Under President Adama Barrow, Sir Dawda Jawara was given full state burial befitting his status as the Founding Father of our nation. Yaya Jammeh who once said that Gambia belongs to him, would have done otherwise!
By declaring state burial for Sir Dawda, the founding father of our nation, President Barrow is indeed a true Statesman. Barrow’s magnanimity and classic show of statesmanship was also in display when he facilitated the repatriation of Yaya Jammeh’s late mum following requests made by the family of Aja Ashomi Bojang in August last year. The President did not only accede to their request but he even extended his condolences to Ex-President Jammeh personally.
For those of us who lived through the ordeals of authoritarianism, we are indeed delightful today that the death of Sir Dawda Jawara occurred during the era of Adama Barrow and not under Dictator Yaya Jammeh, who tried everything possible to eradicate the legacies of Sir Dawda whose distinguished service to the nation outlived dictatorship and despotism.
His work in the areas of human rights, rule of law and respect for the sovereignty of the people did outdone the numerous attempts by Jammeh to eviscerate the good things the father of this nation had done for all Gambians regardless of tribe, creed, religion or political affiliations.
All the loud praises, fitting tributes and sad eulogies that came from his son, former colleagues, religious leaders and other eminent personalities would never have seen the light of day let alone being broadcasted live on national and other private media networks for the whole world to see, if his passing away occurred during the Jammeh’s era. Thank God for that!
Sir Dawda died on 27th August 2019, Ethiopian Haile Salassie was strangled to death on 27 August 1975 at age 83 following a coup d’état. It is therefore remarkable that after 34 years of the death of another African icon, one of the pioneers of African unity, it takes the magnanimity of our 54-year old President to accord a befitting full State burial to Sir Dawda Jawara.
Thank you President Barrow. Yaya Jammeh would never have allowed Sir Dawda’s legacy be celebrated in such dignity and manner.
May Allah the Almighty grant Sir Dawda Jawara peace and tranquility in Jannah!
Dr. Alieu Faal
Nothing further from the truth! Dictators suffer from inferiority complex. Nobody should be accorded equal status to their rule. They want to be glorified and praised. Jammeh attempted many times to keep Jawara’s legacy in the darkness of history. But he failed. There is only one father of the nation and that is Sir Dawda.
I think barrow could not do otherwise.
There was already an alternative plans in place to accord Jawara a “people’s burial” Incase barrow turned out unreliable on this matter too.
Barrow is actually in heart no Jawara admirer otherwise he could have used the occasion to name a country landmark like the Airport after Jawara.
There is also a difference between Jammeh and barrow. Despite the later’s boastfulness, he was put in State House by the will and power of the people.
The former forced his way into State House by the barrel of the gun.
Yaya jammeh have given sir Dawda Jawara what is more important at the first place so for him to give him a stade burial would have been his best opportunity to fullfil his duties on his former president. If you need followers please bring something important where everyone will benefit and learn rather than brining something that you don’t know what how it would have been jammeh don’t don’t know you don’t have anything to do with you why do you want to hate him are you not a Muslim even he has killed your dad can’t you leave it for Allah SWT to bring justice for you stop using jammehs name in the media for nothing if you are good writer people are forcing in the religious education debating we are facing our last days is better you think of that than writing nonsense on social media
Please, why bring Jammeh into this discussion? Does it matter what he would or wouldn’t have done? Sir Dawda was given a fitting send off by the nation. Let’s cherish and savour the sad, yet beautiful and sobering moments of that incredibly deserving send off to our iconic founding father. Once again, may Allah (SWT) Grant him Jannatul Firdaus and bless his family.
It’s good to give credit where credit is due
There are some people who are ready to discredit Barrow in any he does
We know what their agenda is. Barrow deserves commendation for this. Jammeh got what he deserved.
Bax you seem jealous. Are you one of those hypocrites who were serving the dictator and now shedding crocodile tears? Chei Gambians. I see nothing wrong in Dr Alieu Faal’s article
1. Jealous of what?
2. For your info Gidon, I’ve never served any dictator in any capacity whatsoever.
3. “Shedding crocodile tears”? How, if I may ask, and for who?
