True words indeed! The Gambia is desperately in need of salvation. Some of these stories sound like a cruel joke to me. The fact that someone like Modou Pika could be anywhere near the presidency is a nightmare to me. For all the time I've known Modou Pika -which is over twenty years now, I've not known him to be responsible at all. I'm guessing John Njie (APRC Nat. Vice Chairman? or something) recruited Pika 'cause they've been buddies for a long time. The former is a "Ndo" to Pika. But, Pika has always been an ignorant punk. He's all brawn, no brains folks! There's isn't a living soul in The Gambia today who believes more in absolute raw physical power. I'll give you a typical Pika story, and there's some irony here. Back in 1977/ or early '78 when I was a young lad, the Vous Ten Football Club of Tallinding organized a football match with the Latrikunda/Fajikunda boys held in Latrikunda. In those days, Mo' Ceesay, Eliman's (Badala FC) older brother was Latrikunda's star attraction. Well, when things weren't going in favor of Latrikunda, Pika notorious for his belligerence, started a fight. Most of the Tallinding guys were truly scared of him, and they all but fled. "Hippo" Baks Manneh (UDP candidate S/K East in the '96 elections,) was the first Pika got to. Pika clearly had the upper hand. But here is the irony of this story, because you won't believe who saved face for Tallinding: Famara Tombong Jatta! Yes the current MP for S/K East took on Modou Pika. Pika threw the guy to the ground faster than you can say "one, two" but Tombong's sheer guts and tenacity pretty much evened things out. But Pika didn't want to stop, because for the first time in those days, someone had actually stood up to him. And he was hell-bent on showing everyone who the "winner" was. He would let several men hold him for a while, then he'd thrust his arm and send them flying, while surging towards Tombong who was being escorted by another large crowd. It's like a scene oout of some gothic movie. A huge crowd -mainly boys my age, followed him from Latrikunda. Right where Hassan Jeng later built a gas/petrol station on the outskirts of Latrikunda (now S/K East football park,) Pika made a declaration that he'll kill any Vous Ten member he sees in Latrikunda. We kids cheered Pika! Pika! That is typical Pika. For all the time I've known him, the only time anyone pays him any attention is when raw power is desired. Otherwise, Pika has never amounted to anything. When Sarro (GPMB) people are ready to do their thing, there's Pika; when football clubs are on, there's Pika, the natural-born Bouncer. He loves the attention that comes with being an innate criminal. He's regarded as something of a legend by the underbelly of his community, so this Kidnapper stuff is a mere extension of the only skills Pika has ever had. And the fact that the man never trims his moustache, not only added to his physical ugliness, but to the very aura that he likes to project. God help our people, because Modu Pika under the control of irresponsible elements is bound to leave a lot of damage in his wake. I hope someone will ask MP Tombong Jatta about Pika's role in their party, and the experience I just related. Just don't mention my name 'cause that's bound to cause family trouble for me. Tombong should know what innocent Gambians are going through at the hands of Modou Pika. Saul. >Gambia-L: > >As usual, the e-mail below has come from one of my sources in the Gambia. > >Ebrima ceesay > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------