in this first section are defiant in nature and attempt as best as
possible to demystify Yahya Jammeh. Hence it is not a surprise that
“Deconstructing Yahya Jammeh one, Deconstructing Yahya Jammeh two and
Deconstructing Yahya Jammeh three” would be presented as chapters one, two and
three respectively. These three articles were published between 2nd and 12th
January 2015.
The
author argues that the purpose of deconstructing Yahya Jammeh is not to merely
criticize him, however justified such criticism may sound. Nor is the purpose
simply to vent anger, how¬ever justifiable, at his systematic abuse of our
rights and responsibilities as Gam¬bian citizens. It is meant to highlight the
many contradictions that characterize Jammeh’s political character and his
assertion of absolute power over Gambians while denouncing the absolute power
of his colonial predecessors.
In
these articles, Jallow succeeds in revealing the deceptive nature of the
dictator; that in spite of Jammeh’s disregard for the rule of law, he still
cites human rights or the rule of law although only under two particular
circumstances: One, when it suits his personal interests to do so, and two,
when he blames the West for allegedly meddling in the affairs of what he
considers his personal country. He ignores constitutional provisions whenever
they clash with his personal interests and cites them whenever they serve his personal
interests.
Having
brought Jammeh’s conniving and deceitful ways to the surface, the author goes
further to respond to misconceptions about Jammeh being a “good dictator”
compared to others as claimed by Mr Robert D. Kaplan; that Jammeh spoke “truth to
power” as claimed by Mr Bill Jones; Jallow asserts that all dictators are
political gangsters who hijack entire populations and cling on to power as long
as they can and Jammeh is no exception.
The
two chapters following these responses delve into Jammeh’s conflict with
himself and his supercilious attitude of shifting the blame on to others;
colonialism, the west and on his own people. In chapter nine, the author is to
describe Jammeh as the worst kind of despotic ruler that the continent has ever
witnessed.
Chapter
ten looks at the Gambia’s withdrawal from the Common Wealth in October 2013.
This is followed by the author’s discussion on the irony of celebrating
independence that never was; insinuating that despots like Yahya Jammeh who
deny their citizens their God-given rights, could preside over independence
celebrations, truly beats one’s imagination.
Other
notable issues discussed in this part would include answers to “Why Deyda’s
killers are still at large”; “Why Sharia is not an option”; “Why America works
and the Gambia not”.
The
second part of this work is a collection of twenty-two articles published
between May 2013 and March 2017. A common denominator of the articles in this
second part is the shift from individual defiance to growing agitation among
Gambians at home and in the diaspora, presenting a beacon of hope for a new
dawn.
The
author acknowledges that every revolution is inspired by outrage; outrage at
the spectre of a small minor¬ity in power oppressing a large majority of
citizens. Outrage at gross injustices and often unbelievable socio-economic and
cultural hardships majorities endure under oppressive political regimes. He was
quick to add that revolutions succeed not only to the extent that they are also
inspired by a burning desire to empower politically the powerless major¬ity so
that never again will they be oppressed by a minority, but also to the extent
that they genuinely follow through and actualize such popular empowerment. The
nation always bears within itself the resources requisite for its own
empowerment. This perhaps is what every well-meaning Gambian needs in order to
move this country forward.
On
October 19, 2015, Jallow wrote “Navigating the Obstacles”. In this article, he
responds to two notable counter arguments to his articles “Looking beyond the
Power Grab” and “The Disengaged Public”.
The didactic function served by this article is that beyond rejecting
imposed opinion and injustice with all our might, we must tolerate disagreements
and criticisms from our fellow citizens and from other people, however
unreasonable, however unjustified, however much we think them motivated by bad
faith, or by loyalty to certain selfish and parochial interests of a political
nature.
