I did not defend Hamat. I defended my views on Hamat’s perceived offensive statement. My politics is based on facts, principle and the truth. Just because many people adopted the position that “dirimo” or rat refers to Mandingkas, that doesn’t mean I have to slavishly follow the bandwagon. Everyone is entitled to his or her views.
Based on the video that I watched, and the context within which the impugned statement was uttered by Hamat, I have a different interpretation on the matter.
Hamat’s statement may be offensive but in my view, it would be wrong to say “dirimo” referred to the Mandingka tribe. It was a generic reference for the opposition. I condemn the inappropriate expression. Yet, we Mandingkas should not appropriate this word as our own.
No one is more Mandingka than me, and I will not encourage anyone to insult my tribe or other tribes. Hamat did not specifically insult Mandingkas with the dirimo comment. He mentioned Fulas, Wollofs from Senegal, Sarahulays from Mali and Mandingkas from Kolda and Guinea Bissau, on the ID card saga. Interpreting it within context, to me “dirimo” meant the opposition. Mandingkas are not the only opposition leaders.
I stand nothing to gain by ascribing falsehood and propagating it. My politics is not one based on falsehood. At GMC, that is not who we are.
This isnt the first time Hamat complained about Fulas and ID cards. Hon. O.J Jallow as Minister & Mrs Tambajang once raised the issue at an official forum as Vice President in front of the President. I was at that formal meeting as Minister of Interior. Many people just rush with the flow.
Leaders should not be easily carried away by the hullabaloo. I do not defend anyone or support anyone. I stand on issues as I understand them to be based on clear, objective, critical analytical assessment. I heard another opposition leader who made a much more damaging political statement in the past that we are all paying for, more grave than Hamat’s own.
Truth be told, Gambians largely encourage frivolous behaviour in politics. Just listen to the dangerous diatribe via online TVs, radios, or various political party fora ( plural of forum). We created this monster and now we are shocked at our own political creation. Welcome to our own reality!
If ever there is to be a joke of the century price, this utter nonsense by none other than the man who claimed to have hired and fired Halifa Sallah, will be among the shortlisted sketches.
Mai wined and dined with the bandits in state house. Including flying to Mecca at our cost, with the same unscrupulous habits in Amat and Ousainou.
Buwaalu bé ñu suboo wafati la.
Heey duniyaa!!
Mai is just showman now, he should have condemned Amat Bah’s despicable comments but defending Bah make him a political opportunist looking for attention . Mr Bah is indeed a very tribalist because it is in DNA, Looking at his political life you can easily conclude that without hesitation. Mai is blinded by his selfish interest this time . I think it is time for the Gambian people to unrecognize many of one man political parties we have. Mr fatty should join another party to be relevant in our country. His showmanship should end now . I have once regarded him as a great politician but changing positions like political prostitute makes me feel disappointed about him .
Max, i have a question.
Did Ousainou Darboe condemn Aji Yam Seck’s utterance that Gambians of the Mandinka ethnicity should vote for him, Ousainou, as a form of reward for the plights he suffered under Yaya Jammeh the tyrant?
If not, what’s your take on that?
Thank you for asking . The position of UDP was that it never condone such comments from its members Including Mrs Secka. So that was the position of the party including Mr Ousainu Darboe . In fact if you see reactions to mr Bah’s despicable comments, UDP made a statement against it . So I think whether Ousainu personally condemned Mrs Secka or not is irrelevant because the party has clearly disassociated itself from her comment . If you look at Mr Bah’s tribal vitriol, he is fanning the flame of tribal war because it was insulting to call his opponents rats .
Every one in The Gambia condemned mr Bah’s comments except the socialist party which historically has never condemned even Jammeh’s tribalism when he insulted mandinkas . This time I don’t expect anything from them . Do think the socialist party should condemn Mr Bah’s tribal vitriol?
Tnx for the response.
Well I have not seen or heard anything that indicates the United Democratic Party distancing themselves from the illogical utterances of Yam Secka. If there is any such statement in writing or audio format, I’ll be glad if you will direct me to it.
Yes the UDP has issued a statement on the barbaric tirades of Hamat Bah. But that’s from outside. Such utterances have many a times been made inside the UDP by members without much noise equaling a the sound of a water drop.
You, yes YOU have written in many comments in Kairo that because of the “dominant Mandinka numerical number” a “Mandinka” should lead the country.
DOI does not deem it necessary to put out an official statement to condemn Hamat because you will ultimately have to every day put out a statement to condemn the near entire political apparatus. Sentimental, populous and ethnic politics is unbelievably pervasive that it has dented my hope of ever seeing a politics based purely on bread and butter issues in our country.
But all the same for DOI, there is an editorial on why no politician should speak for an entire ethnic group. Find the link below.
https://foroyaa.net/does-any-gambian-have-the-authority-to-speak-for-a-tribe-or-ethno-linguistic-group/
Finally, it’s a common saying that those who live in a glass house should not throw stones. That saying perfectly applies to the UDP in this instant.
