Commentary
By Binneh S. Minteh, USA.
If anyone argues that modern times are a despicable reality of the 21st century, that argument falls right on the trajectories of history. Our evolution from centuries old etiquette to the realities of modernization enabled us embrace systems and structures that propel communities to meet challenges of our changing times.
Nonetheless, traditions and cultures are not totally abandoned, yet, they are not used as a gimmick with our modern societal order of governance. That is the reasoning behind the nouvelle paradigm of separating the state from religion, and the state and culture.
In the minuscule West African state of The Gambia, the state tends to muzzle the trajectories of the aforementioned realities. Reports of the state sponsored witch hunters tormenting ordinary citizens, hijacking their God given rights, which are protected under doctrines of all religions and safeguarded by the sole guardian of the nation - the national Constitution, remain troubling.
Evidence of torture by members of the security forces and government’s bifurcated efforts in forcing citizens to undergo the president’s rituals for merely consolidating his political grip on the civic population, are simply absurd, dangerous and non-progressive policies of the century. The situation is indeed both a national and regional crisis that has overshadowed the people of The Gambia. It is a fermenting mechanism that is capable of back firing irrespective of government’s ability to crush dissent through the use of state machinery- the police, the national guards and the army.
The good questions however, are: How long would the administration survive through a continued utilization of the nation’s security machinery against its own people? How long would Gambians continue to be tortured, murdered and jailed under situations that could be abated?
An understanding of human nature and cycles of political transformations in the sub-region should be an eye-opener for the Gambian authorities. As the famous jargon goes, “No one is worthy of worship other than our creator,” and that is GOD THE ALMIGHTY. The downfall and demise of leaders, who abused authority under false presumptions of being supreme, throughout the evolution of societies and communities in history, are living testaments to that argument. These facts are echoed in holy books such as The Qur’an, The Torah, and The Bible. They are not fiction, but both historical and religious embodiments of humanity that cannot be challenged or disputed.
The late Samuel Doe ruled with an iron fist and tormented Liberians for 7 years. He had to however call it quits when the might of our creator empowered the people of that country to disgracefully remove him from power. He was killed in the most horrific manner no one had imagined.
Charles Taylor, who triumphantly succeeded him was also disgraced and is today facing trial at The Hague, Netherlands as result of his disrespect for God’s creation, the human beings.
The late president Lasana Conte of Guinea, an associate of our president Jammeh, ruled Guinea with an iron fist for almost two decades. What was Conte’s Faith? The Gambian leader needs to think about these things. Mighty General Conte died of diabetes and hours after his death, thousands of Guinean citizens took to the streets chanting in support of the young military leaders who toppled the civilian regime that was to succeed Lansana Conte. Since his death, his family continues to tumble in disgrace. The most recent confession of Conte’s oldest son of involvement in the drug trade on national television is evidence of that reality.
Events in Guinea-Bissau that marked the brutal murder of General Nino Viera, another close associate, were no fiction, but a historical reality. Throughout his two decades rule of Guinea-Bissau, President Viera viciously abused human rights, brutally silencing dissent including his comrades in the struggle. His rule was characterized by summary executions, torture, and imprisonment of voices of dissent. His death in the hands of political and military opponents will remain in the annals of Guinea - Bissau history. The nature of his death was symbolic of our creator’s power.
The aforementioned are some of the experiences that the Gambian leader must draw lessons from.
Gambians are silent in anger, smiling in rage and obedient to a system that continues to trample on their God given rights. They do so with the belief in God as the omnipotent, the creator, the protector and the owner of the world, the heavens and the universe. It is therefore my contention that with the faith bestowed on God, the Almighty, our beloved Gambian nation would one day be awakened under the banner of a nation chanting the words "Freedom at last. Yes, we can; and yes, we did".
The late President John F. Kennedy once said that "When written in Chinese, the word ’crisis’ is composed of two characters - one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity."
The Gambian government must therefore understand that the nation is gripped by a crisis situation that has real dangers and real opportunities to contain the situation. It was those opportunities that urged opposition leader Halifa Sallah to caution the authorities. It is therefore imperative for the Gambian leader to not only release Mr. Sallah, but pay attention to the veteran politician’s words of wisdom as a caution to his leadership.
Halifa Sallah is only a wise man who has the country at heart. His intervention against the state sponsored campaign against innocent citizens in the name of fighting witchcraft is not a short sighted move, but one of putting our nation on the right trajectories of effective governance. His actions were on the right on track. This is so because the separation of the state and religion and the state and culture, are the bedrock of our time.
I am sure president Jammeh is cognizant of the reality that "He who rules by the sword, is deposed by the same sword". Hopefully, he will heed the advice of the opposition leader and sociologist. What else could we say?
The author(photo) was a former Gambian Army First Lieutenant. He is currently an Independent Researcher, Analyst and Consultant. He Holds a Masters Degree in Global Affairs from New York University. He also produces the Sword of Truth at http://www.sofawarrior.blog.com/
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