“A
Gambian hypothesis” is a chapter that prophesied the nearing end of the
dictator, following recent trends in his increasingly erratic be¬haviour, his
irresponsible and hubris-driven pronouncements, his chest pounding and his
increasingly bold insults and assaults against both local individuals and institutions
and global institutions. These all point to one possible conclusion: that the
fate that befalls every dictator is about to befall Yahya Jammeh!
One
argument the author presents is his direct attack on his fellow African rulers
when the issue of term limit was raised. The June 6, 2015 online edition of The
Standard newspaper: captures the following:
“Now
they [West] are trying to use ECOWAS. They said Yahya Jammeh cannot be changed
by elections. They want to use their stooges in ECOWAS to impose term limit
because that is … a Western agenda. Where were the so-called Western leaders
today 20 years ago when I became head of state? Let me warn ECOWAS - Gambia is
nobody’s colony and our development is not dependent on ECOWAS that has already
failed because it has been hijacked by the West. Even if the whole world
introduced term limit, I will not have a term limit and let me see what you can
do. Democracy is power to the people and not power to the West. I am a
pan-Africanist, but I will not subscribe to any institution that is hijacked by
the West and is used against Africa. If it is the AU, I will leave AU; if it is
ECOWAS, I will leave ECOWAS, but I will not be given lectures by any of these
institutions on behalf of the West. Tell me about one electric pole here which
was installed by the AU (African Union) or ECOWAS or by the British or the
Americans. We are not fools! Let them mind their own business.”
Jallow
goes further to suggest the ideal presidency where he draws a contrast between
American leaders and African leaders like Yahya Jammeh. He contends that unlike
African leaders (i.e. Yahya Jammeh) who build roads, hospitals and monuments to
be displayed as the marks of their achievement, but neglect building the most
precious and powerful resources of their nations: their people’s minds; knowing
fully well that building the people’s minds is building the people’s power, and
therefore giv¬ing the people the opportunity to question their actions and boot
them out of power if they misbehave; American presidents feel their power as a
humbling experience because they feel the power of their people and know that
while they occupy the most powerful office in the world, their success and very
survival depends on recognizing the extent of the power of their people in
general and their colleagues and opponents in Congress and the Judiciary in
particular. American presidents cannot just wake up and decree the passage of a
law, or have someone arbitrarily arrested and detained, or fire a judge, a
secretary of state or a director without as much as a single word of
explanation. So until such a time that African leaders begin to see their
presidency as a humbling experience, the continent may continue to produce
dictators of the worst kind.
Chapter
thirty is an “Open Letter to President Jammeh: On granting amnesty to the
Gambian Diaspora.” In this chapter, the author described the move as a
potential beginning for positive change and gave some advice to Jammeh which
include: instituting a term limit; annulling the 2015 Elections Amendment Law;
considering alternative views especially from members of the opposition. In
reading this article, one could easily decipher the genuine and honest advice
the author gives Jammeh with a view to seeing him succeed which would also be
in the best interest of our country.
In
“Why Jammeh jippo”, the author invokes an intertext from the memorable and
widely popular phrase coined by Assan Musa Camara asking Jawara to step down
“Jawara Jippo” (Jawara step down). Jallow argues that it was time to say
“Jammeh Jippo” because he is on record saying that “We will never allow anyone
to stay in power beyond ten years. In fact, ten years is too much.” So after 22
years in power, jippo becomes the most appropriate caution; jippo because back
in July 1994 when he seized power, he repeatedly assured Gambians “we are not
here to stay”; jippo because you are on record declaring that one of your
primary reasons for toppling Jawara was that he had overstayed in power. Jammeh
Jippo because staying in power beyond ten years is just as bad today as it was
before 22 July 1994.
Of
course, the author goes on to insinuate that one can understand why Jammeh
Jippo is not an attractive idea at Kanilai Farms. Among other things, it is
difficult to imagine oneself going from being the wealthiest and most powerful
person in the land, to an ordinary citizen arraigned before a court of law on
charges of corruption or human rights viola¬tions. The lesson is clear, “the
way you make your bed, so you shall lie on it”.