“You, yes YOU have written in many comments in Kairo that because of the “dominant Mandinka numerical number” a “Mandinka” should lead the country”. Mwalimu
Mwalimu , this statement you have attributed to Me above is indeed false and inaccurate. I have never in my entire life state that mandinka should lead the country based on their numerical strength . All my political commentaries I have never made such comments anywhere. I have written extensively on Kaironews and many places but I have never made such comments . I will be glad if you go back and bring the evidence for everyone to see here . Please do that for the sake of honesty and decency that we should encourage truthfulness in our discussion. I have stated after the last presidential election that Mandinkas are the king makers in The Gambia because if the Mandinkas majority vote for any person that Candidate would be president in The Gambia. This is what I have always indicate regarding any Presidential election. The former President Jawara , Jammeh and Adama barrow are all supported by Mandinkas majority . Jammeh was supported by Mandinkas majority in all the elections regardless of his tribal identity except the last election when he insulted and threatened Mandinkas, he lost the election. The numerical strength of the Mandinkas will always determine the outcome of any presidential election in The Gambia . This is the indisputable fact because Mandinkas represents more than 45% of the population. If you look at the political landscape of USA , white Americans vote will always determine the outcome of any presidential election because almost more than 65 % of the population are white . But President Obama got elected because majority white Americans voted for him . The numerical strength of white in USA will always determine the outcome of any presidential elections. The same thing applies to the small gambia where the Mandinkas makes significant majority but it doesn’t mean that Mandinkas should always lead the country.
In politics, some politicians will say any silly thing to get elected but political leaders shouldn’t be doing such . Mr Amat Bah’s despicable comments can’t be compared to ordinary members of UDP or any party , Mr Bah is a leader that is why his comments are widely condemned by majority citizens including all the leading political parties.
With regard to Mrs Secka, Mr UDP spokesperson Mr Tall has already clarified the party position on her comments.
PDOIS do not engage in condemning tribal politics, when Jammeh insulted Mandinkas, all political leaders condemned except PDOIS. All political parties came and had a press conference to condemn Jammeh at the time except PDOIS. Maybe they have just started doing that but during Jammeh’s time they failed to do that at least one time they failed to join their colleagues to condemn Jammeh .
Here is the link :
https://standard.gm/udp-reacts-to-deputy-leaders-tribal-comments/
This was the position of UDP
Max, I’ll withdraw that statement I attributed to you. If you deny ever making such a statement, I trust it without a doubt. And I apologize.
Having said that, I would like to ask what evidence do you have to suggest that ethnic votes are the deciding factor for anyone person to come to power in the Gambian?
Do you have a statistical breakdown of the “ethnic votes”?
For DOI condemning such utterances in the public space, we don’t need to go back and forth on that. The pages of Foroyaa are full of letters from Halifa Sallah to Yaya Jammeh and editorials upon editorials counseling political players not to be fanning flames of hatred and mistrust in the country. UDP feeds on ethnic sentiments. That’s no secret.
Thank you mwalimu for withdrawing your statement that you attributed to me. However I would have been more happy if you present your evidence to substantiate your claim so that readership will ultimately know the facts . But I accept your position if you don’t want to do that.
Regarding the ethnic vote to analyze the presidential election, I think the census data is the only data you can rely to make good analysis. I just used that data to predict the outcome of any presidential election in the country as far as Mandinkas majority vote is concerned . Another example that you can also use is the women vote , if majority Gambian women vote for any candidate likely that person would become president of the country because we have more women than men in the country. So the race , tribe , gender and many other descriptors are used in political analysis . Example , in USA during the last presidential election, more men voted for Trump than Mrs Clinton. The exit polls always indicate these descriptors so that political pundits can analyze the results . These descriptors are also considered in political campaigns so that politicians can target them to canvass in order to secure more support. Jammeh lost the election because of the insult and threat he said against the Mandinkas otherwise he would have still been president. In fact , Mr Bah’s is already a political liability to Adama Barrow based on the comments he made . I tell you, Mr Barrow will be easily defeated if his inner circle continue to make stupid tribal vitriol like Mr Bah did . I am pretty Confident that the damage has been done because Mr Baba Leigh who was first to start this nonsense . Any political leader Who insults Mandinkas in the country you will not repeat it and he will fail.
I think it is indeed fake and inaccurate to suggest that UDP feeds on ethnic sentiments. What evidence do you have to suggest this wide claim ? This kind of language are you used by those who always want to categorize UDP as Mandinkas party . This is false . Are you suggesting that UDP feeds on Mandinkas sentiment in its political process? Which ethnic sentiment did they feeds on ? I hope you answer these questions. I think we have be honest with ourselves, if it was tribal sentiment that UDP feeds on, Jammeh would Not have been President for so long . All the Mandinkas key players in APRC would have been in UDP . In facts , without Mandinkas majority APRC wouldn’t have been in power for so long. It is easy to use this kind of language against UDP Because Darboe is a Mandinka but are you doing the same to Mr Kandeh. No because you don’t see him as a someone will real chance of winning the election. I am sure any popular Mandinka politician for presidential election will hear the same kind of language: that is he or she is feeding on ethnic sentiments.