Mr Sallah,
When you insisted on this round of our debate, I was hoping to hear
something different from you. Maybe some long-overdue confession that would
help redeem your image. But alas, this is the same old Halifa Sallah blowing
smoke. I tried to calm you down after your initial angry challenge, and you
subsequently toned down your rhetoric, but it seems you're still eager to
stick it to some people again. So, to all those who care for the truth, let
the record show that it's Halifa Sallah, not Saul Saidykhan who is the first
to use insults like "pinpricks," and insinuations that I and Hamjatta are
puppets for some "charlatans," who have chosen to remain in the background.
Nothing -absolutely nothing, could be further from the truth! The simple
truth is that, myself and Hamjatta, are a rare breed of Gambians who are not
intimidated by a so-called super intellectual like Halifa Sallah. We are
independent minded people who just don't give a hoot what any Gambian's
title/position is. Truth is more important to some of us than cheap
popularity. Period!
Speaking for myself, I'm not coy about my beliefs at all. I've stated
clearly what I think of the PPP people. I've said what I think of the NCP,
and other political players in the Gambia. I've said that my view of the PPP
ten years ago is different from my view of the PPP today. I have a lot more
respect, and sympathy for the PPP today than I ever had for them as the
ruling party. Especially for Omar Amadu Jallow -OJ. I'll come back to that.
But, just for the record, and out of decency, stop this ridiculous
insinuation that we're doing someone else's dirty job for them. It's simply
false! Ironically, you started your piece by attacking me for lying, and
fabricating things. Isn't that what you're engaged in here? Who are these
"charlatans" we're working for? Give me the proof Mr. Honor & Integrity!
Remember, the L is watching. Your knack for inducing self-serving amnesia
won't work this time. I demand proof, or an apology!
Regarding this liar accusation, I find it amusing. I've been called many
things, but liar is new. If you were to take a little stroll right outside
your HQ in Churchill's Town, chances are you'll meet someone within ten
minutes who knows Saul Saidykhan. Some are bound to tell you that I have a
hot temper when you push the wrong button, or that I don't know who to pick
fights with. Hell, someone might even tell you that I'm crazy. But a liar?
Print me a T-Shirt that says "Liar, Liar." I'll gladly wear it. It's not
what's outside or some false label that matters.
What I said is simple: principled or not, if you were to accept a position
in Yaya Jammeh's cabinet, he'll use you, dump you, and try to discredit you
like he did seventeen/eighteen other professionals since 1994. Your
principled stand has nothing to do with what I'm saying here. The
professional people that this Yaya has used and dumped all have their
private principles, I'm sure. This man has disgraced some of the most honest
Gambians I know. Their honor and integrity hasn't saved them. Your's won't.
That's all I'm saying. So, where is the lie here? What don't you understand
about this logic?
Regarding this lengthy discussion on you running under a PDOIS ticket, and I
saying you don't see anything wrong with Yaya running for president, you're
simply employing your usual tricks to deceive feeble-minded people. If you
were to blow any more smoke than you already have, I'll have to call you Mr.
Saro (GPMB.) Simply put, you blow more smoke than the groundnut mills did,
when Saro was Saro!
I merely asked you to clarify what you said back in 1996 regarding Yaya
Jammeh running for president. Yaya was, and remains a Referee and Player at
the same time. I posed a simple question to you regarding the fairness of
that arrangement. Refusing to honestly answer the obvious, you have since
tried to confuse my entire contention by talking about your principles not
allowing you to tell anyone not to run for office, and that you saw
something wrong with his presidency, that's why you supported an alternative
candidate and policy. And I'm the one who doesn't want to accept the "naked
truth." Why can't you accept the plain truth that Lt. Jammeh conducting an
election in which he is a candidate (Referee and Player,) was inherently
unfair, and a very bad omen for the quest of true democracy in the Gambia?
Every honest Gambian I know has criticized the unfairness of the '96
elections, but you. Yet, you continue to lob insults and labels to others
for questioning your motives. What could be more "naked truth" than the fact
that the 1996 elections were bound to be a farce from the word "go" because
of the underlying arrangement? And you talking about someone dodging "naked
truth?" Why are you quiet about the lie that this so-called democratic
transition has been Mr. Honor & Integrity? Any how, you'll have to try your
tricks with some of the dim bulbs who worship everything you say. I'm not
one of them.
However, your postings have some interesting parts. Since, you've decided
consciously to deceive Gambians, I can only assume that these few candid
admissions are "Freudian slips." Against your best wishes, the truth is
coming out. For instance you said: "As far as I am concerned, it was
Jammeh's option not to participate in an election and ensure that all the
rules of fairness and impartiality were put in place." Really? I thought you
were in this for a better Gambia? A decent, law-ruled Gambia. Why should an
illiterate like Yaya Jammeh be allowed such luxury? Where is the gallantry
of a fighter like Halifa Sallah who stands up and demands justice? Why
didn't you take such an approach with Jawara? During the PPP era, you were
always saying what will not be tolerated; what will have to change, etc. Why
didn't you leave Jawara to decide everything for Gambians? Why the change of
heart? By this "refined" logic of yours, Gambians should jump up and say
Allahu Akbar, and ACCEPT anything a dim bulb like Yaya gives us! If you're
not the Master of Double Standards, I don't know who is! How do you explain
this double standard?