4. You see nothing wrong in the article, nor did l say anything was wrong with it.
My point is that the solemn ocassion belongs to (late) Sir Dawda and his family and nothing should “steal” that from them. Mentioning Yaya Jammeh and what he may do or not have done is completely out of place here; at least whilst the 7day mourning is still in progress.
To my simple knowledge of human being and my instincts, Bax was not a Jammeh sympathizer.
He may have some sympathy for Jammeh in respect to what he may felt as “mandinka tribalistic” insurgency.
Bax to my understanding is Hon. Sallah devotee.
So let’s go back to substance!
@Kinteh (Kemo),
If Bax will permit me here, I would like to speak for him.
You make two unsubstantiated and baseless claims in your comment.
First Bax is on record for saying on several occasions that Jammeh’s tribal rants about “Mandinkas” is a smoke screen to keep a tab on everyone he deems as a threat. Jammeh has murdered people from all ethnic backgrounds. He is a psychopath and a megalomaniac. Even animals are not safe in his presence.
Second, devotee has a demeaning connotation to it and a submissive attitude towards a deity. Such a portrayal of a person who has dedicated countless hours to educating people on the political and social intricacies of The Gambia, is unbecoming of a person like you.
In my humble opinion, you should retract that comment and apologize.
“Mandinka tribalistic insurgency”! Oh, get lost Kinteh (Kemo) lol. There’s no such thing in our country. What we have is the subtle use of tribe and tribal allegiances to further political ambitions.
How did Alieu Faal know that jammeh wouldn’t do this.
Alieu Faal Are you not a Muslim.
Only Allah can say what’s inside man not you not anyone.
And how can you even talk about Impossibility. Coz he can’t do this bcz he is no longer President. You know that so please why suggest such a foolish taughts.
Anyway you’re not Fallible
But try to Reason out your thoughts before speaking them out.
Regret reading this useless piece!
No JP! God makes his people assume or even know what others are capable of doing and not. He gave us a capacity to think so do we make good plans for the future. But, only God knows, only God knows ……, as if we are those God fearing people who just met with God last night. If we are all that God fearing, why won’t we go home and let God run the government for us. ‘God is everything so wicked crooks will chuck me in the eyes to get me blind only to say: sorry God did it. Sometimes they would say is satan though! Interesting.
If you want to see so many greedy sycophants pretend they fear and love God, go to Gambia.
Hey, (JP) I can also ask: Would justice of peace desire a befitting state funeral for Sir Dawda? And be convinced that – No he wouldn’t, because i think he’s that complacent JP to people getting buried 6ft deep and who also refuses remains of citizens of equal rights a befitting burial in their home country. Do you think JP, what I should be thinking of you, should be coming from God?
Please let’s stop pretending like God is got to do anything with the devils in our hearts and in our country. JP, you can lie to me about who you are but you can’t lie to yourself about who you are.
Justice of Peace, is it your hate towards the deceased or your uncontrollable love for Yaya? Almost every crook in the Gambia today would predestine their evil deeds and minds to God as if most of them have gone mad like Yaya Jammeh who fully belief he was on God’s mission killing Gambians. We may all be very good believers in God and pretend to fear Him but the sad thing is, God doesn’t seem to be on His way anytime soon to scrub that wickedness and dishonesty in our hearts for us.
Our problems were never once God but that cold bloodedness, greediness, the hypocrisy and contemptuousness of many Gambians.
*……. my eyes out and get me blind only …
JP At Alieu faal is brave enough to come out in person with his article
Why are you hiding behind a fake name? For years people like you were scared to mention Jawara. This is a brilliant piece
JP or whatever your name is, taught is the past tense of teach and thought is the state of mind. Quote ” why suggest such a foolish taughts.” silly to make such grammatical mistakes in public fora.
The problem with Dr. Alieu Faal’s write up is that it is not credible.
You can almost read between the lines that he was a Jammeh sympathizer.
That makes it difficult to defend him against the defective onslaught of JP.
That is not true. How can I be a Jammeh sympathiser when I was one of the first victims of Jammeh. I was falsely accused of using my office phone to call Sir Dawda immediately after the coup that brought Jammeh to power. I almost got assassinated. Those who masterminded that conspiracy were today heaping praises on Sir Dawda. That hypocrisy angered me. I have never been a sympathiser of Yaya Jammeh. Instead I am perceived as his enemy. Please get your facts right.
