The Gambia : “Alii Wassah– Be Contented” ” in The Public Interest.You should not die trying to win, and trying to win should not kill you as well.”
«In Togetherness castles are built » (Irish Proverb).
Gratitude is appreciation for what you have instead of constantly thinking about what you don’t have. What many blame him (PORG H.E. Barrow) for as weaknesses, he quickly reinterprets into strengths. Yes, he may not be an enthusiastic political campaigner/orator. Polarizing is easy, anyone can do that. We have to speak clearly, but not polarize. We have to integrate. Looking for compromises, compatible solutions – the political compromise to unite the tribes is a matter of must. Let us sing with Demba Conta; “Let´s unite the…´Tribes of Gambia´…” The cohesion of our tribal groups must now be our guiding principle. Let each say, “I am aware of my personal responsibility,” and together we can say, “We are aware of our collective responsibility.”
We are citizens of The Gambia. The tragedy of our times today is that we do not know this. By mutual respect, understanding and with good will we can find acceptable solutions to any problems which exist or may arise between us. I assure you that it is our desire and intention to keep the doors of consultation always and fully open. There must never be a final word between friends. The work and progress and nation building cannot be the work of one person or political party. It is the responsibility and promise of all citizens. It calls for free exchange and full collaboration. The knowledge of our citizens is one treasure which grows only when it is shared.
Can our “our-grown/over-aged” Party Political Leaders say, “I shall not seek, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party (……) for another term as your party leader for president”? My advice „You should not die trying to win, and trying to win should not kill you as well.”
I read in (In a Standard article, January 14, 2021, By Omar Bah; “OJ DENIES REPORTS OF BARROW’S VP OFFER, insists he will never work for gov’t again” – OJ said, “After I had served as deputy foreign minister, parliamentary secretary for 4 years, minister of water resources and the environment for 8 years, minister of agriculture for 6 years all under Jawara and 18 months under Barrow, that is enough for me, especially now that I am 74 years old. If President Barrow wishes, I would advise him but I will never work in an office again.” OJ further revealed that time to time, Barrow would contact him for advice. “Even these days, I went to see him for us to discuss some issues. I feel I should discuss it with him because we are the ones who put him there with the help of God. So let us accept God’s will. We should understand that Barrow is just a human being and we should give him good advice for the interest of this country.”
I read in the same article further, and I cannot help it but shed tears of frustrations: “Coalition agreement: OJ said Gambians should blame Ousainu Darboe for saying he would sue anyone who asked Barrow to step down after three years, and Barrow for refusing to step down.
“I was never absent in any of the coalition executive meetings – but when Ousainu Darboe was released from prison, he announced in the media that anyone who asks Barrow to step down after three years, he would take you to court. When he came to the executive, he said there again and he was able to convince most of the coalition partners to go for the 5 years. I was the only one who voted against the 5 years. It is only PDOIS who were absent in that meeting,” OJ added. He said Barrow never proposed for 5 or 3 years. OJ said the coalition’s disintegration started when Darboe and his UDP colleagues were dismissed.
Asked by The Standard why he had changed his mind from his initial insistence on the three- year time table, which many believed caused his sacking, OJ said he had stepped down from the leadership of the PPP and the new leadership, just like many others in the Coalition, has decided to support the 5 years agenda.”
Leadership Contentment :
Founded in Berlin on 26 June 1945; 76 years ago, as an interdenominational Christian party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (German: Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands, CDU; is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Germany. As a result, the party claims to represent “Christian-social, liberal and conservative” elements. It is the major catch-all party of the centre-right in German politics.
