I am sad to learn of the death of Honourable Alhaji Muhammadu Cadi (M.C) Cham, erstwhile member of Parliament for Tumana Constituency, Upper River Division. May his kind soul rest in peace.
I first met Honourable Alhaji M. C. Cham in 1964 during the Marlborough House Constitutional Talks on The Gambia's Independence. Our paths crossed again in 1972, subsequent to his appointment as Minister of Information and Tourism, because he was based in the President's Office wing, at the Quadrangle: where I was serving as assistant secretary, under the mentorship of Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Mustapha (Tapha) Sosseh, civil servant par excellence. From that initial appointment, Honourable Alhaji M.C.Cham rose rapidly through the ministerial ranks, holding various portfolios, including Education, Youth and Sports, and eventually Finance and Trade.
Honourable Alhaji M.C.Cham was an intelligent, energetic and enthusiastic minister, who had excellent working relationship with permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants. He was driven to achieve success in his ministerial posts to the extent that he was not averse to after-hours briefings; in the belief that preparation enhances performance. Indeed
the late Mr. Thomas (Tom) G.G Senghore as permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance and Trade, and the late Dr. Jabez Ayodele (Ayo) Langley as permanent secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Industrial Development, later secretary general credited Minister M.C.Cham's leadership for the successful outcomes of several international donor missions.
An admirable fact about Minister Cham was his ability to chair substantive meetings with an open mind, while encouraging the views of all participants. My last official interaction with him was at a meeting he convened, in the latter part of 1981, to address the issue of rising expenditure on overseas travel The recommendation for the establishment of a Travel Committee arose therefrom.
In my opinion, one of the most remarkable qualities about the Honourable Alhaji M. C. Cham was his clear and unsymplistic understanding of democracy. This probably enabled him to make informed decision to join the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), after almost ten years as an elected member of the United Party (UP). He made the change without fanfare, and in the belief that he would have a better opportunity to contribute to national development, as a member of the ruling political party. Thereafter, he became a loyal member of the PPP, but because he was not subsumed by politics, he did not shun
colleagues and friends in his former Party: consequently, he remained beloved by the U.P Yai Kompins, "aunts," "sisters," and even the die-hard U.P supporters. To the politically savvy, Alhaji M.C.Cham's stance showed that political opposition need not equate to enmity. He also believed that democracy is the best system of governance for The Gambia, and experientially it seemed to work well during the First Republic, under the Presidency of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.
Alhaji M.C. Cham was known to hold strong views on matters he deemed important; moreover, he did so with the courage of his convictions. Specifically, he valued the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution, among them, the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, a citizen's right to organized peaceful protests, and last but not least, freedom from arbitrary arrests. I can therefore imagine his dismay and indignation at being arrested, detained, and tortured under the Jammeh regime, in the vain attempt to silence him. Alhaji Cham was a brave warrior, jambari jambarla, and those who recognized his strength of character and courage, knew that this elder statesman would not be easily broken.The cruel and unwarranted acts against him and other notable citizens outraged all right-minded Gambians, myself included.
Minister Cham was a man of the people. He was as comfortable among his constituents in Upper River Division, as he was with his neighbours in the capital city of Banjul and its environs. He was a gentleman who embodied that much admired ability of Banjulians to co-exist in harmony and peace, difference of religion, ethnicity and culture, educational attainment and social status, notwithstanding. This characteristic was a great asset in his career as a politician, and made for successful collaboration with others in advancing community and national goals overall, in a stable and peaceful nation. He was an approachable individual with a genial nature, and people were drawn to him especially as he was not envious, malicious, mean spirited or treacherous. Rather, he was
benevolent, but above all, loyalty was among the attributes for which he will be remembered. A great testimony to this quality of the man was his devotion to the memory of his fraternal friend Officer Saul Samba, who was killed in the line of duty, in 1973.
Alhaji M. C.Cham was an honourable man, 'gorr la' and as such, he never forgot a good deed. It was noteworthy that he supported the family of the late Mr. Pierre Sarr (P.S) N'jie by his presence at the home of the deceased, during the funeral until the burial day. It was also through his appeal, on behalf of the family, to the late Honourable Alhaji Njie Dodou, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who in consultation with the Honourable Alhaji Bakary B. Dabo, Vice President and Leader of the House, that Independence Drive was open to the funeral cortege, even though Parliament was in session. I believe that Alhaji M.C.Cham could not have paid a more fitting honour to the late Mr. P.S. N'jie, barrister at law, leader of the United Party, and one of the doyens of Gambian politics; the man who guided his first steps on the rungs of the political ladder. I salute Alhaji M.C.Cham for his thoughtfulness and consideration.
The Honourable Alhaji Muhammadu Cadi Cham was a patriot bar none. He served his constituency devotedly, and his nation with patriotic zeal. May the Almighty, the Merciful grant him peace in Paradise. May He grant solace to his family and friends. May fond memories of Alhaji M.C.Cham be a comfort to them. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends in The Gambia, Senegal, in other parts of Africa, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the World.
