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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 15:35:12
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN: The Biscuit Throwing Campaign
By D. A. Jawo
Friday, September 23, 2011
 As we approach the presidential elections in November and the National Assembly elections, possibly in January, President Jammeh, despite his promise not to campaign for re-election, is no doubt intensifying his campaign, using state resources as well as other unconventional methods to achieve his objectives.
For instance, virtually on a daily basis, we have seen or read, mostly in his mouth piece the Daily Observer, about people from different walks of life pledging their allegiance to him.
We have also been seeing groups of so-called delegations from the different regions, no doubt being induced with money and other material gifts to come to State House to renew their allegiances to him and the ruling APRC, and with the unfair use of the facilities of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), promising him that their regions are going to vote massively for him, as if they control the thinking faculties of the people in those areas.
However, one detestable campaign method, which is definitely causing great havoc amongst Gambians, is no doubt his habit of throwing biscuits from his fast moving convoy, thus leading to scramble amongst those on the road, particularly the children.
We have seen how that has led to serious road accidents in which several people have so far lost their lives or sustained serious injuries.
The latest had been the tragedy about a week ago in Busumbala when children scrambling to pick the biscuits he threw from his car caused an accident by one of the vehicles in his convoy, which eventually allegedly killed two children and hit several other vehicles parked on the road side, resulting in the deaths of several people, both children and adults.
Whilst most people no doubt value President Jammeh’s magnanimity and his immeasurable generosity in dishing out money and other valuables, Gambians certainly do not deserve the sort of degrading treatment he metes out to them in the form of throwing biscuits at them as if they are less than human beings.
It is quite hard to understand why he thinks that Gambian children deserve to be treated like hungry refugees to whom he should throw food at on the streets.
One would tend to agree with a recent Foroyaa editorial that if indeed President Jammeh genuinely wants to give those biscuits to the children and not just using it for propaganda purposes, then he should consider taking those biscuit to the schools and other educational institutions where it can be given to the children without them scrambling for it and risking being killed on the road.
The editorial went on to say; “…in developed countries even pets are provided food on bowls and plates. Gambian children deserve being given packets of biscuits without having to wrestle with adults to pick them from the ground.”
It is indeed hard to understand what has prompted President Jammeh to persist with such a practice which has so far led from one tragedy to another, particularly for our children.
Every reasonable person would have assumed that after all these unnecessary deaths and injuries as a result of the biscuit throwing; his advisers (if indeed they exist) would have advised him to discontinue such a practice.
However, the very fact that despite all the havoc it has been causing, he still continues with it, which means that he either does not listen to advices or his advisers do not have the guts to tell him the truth.
Everyone would have also assumed that the opposition would capitalize on such a blunder and use it as one of their campaign themes to sensitize Gambians not to continue to fall victims of such a demeaning practice.
However, the fact that there is hardly any mention of it during opposition rallies indicates a failure on their part to address the people’s genuine concerns.
Also, we expect that our religious leaders, instead of always singing praises of President Jammeh as the most benevolent leader, should be bold enough to assume their spiritual responsibilities and point out to him the havoc his biscuit throwing is causing to our children.
We also expect those so-called opinion leaders and those giving the impression that they represent and control the thinking faculties of their people to rather stop always singing his praises giving the impression that they have got the capability to ensure that everyone in their areas will vote for him during the elections, to also muster the courage and tell him to discontinue such a practice which has cost so many lives of our children.
ENDS
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 24 Sep 2011 : 23:46:30
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Thanks Momodou,
Gambia is witnessing a political mudslide as we saw even in the judiciary and legislature.
Our judiciary has been corrupted right inside and out while our legislature is almost non existance. There we have men and women praise singing the mighty munster all day while serious issues are at stake and even when they do, they kind of beg with praises first afraid it might land them at Mile 2. Please read this!
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFmAlRkPf88xoSkS9-dcWIhlnSRdQ&url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201109240094.html
Even after doing what was his constitutional right as an MP, in the process made a political blunder, he back tracked from it to praise the Monster and deny ever saying what was plainly heard by all. Gambia Gambia! |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2011 : 00:26:09
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| Janyanfara, you need to repost the link. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
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