Dear Kukoie,

The past twenty-eight years could not have been easy for you, living the life a transient, and traveling from one strange country to another, like a vagrant. I get it. For I have been there and done that, although not as long as you. Nonetheless, the crushing experience of feeling that sense of homelessness we both experienced is still the same. But, fast forward to now. From what you have been writing, it appears both of us share the same passionate attitude towards our criminal compatriot, Yahya Jammeh, however, that is where our two similarities end. Over the past many years, you have written numerous articles espousing your political attitudes, thought and aspirations. It would appear that you still harbor that same ambition to lead The Gambia as you did more than two decades ago. Is any thing wrong with that? Of course not! It is your birth right to aspire to the highest office of the land, but your lengthy articles, a must read for a few who are still curious about you, are absolutely boring to me due to their rambling nature, lack of clarity, and incoherence. It is extremely hard for me to read beyond the first paragraphs of your articles, consequently, I rely on people to give me a single paragraph summary of your messages in one minute or less telephone conversations. I have a similar aversion to Halifa Sallah’s articles, which look more like junior college research essays than newspaper articles. Moreover, the need to impress apart, I see no reason why anyone should be so infatuated with citations from our Constitution, as often and as adamantly as Halifa does. Nearly everything many of us write about, to some degree, touches on some aspects of our Constitution, but we rather explain ourselves in plain Chaucerian language rather than unnecessarily venturing into the mysteries of Hammurabian codex.

My reason for writing, however, is more serious than the nature of your writing style. The origin and authenticity of a letter plastered all over the net is still the object of intense and rancorous debate. That letter to President Wade of Senegal, purportedly written by you, is creating angst among Gambians both at home and abroad. Frankly, we are in agreement that Jammeh must exit either willing or be obliterated the same way Nino Vierra suffered his fate. It is the parts of the letter in which the letter writer appears to be selling-out our country to President Wade of Senegal, that are so shocking, offensive and unacceptable to Gambians across the political spectrum. The Gambia is not for sale. Jawara tried it, but it did not work out well, because the people were not consulted and, therefore, were not ready for the daunting cultural shift. The dismantling of the Sene-gambian confederation which followed created serious political crisis between us and Senegal for many years. After all, their sons sacrificed blood and died trying to restore the Jawara government in power. There is no doubt regional and continental integration is a desired goal for every African, however, the way and manner in which the letter writer proposes to hand The Gambia as a trophy to Maitre Abdoulaye Wade is what is so revolting. While those of us who know you really sympathize with the predicament you find yourself in over all these years, we will stand to condemn your motives if you are the origin of that quisling letter. As far as I know, every Gambian rejects that humiliating and patronizing relationship with Senegal that the letter writer is advocating. The attitudes of Gambians; from those who have a mortal hatred for Yahya Jammeh, to those who have morphed into his slaves, is undivided about what we think of that letter. It is an insult to Gambia and to Gambians.

Without a doubt, you like Yahya Jammeh, have made history in our country, tragically, it is a history Gambians would rather forget. We are far removed from the 1981 attempted coup, and times have also changed dramatically, unfortunately, for some, the more times change, the more they remain the same. I think it will be delusional to think you will be as relevant now as you were twenty eight years ago. Your star once shined big and bright, but today it has dimmed, and you have got to accept that. History is like life. It does not stand still. It is a conveyor belt, for as new things become old and disappear, new ones move in to replace them, and so the never ending cycle of life continues. Gambians are not waiting for your ghost to reappear and lead our country again. You already had your moments in the sun; now there are other capable Gambians aspiring to lead our country the same way you did so long ago. You might have had some goodwill left in the country if the whole 1981 coup effort had not turned into the carnage it did. The coup was totally disorganized, because after you fled into the Casamance as Senegalese forces entered the country, there was no central command and things quickly degenerated into total chaos. As you might know, the forces you depended on to fight the Senegalese all disappeared; shed their uniforms and melted among the population. It was at that time that some mad genius decided it would be a good idea to open the Bakau military armories and put AK 47’s in the hands of our undisciplined and untrained youth to fight the Senegalese. This turned into total chaos. It became a bloodbath as marauding bands of drunken and pot smoking youth, fired shot into the air, hijacked cars, broke into stores, pointed machine guns at horrified citizens, terrorized families in their homes, and took shots at Senegalese soldiers from hideaways and disappeared. Others took to revenge killings of their fellow Gambians with whom they had issues with, while some raped innocent women, pillaged businesses in their neighborhoods and set fires where they could. It was madness. It was absolute mayhem. But you were long gone, hiding with some of your accomplices in the safety of the jungles of Casamance as Gambians killed each other at home. And now, for better or for worst, it is this legacy that you will be remembered for. Nonetheless, your participation in politics is a right that no one can deny you, but your aspirations to lead our country must, going forward, must be more realistic. You might remember me from our high school days at Saint Augustine’s, but I have a vivid memory of you living adjacent to us on Picton St. when you were still called Dominic Sanyang. We all agree that we must come together to forge a way forward and I appreciate your call to action on this front. But if you are the writer of the internet letter, please stop promising Maitre Abdoulaye Wade, what you cannot deliver.

Thanks.

Mathew K Jallow, Associate Editor, The Gambia Echo

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