It is predictable that a hooligan like Jammeh will never rise to the occasion. Most likely he will try to undermine Sir Dawda even in death, partly because of his- Jammeh insecurity and low IQ. Yes we can predict his actions. History is on our side, and when it comes to brutality, stupidity and ignorance Jammeh has no equal. But who cares. He is in jail/exile. His opinion is inconsequential to our daily discuss. Barrow is in charge now. In this, in the final event for this son of Gambia, Barrow deserves praise. Yes it is his duty as President. And yes this he did well.
God Bless Sir Dawda.
God Bless The Gambia.
Only a STUPID minded fool like that Dr Alieu Faal, who pretends to be an intelligent soothsayer would ever utter such nonsense about what President Jammeh would do if late President Jawara had passed away during Jammeh’s time. Such utter idiocy makes me very angry. Hate Jammeh, fine, that’s your business but don’t tell lies about him.
Is this ‘learned’ fool in a Dr’s garment blind to facts or can’t remember the past?
Jammeh overthrew Jawara for the latter’s complacency to rampant corruption, tribalism, nepotism, regional egocentrism, favouritism and utter ineffectiveness in delivery.
The Gambia was then in the hands of Saikou Sabally the erstwhile and overpowerful Vice President, Minister of Defence and Women’s Affairs, the heir-to-be; the most CORRUPT and pompous IDIOT ever.
While soldiers couldn’t get paid, VP/Minister of Defence Saikou Sabally would send them to mend/repair the dilapidated roads in the Kombo. At the same time his wife was plying between Banjul and London.
The soldiers were just disgusted with their deplorable situation just like the teachers, agric extension workers.
Lt. Yaya Jammeh and his comrades went to Banjul to demand their pay and found an empty state house whose occupants had fled. They simply occupied the empty seats and took over. That was the right thing then.
Late President Jawara was on the brink of enthroning Saikou Sabally. It would have been the most serious political error.
Everyone agreed that the Old Man was very nice, but surrounded by wolves and hounds like Dr Alieu Faal, BB Darboe, Omar Jallow, MC Cham, Sara Janha, Lamin Kiti Jabang and worst of all Saikou Sabally and Co.
Saikou Sabally was lucky to have escaped from the clutches of Lt Sanna Sabally. He would have been given away to the vultures. That IDIOT.
Look, LIAR Dr Alieu Faal; Jawara started to live in peace and tranquility when he was allowed to return from his self imposed exile in The UK.
He was abandoned by all his cronies, maybe including our elusive Dr Alieu Faal and above all the Queen’s Crown, Her Royal Highness, the Kingdom of the Very Great Britain.
Back home, President Jammeh accorded him the highest honour and respect.
At his demise, President Jammeh sent an APRC high delegation to convey his condolences.
What do you know Dr Alieu Faal other than tell blatant LIES on assumptions?
I’ll reserve my opinion on the very poor funeral arrangements of that IMP’s administration and the worst and foolish speech by the British Argos Watchman.
The Almighty Allah SWT will surely save us from the disgrace of this illiterate in December. In Shaa Allah
3-Year Jotnah will set ablaze the state house and flush this hopeless administration in the Banjul gutters.
BABU SOLIMA,
Sometimes when you say nothing people might think you are smart. But with all the flimsy excuses you advanced against the government of Sir Dawda, the commissions that were set up by Jammeh did not prove anything as grave as the BILLIONS of Gambian money stolen by Jackass Jammeh including the acquisition of over 300 landed properties some stolen from the people. There’s no justification to topple a democratically elected government. You are still living in a world of your own. Jammeh got what he deserved.
Insults are a sign of exhaustion of credible arguments . Despite our differences, points of views must be stated in decorum and with respect for each other’s personal sanctity.
Alex, if you cannot take on Babu with sensible arguments, then let it be or allow others to counter Babu’s points.
