Speaking up against abuse of power and corruption, especially in a post dictatorship society is an urgent, necessary and a historic duty incumbent on all conscious sovereign citizens!
The incidence of abuse of power unfolding in The Gambia at this moment is alarming unless if one is not watching! We must confront it now lest we lose the democratic gains we have registered since January 2017. We cannot go back to Dictatorship! Never.
What we must recognize is that men and women in charge of the institutions of our State are not angels and they are not necessarily patriotic, just and honest. If so we would have never had dictatorship and corruption in The Gambia and anywhere else on earth! It is precisely because of the fact men and women are not angels that the rule of law was created in our Constitution to serve as a bulwark against abuse and corruption!
But beyond the rule of law, and to make the rule of law work effectively it is imperative that each and every citizen becomes a watchdog – To remind elected and appointed public officials that they are being watched!
The incidence of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and intimidation of citizens, the arbitrary closure of radio stations, the arbitrary banning of civil groups and the blatant misuse of public funds and other corrupt practices glaringly show the urgency for citizens to become lot more vigilant by speaking up!
By speaking up and watching the Government we put public officials on their toes and enable them to restrain themselves within the rule of law!
Our silence and indifference only reinforces abuse of office and corruption which when it continues festers into a deep wound that is hard to cure and with huge pain! This is how the Yaya Jammeh Tyranny unfolded and entrenched! Therefore speak up. Today. Tomorrow. Everyday.
For far too long we have had public officials plunder our wealth and abuse our rights with false narratives of national security or that they are enforcing the law.
In most cases neither is national security threatened nor are they enforcing the law. Rather they are merely covering up their own abuse and corruption or promoting their selfish political objectives which they hide behind national security and enforcing the law!
It is precisely because of this faulty and unjust narrative that we had had a terrible dictatorship in this country for 22 years. Yaya Jammeh used to say he will not compromise the security of the nation. That was all a lie and a cover up for his own personal security, corruption and to further his grip on power hence the uncountable atrocities he committed!
We will not be fooled again or be taken unawares! Let Pres. Adama Barrow and IGP Mamour Jobe and NIA Director General Ousman Sowe and indeed all elected and appointed public officials know that!
We recall not long ago when Ousman Sowe released a false report to say social media was a national security concern! This was nothing but a ploy to intimidate citizens and deny freedom of expression and close down Internet with the intention to bring back dictatorship. The end result of such diabolical lie is to silence citizens so that they can cover up their abuse and corruption!
Therefore if you are a sober sovereign citizen, you better wake up and stand up and speak up! It is about your life. It is about your destiny. It is about the future of your children! Remember the Government of Adama Barrow is not interested in democracy and good governance and human rights. They are making subtle moves to stifle democracy without our notice.
For far too long Gambians take things for granted! We merely hope things will get better. But since Independence we have witnessed a lived reality of shameful poverty and oppression caused by none other than elected and appointed public officials. Look at our Covid-19 finds? Plundered. In broad daylight.
Despite the presence of the Constitution that protects our rights and sets obligations for the State to protect those rights, we have witnessed how these public officials continuously abuse us! For how long shall this continue? Do you ask yourself that?
Meantime look at the poor conditions of our communities and our lives…! Our public institutions that are supposed to serve us rather deny us!
After 55 years of Independence poverty, deprivation and injustice remain prevalent. Youth unemployment is high. Infant and maternal mortality are high. Until today majority of our people lack access to water and electricity supply or good roads and proper infrastructure in general.
Instead of managing our resources to our benefit these public officials rather plunder our wealth which is why all of our streets are so poor. This is why public services such as delivery of water and electricity are horrible while our public schools and hospitals remain in subhuman conditions, as preventable diseases continue to kill our people!
Unless you are an imbecile you shall speak up and stand up to defend your rights, your dignity, your Constitution and your sovereignty.
For The Gambia Our Homeland
