Why are we obsessed about ourselves sometimes? Have you ever stop to 
think if you are being self-centered, having too much self-love and 
being overdosed with self-ego? These may be very good questions to ask 
oneself a few times in a lifetime. A thin line separates these 
concepts. Understanding the underlying effect of these concepts as an 
individual and how they apply to the core values of a society yearning 
for a tranquil coexistence may not be as difficult as it may seem.
   Self-esteem is to hold oneself in high favorable regards, feeling 
worthy of good life and good treatment by others. This results from 
self-respect, which includes competence, confidence, mastery, 
achievement, independence and freedom as well as respect from others, 
which may include recognition, acceptance, status and appreciation. A 
healthy self-esteem calls for a realistic appraisal of ones’ 
capacities, achievements and set goals, and begins with deserved 
respect from others. The building of self-esteem begins in childhood 
when we learn new skills, or take risks. This growth is stifled by 
overly critical or abusive parents, who in effect, sends a message that 
one will never be good enough, that there is just something inherently 
bad about oneself. 
The ability to hold unto our good qualities and strengths even when we 
are feeling bad about ourselves or something we have done interprets 
our self-loving traits. The strength to see our shortcomings, to love 
ourselves enough to know that we can learn and grow. Not to give up on 
ourselves because we are not perfect, made a mistake or have some 
problems. In other words, we are worthy of love in spite of all our 
shortcomings. 
Self-esteem and self-love gone too far tend to breed self-centeredness. 
The world revolves around us; we are at the center of our world, we 
think that we are better than anyone is or everyone else and so are 
more deserving – selfish! Selfishness and self-centeredness at the 
detriment of society should be avoided by all means necessary. Deeply 
enshrined and ordained by many in our society is the concept of 
selfishness in the extreme form where it becomes detrimental to social 
democracy and tranquility. This is clearly translated in our daily 
interactions and manifested by those with social and civic 
responsibility. Why is it so hard for us to realize that at the helm of 
social gratitude will come self-actualization with easy reach?  What we 
see going on in our civil service leaves a lot to be desired. What we 
are witnessing in the Gambia today is in my opinion, an extreme case of 
executive micro-management of the civil service reinforced by selfish 
tendencies. Changes in government, naturally, have a bearing on 
political-administrative relationships. The political and bureaucratic 
leadership is often both the object and subject of change in government 
machinery. The existing bureaucratic patterns do have an impact on the 
type and content of changes and the way in which they are implemented. 
In light of the many demands made of the government by concerned and 
genuine citizens, private organizations and by international 
organizations, the traditional notion of a neutral civil servant 
appears out of place. As someone supposedly operating in a hierarchical 
organization and as someone who – like a chameleon – can change colors 
with a new political leader in power, the civil servant appears out of 
place in the world of modern African governance, characterized by 
fragmentation, horizontal leadership and self-centeredness. However, it 
is really the question whether this civil servant has ever existed 
other than as the traditional scarecrow to be burnt in the course of 
continuous reform dictated by selfish tendencies. 
To have good self-esteem and self-love, one need not be self-centered. 
One need not be the best looking or have the most money. Self-
centeredness reeks of arrogance and a cover-up for low self-esteem and 
lack of self-love. Good self-esteem demands actions in accordance with 
our conscious and or unconscious beliefs about what is the best in a 
human being. This often comes from deep down us. Self-confidence and 
security comes from earned respect from others and self-respect from 
acting in accordance what a good human being would do in a given 
situation. There is usually an honesty and authenticity in such a 
person, one who acknowledges their mistakes and shortcomings and 
therefore work on them. Is that our self-imposed president - Yaya 
Jammeh?

Abdoulie A. Jallow
(BambaLaye)

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