Foroyaa Editorial Some are Leaving and Others are Dying What Next for the Conscience of the Nation?
Citizen FM has been silent for many years. Every day comes with hope that the state will accept its transmitters to amplify the voices of the people. As long as there was life and will there remained the hope that there will be a way to solve the problem of the Radio station. Now Baboucar Gaye, The Proprietor of Radio One FM is speaking to the Nation with the voice of silence. Who owns the Gambia? What does any person have to stop a fellow human being from practising his profession without fear or favour affection or ill will? How many families have been deprived their basic necessities of life? How many minds have been starved of information? Citizen FM was a novelty in every respect. It sought to bring information that the literate in the English language reads from newspapers written in English right to the door steps of the people who could not read and write. Information gives birth to knowledge which gives birth to citizenship power.
Every true leader of a liberated people must want them to be empowered. Baboucar Gaye would have been appreciated and encouraged by any progressive government. There is no doubt that both Citizen FM and Radio 1 FM had tried to be people centred in their broadcast. If they functioned under a progressive government they would have established television stations by now and could have even been major investors in our telecommunication sectors.
Instead of encouragement the terrain becomes so rough and hostile that even family members tend to give advice for one to give up. How can our people become enlightened if those with information are afraid or are hindered from doing so?
Foroyaa can attest to one thing about Baboucar He was not a puppet of any political party. He wanted his media house to be an umpire media establishment. Ruling party members and opposition alike dreaded to appear before him to try to score political points. He had a way of questioning which makes any person without sound arguments very uncomfortable. Consequently, only few politicians were fond of appearing in his programmes.
Baboucar was always careful not to be used by disgruntled people. He once told one of the Editors of this paper that in this country when you are in difficulty few people care but when you are in a position to be productive many people appear to try to use you for their own ends. Baboucar will be remembered for owning his mind up to the end of his life. Now that he is gone those who control the decision making powers of this land should bear in mind that some citizens of this land who have found life intolerable are either leaving because of death or are going into exile. Deyda is gone and Baboucar is gone. Even though it is under different circumstances none of them had left fond memories of their treatment as professional media practioners.
Foroyaa has also gathered that Nyabally, one of the former GAMSU leaders have also left in search of a sanctuary abroad. This young man was very proud to go to University in the Gambia. These are the people who should have been encouraged to be role models for having led students and had gone through the school system in the Gambia.
However, many detentions without trial and incapacity to get productive engagement had made his homeland alien to him. We hope those with conscience will continue to call for sanity to prevail in managing the affairs of the country. The Gambia does not belong to its political leaders. It belongs to the PEOPLE. No leader is fit to govern the country who fails to recognise that one’s power emanates from the people and should be exercised to promote their liberty and prosperity. Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues Issue No. 129/2007, 2 – 4 November 2007
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
Babucarr is one of the best role model for a Gambian interlectual. He lived and died a honourable man, without selling his sole to a dictator. May his soul rest in peace, Amen!
Not much will be said of our so-called interlectuals who are ready to sell their souls or mothers for this worldly things. The FJC's!
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Posted - 02 Nov 2007 : 16:52:39