But most contradictory of all, you said: "… those of us who neither had the
military might nor the support of a mass movement but were trying within our
capacity to utilise every tactic in the book to move the country towards a
state where political expression and association could be exercised without
RISKING IMMEDIATE BANISHMENT (your words, my emphasis,) so as to continue
our work of enlightening the people and to ultimately acquire their consent
to serve them." Great theory for regular politicians. Not one who has always
led people to believe that he's not afraid of anyone. You mean "banish" like
in Mile 2/George Town? Or "banish" like in exile? So, that is what your
about-face is all about. And you are the fearless leader? No way Mr. Sallah,
I'll give you examples of real men/leaders.
Can you imagine what would have happened to South Africa if Nelson Mandela
and other leaders had adopted your approach: "we don't want to be banished
anywhere, so let's use silent tactics to create democratic space." When
faced with injustice from a more powerful force, true leaders stand up, and
demand justice come what may. They don't fall back on ridiculous
"principles" to avoid a confrontation. Read Nelson Mandela's court address
at the Rivonia trial, when against his lawyers' advice, he admitted wanting
to overthrow the barbaric Apartheid govt. He went on to say clearly why the
system had to go. He got life imprisonment. But guess what? Three decades
later, he accomplished just that. What would Yaya Jammeh and his cohorts do
to Halifa Sallah if you had stood up and spoken for justice? Kill you? Send
you to prison? Exile? I thought you said you don't fear any of that?
But maybe Nelson Mandela is too big an icon to emulate. How about Lamin Waa
Juwara? His principle is simple: "as long as injustice remains the order of
the day in the Gambia, prison will be my second home!" And he's not just
talking the talk, he's walking the walk! Anytime the APRC thugs attack an
innocent Gambian, Waa goes after them. Anytime Yaya fires a cabinet member
-scapegoat, and lies about his/her record, Waa goes after him. He has
become to Yaya what Halifa Sallah was to the PPP. Yet, you continue to
belittle people like him. If we are to believe you, you're the only gallant
fighter in Gambian politics. Waa is not using any ridiculous "principle" to
avoid bringing Jammeh to task. That's what being a man is all about as far
as I'm concern.
Who else measures up? Omar Jallow -OJ. Yes, OJ! It's too bad OJ is not
online, because I'd like to apologize to this gentleman for thinking less of
him because of your criticisms all those years. They say that "adversity
brings out the best and worst in people." Well, Mr. Sallah, it has brought
out the best in OJ, and the worst in Halifa Sallah. If someone had told me
ten years ago that OJ had any strong principles, I'll tell him/her to Drop
Dead. But was I wrong! OJ has suffered more than any former PPP cabinet
member. He has been arrested, detained, and physically beaten more than any
former minister. Someone of a lesser character would have started singing a
different tune by now. But not OJ. He continues to risk his life to speak
the truth. Any time, the APRC govt. lies about their record (which is
often,) OJ comes out to set it straight! That is my kind of man/leader! They
can kill him, but they cannot kill his spirit! Again, that is what being a
man is all about - as far as I'm concern. So, if OJ were to run against
Halifa Sallah today, what would I do? Not only will I vote for OJ, I'll
campaign, and raise funds for him! Guaranteed! Why? Because I'd rather be
with a leader like him than one like you Halifa, who chickens out when the
going gets tough. Bravo Omar Jallow!
And a final example of a leader is an American by the name of Oliver North
of Iran-Contra fame. Lt. Col North is a man I disagree with on almost every
issue. He lives in the same area I do, and he's always on some local radio.
However, when it comes to character, he has it. Lt. Col North would have
gone to prison in the late 80s but for his leadership record. The
politicians were ready to sacrifice him. But the people won't have any of
it. You see, about twenty years before his troubles in the mid-80s, North
was a Lt. in Vietnam. It transpired that anytime Lt. North's platoon comes
under fire, he would literally place himself in the line of fire. He was
always the first to attack the enemy, and the last to retreat from danger!
True leader, won't you say? So, when the politicians wanted to crucify this
man, his former subordinates and colleagues came out to galvanize public
support for him. Not only did he not go to prison, Lt. Col North is now a
very rich, and popular figure among a large segment of the GOP. I can't
stand the man's ideas, but I have tremendous respect for his guts. These are
my type of men/leaders, Halifa. You simply don't come close!
Just for the record, I'm not saying that other Gambians have the right to
ask Halifa Sallah to risk his life for us. If you want to do such a thing,
it has to be totally voluntary. But, equally, you do not have the right to
mislead an entire generation that you''l stand up for them, when in fact you
neither have the guts nor intention of doing so. I have a big problem with
that. The way I see PDOIS now, you people should invite Buba Baldeh to be
your party standard bearer. He'll fit perfectly in your party! Just a
thought.
