Ask any Gambian and they will tell you what the problem is and those behind the problems we face in The Gambia. Corruption?
We all know who the corrupt ones are. It’s just not us or our family members. It is the others. Hypocrisy? We know who the hypocrites are. It is not us or our associates or family members. It is the others in that other group.
Mediocrity? It is the others that accept that. For my friends and associates,we have very high standards. Tribalism? Oh they are the tribalist, we are too educated and tribally conscious to be tribalist!
Try getting anyone to accept being part of those behind the problem and they will assume a Rock of Gibraltar status: Unmovable!
Our experts/scholars/intellectuals know our challenges as a nation. We all know the challenges. But the solution somehow lies in others because they are the problem.
Meaning everyone else except they themselves and those that subscribe to their persuasion. Everyone thinks everyone else is the problem. I call it the “They Problem” and it is the opposite of the “Us Solution”.
The They Problem allows you to point fingers at others and put the blame squarely at their feet. The They Problem absolves you of any responsibility and excuses inertia.
The They Problem allows you to entertain antiquated notions of ethnicity/tribalism and point fingers at others because they are the problem.
In the They Problem, it’s ok to take a back seat high on the moral pew and spew garbage at others because they are the problem. The They Problem gives you license to be duplicitous because you can hide behind the veil of some religion thinking no one can see through you.
On the flip side of the They Problem is the Us Solution. The Us Solution encourages introspection. The Us Solution interrogates the soul. It Demands self-accountability.
The Us Solution discourages pointing fingers at others and promotes holding the mirror to oneself. The Us Solution does not tolerate mediocrity. It abhors sycophancy. It does not subscribe to the Maslaha syndrome.
The Us Solution pushes blame-gaming to the dustbins of irrelevance. The Us Solution does not stand by family or friends or party members when they are inept, idiotic or morally corroded.
At the core of the Us Solution is ACCOUNTABILITY! The Us Solution subscribes to country first and not some popularity-seeking and sojourn into the murky waters of statecraft.
The Us Solution asks questions such as: How have I contributed to this problem of flooding in Banjul? What must I do to solve this problem? How do I make sure it never happens again?
The Us Solution understands the fallibility of humans but recognizes the thick line between a mistake and a deliberate act! The same mistake twice is a deliberate act.
But the Us Solution is not very popular for it can be painful for one to accept that we are our own worst enemies. That we are the problem. It is much more soothing and placating to point fingers at others and embark on the They Problem train. And yet we continue to wallow in failure while wondering why!
Try the Us Solution. Gambia is not where it is because the land wanted to be, it’s because YOU AND I made it so!
