Folks,

The pro-Jammeh camp is now sounding more and more like the supporters of Apartheid and those who were indifferent to the atrocities of Hitler's Germany. It is a painful realisation that an intelligent Gambia with University education will sing the praises of Yaya Jammeh, but yet claim that he is not on Jammeh's side. I would like to believe that this Kebba Jobe has forced himself into a paradox of realities.
Not long ago I "gate-crashed" a Symposium that was treating "The Role Of the Intelligentsia in Despotic African Governments". Most of what I heard in that gathering was confirmed by Kebba Jobe on this forum. The tactics used are widespread in Africa. One thing I understood from all those who spoke was that NO African despot can last a day in Government without the assistance of the well-educated people. A very important tactic of these people, is to write and pretend to be anonymous while they send a coded message to their boss to let him know they are on his side. Jobe has done this so beautifully when he wrote in this charade:

"I am a senior civil servant in my mid 40's who was born and bred in the
Niani District of the CRD, attended Armitage school, studied Mathematics and
engineering at the universities of Canterbury(kent), Plymouth (Devon) and
the National university of Singapore (NUS. I am also a grauate of the
Thunderbird, American graduate school of international management in
Glendale, Arizona. I am married with 4 children."

This information was not meant for those who engaged Jobe on his sincerity, it more for his boss to observe that Jobe is standing against members of Gambia-L who are against Jammeh's infantile regime. I do not think that there is anyone on this List who is interested or even cares about the Schools Jobe attended. My experience of Gambia-L has taught to recognize that people do not "give a thing" whether you came down from the University of Hell. It is apparent to any observant member of Gambia-L that there is a vast diversity of intellects on this forum. From Dr Katim Touray, ("with his suitcase full of titles"),  to BCC School drop-outs like myself. This forum is for all and sundry regardless of ones educational background.
  
The role of the Civil Servant, be it Junior or Senior, is very crucial in every government, but when it is motivated by greed and self-centeredness then it becomes an unforgivable crime. Jobe is telling Gambia-L and the rest of the world that he is an unashamed Opportunist, whose personal desires out-weigh the Gambia's and the people's interest. He is here serving and supporting the Yaya Jammeh's demonic government with the "option" that when Jammeh is replaced he will still be able to keep his position. To engage such a person in a sincere discussion to find a solution to our country's problem, is futile, when one studies the last sentence in this excerpt:

"As for my identity, well I will try to give you a some insight into who I am. No, I am
not more than ONE person. My name is Kebba but I am using my namesake's
surname to be anonymous. The reason is that if I were to disclose my
identity I will not be able to participate in these debates. You see,
today's opposition could very well be tomorrow's government and some
seemingly good politicians of today could become tomorrow's nightmare." 

The callousness with which Kebba Jobe expresses himself, as a Canterbury-educated senior civil servant, is an apology to that great Institution. Jobe has nothing to say about the massacre of innocent children on April 10 & 11, 2000, nor against the Human Rights record of the regime, as long as, roads are built and arches are erected. The Projects of the APRC are more important to dwell on than killing the students. Jobe went to the extent of even calling our concerns the event as "continuously harping". It is people like Kebba Jobe who go around saying that the 10 & 11 April was "God's Will". Well, God may be jealous and vengeful but God will never order the shooting of armless school children who only wanted to be heard. I think it is better to shift the blame, for once, to the Devil. 
In one of his umpteen exchanges with Kebba Dampha, Jobe said "Tragic as it may, it has happened already and cannot be undone". I honestly do not have Kebba Jobe's education, but I certainly know that there is a BIG difference between "Tragic, as it may be..." and "Tragic, as it IS...". Kebba Jobe further sees people's cry for Justice as an attempt to "undo" the tragedy. To the University-educated Kebba Jobe, "Good Governance" is not all that relevant to the lives of the Gambian people. Read This:

"My defence of the APRC projects does not mean that I condone what happened
on April 10 & 11 nor does it mean that I condone the human rigts record of
the regime. My views on those issues are very clear. That does not, in
anyway, make a hypocrite. I have the right to view every act of this
government as I see fit and would not dare try deny anybody else that same
right. The issues that affect the lives of the Gambian people is not only
limited to good governance". 

I must hasten to say that Kebba Jobe knows very well about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the APRC government, but for him the Bad and the Ugly are immaterial. He knows the Truth, but he is not prepared to stretch his neck for it. His defense of the abominable is for sheer personal gains. Kebba Jobe went to the extent of reminding us about people like Ken Saro Wiwa and Nelson Mandela and Dr Danquah, but the steps these people took are oblivious to him. The main difference between Kebba Jobe and people like me is that, he believes in "Truth and Reconciliation" while I will not settle for anything less than "Truth and Retribution". I strongly believe that "Reconciliation" should be left to the South Africans. It is very likely that in his young days, Kebba Jobe was one of those with accolades of "Revolutionary", "Radical" and "Forthright" in everything they did. One remarkable behavior of Kebba Jobe is his nonchalant manner of retorting to those who "attack" him. A behavior more akin to those in "high" places. This sort of behavior we could remember from the now disgraced Dr. Saja Taal.


Prince

__________________________________________________________________________
"If you want to read or hear good things about Yaya, go read the Observer or listen to GRTS". 
KB Dampha 

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