Regarding some of the provocative words you've thrown at me, I can
understand your anger and frustration because throughout the PPP era, you
had issued all types of challenges to the establishment - for debates,
intellectual or otherwise. No one ever took you up on your challenge. The
name "Halifa Sallah" therefore became something of an intellectual myth.
Someone no Gambian can challenge intellectually. A man school children look
up to with adulation. A walking library. A man beyond reproach
-intellectual, or honor wise. A man who never fails to remind his audience
that he "has tasted everything but death." Intellectual Jambarr, this
Halifa. We all wanted to be like him. That is until Yaya Jammeh came
calling. But, in any case, who am I, or Hamjatta to take you on when an
entire govt. machinery was "scared" of you for a decade? That must be really
grinding you inside! Sorry Koto Halifa, but the truth has to come out.
You're simply not the man you've led us to believe you are for a decade!
You see, some of us are brain dead. Some are simply cowards who fear to
speak their mind (even about plain truth,) lest they offend someone else.
Some are simply hypocrites. But there is a minority among us who do use our
innate resources to search for the truth. And it helps when one is a lover
of Sir A.Conan Doyle, or Agatha Christie's mystery like I am. I'm a firm
believer in this dictum of Sherlock Holmes'- Conan Doyle's fictional super
sleuth: "if you eliminate all the impossibles, whatever is left, is your
answer!" Smart guy, won't you say? I'm Mr. Frivolous, but bear with me.
This whole debate is about your double standards, and your two-faced
approach to Gambian politics. I've seen Halifa Sallah take on Jawara. I
liked it. So, when Yaya Jammeh came, I was expecting the same approach. Not
only did that not happen, you have in fact toned down your criticism of this
decadent regime. In truth, Yaya is worse than Jawara. So, if you are really
honest, and sincere about seeing a free Gambia, your criticism of the APRC
govt. should be more intense than that of the PPP because the APRC is worse
than the PPP. But since 1996 when politicking resumed (ignoring your
shameful behavior regarding Koro Ceesay's murder in 1995,) you're almost
always a step behind other politicians when it comes to criticizing the
Jammeh regime. For the first time last year, you joined other opposition
politicians to publicly condemn this criminal regime when they abducted
Shingle Nyassi and tortured him for a month. I believe you only did that
because more and more Gambians have woken up to your misdeeds, and many have
publicly criticized you for it. Why am I saying this? Shingle Nyassi's
treatment last year, while terrible, was no worse than what happened to him
and four others (including a very fragile woman,) in 1997. On that occasion,
they were whipped in a way reminiscent of slave plantations. Where was
Halifa Sallah then? Where was your outrage? And this was when your great '97
constitution was already in force. Why are these people unable to sue for
redress years after the fact? If such thing had happened during the PPP era,
we won't have heard the end of it. So, are you really sincere about being in
solidarity with the UDP, or is it merely a face-saving gesture? Sorry to
ask, but to accept gestures from you at face value, is to set oneself up. I
have no intention of going back to that.
So, when I look at all these, and apply Sherlock Holmes' dictum -and weigh
it all on a balance of probability, I have to conclude unequivocally that:
Halifa Sallah is an imposter! In plain language, a phoney! No two ways
around it. Every other alternative explanation falls in the "impossibles"
category. So, sorry Halifa, but I just don't buy any of the ridiculous
explanations that you've tried to sell here to explain your behavior since
1994. I'll get to this nonsense of creating a "democratic space" next time.
It's just ridiculous.
Finally, I'll advice you to live by the creed of your newspaper's name:
"Foroyaa." You see Foroyaa is a lot more than "freedom" as you all
interpreted it. It's one of those Mandingo words that do not lend themselves
to a perfect translation in English. If all you wanted to convey is
"freedom", you should have stuck with "Fang Soto." Foroyaa denotes honor,
integrity, nobility, and other fine qualities of human nature, as opposed to
a description of the absence of subjugation. Mr. Jatta or any good Mandingo
speaker can tell you this. There is simply nothing more "foroyaa" than
sticking your neck out for a defenseless people. They say "power is taken,
NOT given/surrendered." By being silent, and letting dictators like Yaya
Jammeh have their way, you're not helping matters at all. All they do (and
what Yaya did,) is to use the breather to consolidate their rule. You're the
only person without a vested interest in that govt. who deludes himself that
there's democracy in the Gambia. Simply, what you've helped create is not
democracy, but a sham, - a lie! If you choose to continue parading what
you've done to the Gambia by bringing about this dangerous farce, that's
your choice. But, don't try selling it to me as god-sent. I'll throw it in
your face.
I'm still waiting for you to make me sorry for my Summer 1996 letter. Please
for once, do not be all talk and no action. I'm begging you to hit me hard
for that letter. By the way, I did communicate with Hamjatta through
telepathy lately, and he's also lamenting your "all smoke and no fire."
Please deliver! Stop breaking promises, or telling people things you cannot
do!
The uncovering of Halifa Sallah continues.
Good night!
Saul.
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