Shocking @Alex. Democratic cultures and practices are strengthened, not only by an environment where people are free to express their opinions, but also by the acceptance of the divergence of views and opinions on matters affecting everyone. Insulting those who hold and express opinions or views different from yours, is NOT a characteristic of a person who respects democracy and the rights of others to their views and opinions.
Alex, the SON of a FATHER SOLIMA,
Don’t open your filthy, stupid mouth to tell me anything about the government of the late Sir Dawda.
I lived and worked through that administration and knew it better than your STUPID ASS.
However, I have strongly promised not to say anything against the person of that NICE Old Man who has left us to suffer under the evil administration of our present Chief Thief and his Ali Baba Gang CORRUPT, INEFFICENT FOOLS.
I will direct my criticisms to the THIEVES, the TRIBALISTS, the WOMANIZERS, the very SELFISH and EGOCENTRIC evil DEVILS who surrounded late Sir Dawda, destroyed his good intentions and contributed to his downfall only to desert him. SHAMELESS bunch of SELFISH IDIOTS.Thus the nasty slap on Saikou Sabally’s face by Lady Chilel. When I saw their ugly evil faces at the funeral I spitted on the TV screen!
No government is democratic that cannot feed, clothe, educate and cure her people. No government is democratic that cannot afford basic infrastructural amenities to her people. A TRIBALIST CORRUPT government is not democratic inspite of wielding power through the ballot box.
After all, what is your STUPID terminology/connotation for democracy?
It would be fair to direct insults at those who directed theirs to your physical person. To mention: ‘your father’ or ‘your mother’ here, is irresponsible and an indication of lack of a PhD or extreme heavy handedness of one’s sense of reasoning.
The only thing Jawara might have failed in is making an education available to us in heavy handed vernaculars!
Let’s do away with Abaa/Afaa.
Babu, will agree with me if I claim he has never heard a Dutch kid verbally abusing another kid’s mother. Our elderly behave in manners that even toddlers in Netherlands won’t. I’m afraid I’ll slit someone’s rotten mouth to his ears in that small country and go to jail for the rest of my life if i should be living there and someone has to talk to me like that for whatever reason. Is resorting to undress mothers and fathers in our angers all not proof how mentally underdeveloped we are as a people of a country. Nigerians don’t quarrel like that neither Ghanaians do. This is a horrible attitude most common in Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast and Guinea Conakry. They are predominantly Muslim countries and they don’t like women wearing above-knee-dresses!!! Jawara therefore, was helping such a class of nation of culturally and traditionally heavy-handed people, develop their human capital. No wonder all that rot was around him as senior civil servants. He must have been aware of the fact how difficult it would be to curb a corruption interwoven and endorsed by various cultures and traditions of the country.
It is now high time to know that when we box without a referee, punch me below the belt because I punched you first below the belt but that, don’t draw a knife. It you do, then it’s no more boxing – it’s indulging in violent crime.
Kinteh(Kemo)/Jack,
I highly and sincerely respect your points. You are both truthful. I love truthful people even though I may not share some of their points/views.
The Mandinka insult of SOLIMA attached to my honourable Manswanka surname really hurts. I know the broader/wider meaning of SOLIMA because I was born and bred in a predominantly Mandinka village, in the URR, where I went to the KUYANGOTO and BARANGOTO to earn my adult and manhood in a strictly Mandinka tradition and culture. I speak better Mandinka than my own Manswanka language. So the word SOLIMA REALLY HURTS.
I am a father and a grandfather with children over forty and grandchildren over fifteen who read this tabloid. My elder daughter has since stopped reading Jollofnews, thus losing some very educative writings, for the insults on my person initiating from irresponsible idiots like Alex.
My response to such insults will be swift, crude and very unruly. It might not reflect the real Babu but the TAMING OF THE IRRESPOSIBLE is not with CARROTS but with STICKS!!
I have promised NEVER to criticize the figure and personality of the late Sir Dawda whom I respect and revere. But I just can’t stand the falsehood, cruelty, criminality and selfishness of the people he trusted so much, the likes of Saikou Sabally who orchestred his downfall by hypocritically persuading the Elderly Statesman to continue after his decision to withdraw from active politics.
I went head on to refute Dr Alieu Faal’s LIES. Let the learned Dr come up with counter arguments but not Alex in his irresponsible defense to insult me.