Chapter
thirty-three entitled “God is not to blame: Some talking points for our
alternative leadership”, points out some critical talking points for our
alternative leadership in their rallies. For in¬stance, since 1994 when Yahya
Jammeh became president, America has had three presidents: Bill Clinton was
president for eight years; George W. Bush was president for eight years; Barack
Obama has been president for eight years. Jallow cites another example,
Britain. That since Yahya Jammeh became president in 1994, Britain has had six
lead¬ers: Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David
Cameroon and most recently Theresa May. What the author alludes here is that
the myths associated with “mansaya” and “mansa kunda” are deeply entrenched in
our people’s collective consciousness; that people cannot become leaders
without God’s will. He concedes that this provision is a tricky space to
manoeuver because in a deeply religious community such as ours, there is no way
to refute it convincingly.
In
“For Jammeh, God is yet to speak”, the author preaches humility; that there is
The God who destines, and that Jammeh’s change of heart to refuse the 1st
December election results and attempts to subvert the will of the Gambian
people is as futile as flogging a dead horse. Jallow argues that judging from
Jammeh’s actions and pronouncements on the eve of the 1 December elections, it
is clear that he did not think he was going to lose. He had de¬clared that
Gambia’s electoral system was rig-proof and that for this reason, no
demonstrations challenging the results would be allowed after the elections. On
Election Day he had both the Internet and international phone connections to
The Gambian shut off. He was expecting to win big and then accelerate his
oppression and tighten his grip on the already suffocating country and its
population. But God spoke in our favour and the dictator has become history.
In
“no retreat, no surrender”, “Not politics as usual 1” and “Not politics as
usual 2”, chapters 37, 43 and 44 respectively, the author highlights the
changing tide of an exceedingly complacent population cowed by brutality and
intimidation of exclusion, to a people declaring relentless war against
dictatorship; that for 22 years, Yahya Jammeh has treated The Gambia as if it
were his personal property and Gambians as if they were nothing but his
personal slaves with no right to disagree with anything he said or did. These
chapters show the transformation in the population to speak up and speak out
against oppression. The author adds that the appointments of Hon. Demba A. Jawo
as Minister of Information and Ebrima Sillah as Director of GRTS can only
promise well for our country; promising freedoms of expression and of the
press. He assures that both Hon. Demba A. Jawo and Ebrima Sillah are men of
principle who will not compromise their jour¬nalistic ethics and integrity when
it comes to doing the right thing in their new positions of responsibility,
hoping that in the new Gambia, the politics of media relations will not be what
they were under the Jammeh regime. That both GRTS and other public and private
media must make it a point to enlighten and empower the Gambian people. Other
notable chapters that would perhaps whet your interest to read this work would
include “What Jammeh wants”, “Please don’t die for Jammeh”, “Why we need a
truth and reconciliation commission”.
At
this juncture, I wish to salute and applaud the author, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow,
for such an extraordinary piece. The articles are apt and have discussed the
bane of our leadership. I am sincerely moved by the energy and vigour with
which he writes his over forty articles for ideals he and many other Gambians
share. His efforts are commendable, and assuming that his post has followers,
he has no doubt contributed greatly to ensuring regime change in the Gambia and
for that we are greatly indebted.
As
I conclude, I wish to emphatically state that contrary to popular belief that
Gambian intellectuals have not mustered courage to defy dictatorship, the
essays in this book are a clear testimony of one of Gambia’s finest
intellectuals who could not shut his eyes to watch our God-given rights being
trampled upon. The message to the dictator and all other dictators around the
world is that not all voices can be silenced; that the truth can be hushed but
never extinguished, and that as history has shown again and again, that however
long dictators reign supreme, they will, someday, fall into the dustbin of
history.
At
this point, I urge you all to grab a copy of this all-too essential reading for
yourselves and your families and in our absence, live it as a rich legacy unto
your issue. At least we owe that to the next generation!
I
thank you all for your undivided attention. God bless you all.