The chancellor of Germany, officially the federal chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundeskanzler(in) der Bundesrepublik Deutschland), is the head of government and chief executive of Germany, as well as the commander in chief of the German Armed Forces during wartime. Angela Dorothea Merkel (née Kasner; born 17 July 1954 ; 67 years old today) is a German politician who has been Chancellor of Germany since 2005. She was the Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2005. Following the 2005 federal election, Merkel was appointed to succeed Gerhard Schröder as Chancellor of Germany, leading a « Grand Coalition » consisting of the CDU, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
On 29.10.2018 the German Chancellor, Fr. Angela Merkel renounced CDU party leadership: “Es ist Zeit, ein neues Kapitel aufschlagen”-“It’s time to start a new chapter.” She had served in this position as Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. She announced that she would step down as leader of the CDU (Parteivorsitzende) in December 2018, but wanted to remain as Chancellor until 2021. On 7 December 2018, as promised, Merkel gracefully stepped down and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (« AKK ») was elected as federal chairwoman of the CDU. AKK also stepped down. On Saturday 16.01.2021, 521 of the 1001 delegates in the runoff election voted and elected the NRW (Nord Rhein Westphalia) Prime Minister Armin Laschet as the new chairman (leader) of the CDU.
The race to be Germany’s next leader (Chancellor) is suddenly wide open after Merkel’s successor steps down. Fr. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK) was widely seen as the chosen successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who after 16 years has voiced her decision to step down from the Chancellorship of her Great Nation in 2021. The next political leader of Germany’s largest national party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the country, is in focus. This follows the announcement on Monday 10th February 2020 that Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), the head of the CDU, will stand down from the party leadership and not run for the position of chancellor.
The 36th US President(1963–69), Lyndon B. Johnson´s , (in full Lyndon Baines Johnson, also called LBJ), popularity within his own party plummeted as well. When it appeared that he might face a stiff challenge for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, Johnson announced his decision not to run for re-election. (He was 60 years old). “I shall not seek, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party (Democrat) for another term as your president,” he said in a nationally televised speech on March 31, 1968. A moderate Democrat and vigorous leader, LBJ explained that he wanted to focus on the peace process and pressing domestic issues during his final months in office without the distraction of a political campaign.
LBJ’s vetoing of two important pieces of legislation aimed at protecting blacks, an extension of the Freedman’s Bureau bill and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, was disastrous. His vetoes united Moderate and Radical Republicans in outrage and further polarized a situation already filled with acrimony. We could say he was following the wise words of (General of the Army, Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower, The 34th US President (1953–61), who said ; « We must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage. » And(Mahata Gandhi) crowned it with »Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality. Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth. »
Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.
That I am not (yet) a member of any political party, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Sincere Politicians; and I have never spoken with intentional disrepect of politics in general, or of any politicians of any parties in particular. Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.
In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place. Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.
Your H.E. PORG, A. Barrow (ADaniel), Open your heart in truth to tolerance and peace, inviting people to come into your life and take control of your fears. You are the Captain of the Ship of State. You could change the direction now, before it´s too late. Appoint a body; a “Council of Sincere Wise Elders” around you, to help you bring back the Ship of State from the rocks. I mean sincere and incorruptible counsellors in matters of State concerns.
“I am aware of my responsibility.”
I am very proud to stand in front of the whole world and say that this is our country – The Gambia and that any problems in The Gambia can be solved by ourselves (citizens) within the context of our country and our maturity as peace-loving human beings.
The Gambia is a sovereign State, which should be respected by all, and that within its sovereignty, its people alone (through the ballot box) should decide who is their leader (President). Every Citizen has a souverain right to choose the candidate and party under which they shall live.
“Alii Wassah” – Be Contented” in The Public Interest.
Without any partisan politics, because I don´t belong to any political party; I´d humbly ask the likes of H.E. Uncle Ousainou Darboe, H.E. Uncle Bakary Bunja Darboe (BB Darboe) and Honourable Uncle Kebba Jallow (of PPP) and all those politicians who are near and or over the official ´Retirement Age” (65 years) to follow the Hon. (OJ) Omar Jallow´s footstep to resign from politics and offer themselves as “Wise Counsellors” (Council of Sincere Wise Elders) for the political leadership, the Presidency of our Great Nation. “HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE!” Doing the right thing today means no regrets tomorrow. In Mandinka, “Alii Wassah” – Be Contented”. My advice „You should not die trying to win, and trying to win should not kill you as well.”
Sana-Bairo Sabally
Kassa Kunda Village, WCR,
The Gambia