Jack, as it hurts my children while reading Alex’s STUPIDITY, I will go for his parents. He has insulted a father, a grandfather so he deserves reading his father being insulted. I’ll never withraw from that policy!!!!
Babu, it’s nice to agree at times even if there’ll remain that certain amount of discomfort in the agreement. However I’d like to urge you not to take for granted we’re in these debates as great grand children and great grand parents. I believe someone says Dad or Mum to most people in these forums and that’s what matters. I too see most of the discussions on most of the Gambia online media very important, and think it should be a decent medium for civic education for those going to school especially higher ones readying themselves to be able to take the lead in the very near future. Perhaps if I was looking at @Kinteh (Kemo), @Bax, @Andrew Pjalo, @Alex, @Paul, @Dr. Sarr, @Mwalimu, @Natty Dread, @Bourne, @Kamalu, @Max and even @Babu and etc. straight in the face, in person, I might not have the opportunity to sincerely and ‘bluntly’ express my views and opinions as I am doing right now through this platform. So therefore I would urge us to see each other ‘here’ as nothing but nothing fathers and mothers and uncles and aunts.
What hurt you was direct and wouldn’t have hurt me at all, but as very much age conscious as you sound, you are very much likely to try deciphering it culturally traditionally Mwanswankally. I believe you are elderly and should be a guiding example when it comes to showing the patience it takes in enlightening the younger generation irrespective of if they care about Koroboro, Mwanswanka, Jula, Duncho, Masai etc. or not.
That word that hurts you so much is due to nothing but rhetoric in it. You can hear it like a song in the Gambia as far as I know. It should be an obligation on an elderly statesman like you to pave a way with light for the younger generation and thereby learning to take insults rather than utter them.
You must be able to accept the fact that is not an enjoyable role playing an elder or a leader of a society or country respectively. If you want to play the former and the latter like you are some kind of an almighty something, then you are bound to end up in a hole in E.G.
“He who has done evil expects evil”, A Ghanaian qoute.
Don’t start using profanities when you don’t have the patience to stomach them.
Now we know why Sanna’s cannibalism. Sanna Sabally was not a youth like me in our generation. I come from a very poor family too but it has never been my idea to join the army so that I’ll one day overthrow the democratic process of the Gambia with an aim of elevating the living standards of myself and family. This is what Sanna and the bunch’s dreams ever were. They were soldiers from extremely poor families with dreams to be posh in the future. If they were people like me, they would not have laid their hopes in life on a government in search for a social status but would burst out in the wider world to unblock the block in their heads at least if not for anything else. Sanna must have realised whilst in Germany how uneducated and unaware they all have been all that while in those unfortunate days in the Gambia. My advice to the youth of today in the Gambia is: let them keep governments to account but let them give to the government so that when the government has a lot, it can give that lot back to the citizens abundantly and sustainably. If Sanna will be frank enough, he has ached more for Saikou Sabally’s government vehicle than he has ever had Gambia at heart. You can’t be that unaware, cruel, uneducated and poor and have the nation at heart. I know us Gambians! Now they will be thinking that Sanna and other killers are feeling the glories of their Jina marabouts and Batuutaas. The way the average Gambian sees life is baseless and abstract thus making it seemingly impossible for Gambia to get anywhere as a nation.
Alex,
Are you justifying your insults? Do you defend Dr Alieu Faal by insulting me?
I don’t care the Ghanaian proverb. My question is simple and explicit.
Answer me. Do you defend Dr Faal by insulting Babu?
Dr. Faal is a decent professional
You can make your point without insulting him because what he said about Yaya Jammeh is true.
Alex,
Who is professionally indecent on this platform? Or who is your learned Dr more professionally decent than?
How much do you know about the professional decency of those who contribute on this forum?
Does your Dr’s professional decency qualify your insults on me?
Hate me, despise me; that’s up to you, but never again take sides for someone to insult me.
Never again!!!
Your opinion about Dr Faal’s writings on President Jammeh is yours. My refusal of those writings is mine. I would have loved to see the learned Dr coming forward to challenge my views. You may as well refute what I wrote, but not to insult me for him. Never again, I repeat!