A Matter of Honour



The Independent (Banjul)

EDITORIAL
August 31, 2001
Posted to the web August 31, 2001

Banjul, the Gambia

Honour is to the human personality as clothes are to the body.

The unprecedented decision by Dr. M. L. Sedat Jobe to resign as Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs has no doubt done a lot of good to his honour and
personal credibility. He was however not left with much choice, considering
the major foreign policy decision that was taken in his absence by a
caretaker secretary of state to expel a diplomat from a friendly country,
particularly for a reason as flimsy as attending an opposition press
briefing.




There was no other way, it seems Dr. Jobe could have reacted to the
situation and still maintain his credibility. It was therefore like a simple
choice between either retaining his post and losing his credibility or
losing his job and retaining his honour. He wisely chose the latter.

There is no doubt that the entire nation is firmly behind him on the
decision that in effect extricate his name from an unpopular decision to
expel the deputy British High Commissioner for merely responding to an
invitation by the opposition coalition to attend their press conference. It
demonstrates that in spite of all the unpopular things he had said and done
on behalf of the regime, Dr. Jobe is still an intellectual who would not
hesitate to choose to maintain his credibility when he is faced with such a
choice.

The decision by Dr. Jobe on a question of principle is just as honourable as
it is historical. Since the attainment of independence by The Gambia in
1965, this is the second time that a cabinet minister has taken such an
honourable step to resign his position on a question of principle. The first
was Sheriff Dibba in 1973 during the famous 'butut scandal' when he had to
resign as vice president and finance minister after his brother was accused
of involvement in smuggling goods to Senegal, using the facilities of his
office.

It was a huge surprise that Dr. Jobe who for three years faithfully served
as the intellectual defender of Jammeh's government finally saw that his
reservoir of honour was running dry and needed some fresh impetus to salvage
it.

The resignation came from so unlikely a character around whom some wild
succession theories have spawned as unconfirmed rumours spoke of a
succession from Jammeh. Dr. Jobe a man with a proud record of intellectual
achievements angered many a Gambian for his then untamed eagerness to please
Yahya Jammeh. He who set the tone for The Gambia's diplomatic involvement in
the search for peace in the sub-region was literally jittery as this country
was linked to "blood diamonds". He was equally furious when an international
travel ban was imposed on Baba Jobe and he pointed the accusing finger at
some Western countries. While he may have been doing his job many too have
been quite unsparing in criticising him for being unnecessarily defensive.
He was more pro-Jammeh than Jammeh himself they all thought. What do they
think now?

Jobe's voluntary exit on so implosive a situation sets the pace for the long
line of government functionaries.

The lust for power and authority has blinded many to the beauty of a
principled life - a life which would have saved us all from the hanky-panky
business of dancing to our leader's tune.

If all Gambian intellectuals acted on principle instead of allowing
themselves to be cowed down, people's perception of power would have seen a
radical renewal. All who mean well for this country should look forward to
that day.




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