Malanding
I can see the temperature of the current conversation is disorienting you, but this is the Third Republic in microcosm. The temperature notwithstanding, the conversation is highly educative, and immensely preferable to bullets, although you may argue some mutual admiration may be left by the wayside. In itself, that eventuality is insignificant as long as Haruna and Mborge, or the former and Laye, and all of them and Suntou, gained greater respect for the other due to having a better feel for his temperament and intellect. Our friend Bailo has put out feelers for reconciliation, but the last I checked, his Malian grand dad is otherwise occupied, but no doubt will almost certainly reengage in good time.
On Bailo, what do you think of him leaving family, friends, a good job, and according to YJ, personal property such as a car, for the life of an exile? Other than public stature, is there any fundamental difference between Bailo, and Halifa, in so far as the conduct that got them into trouble is concerned? Are they at fault for acting to advance the public interest in a sea of intellectual and moral indifference, even if that indifference is somewhat understandable? And should it matter what mileage is realisable from such commendable conduct? Allowing for the fact that good public relations is critical to a political life, I nevertheless urge reflection on the above questions, and variations thereof.
Although Halifa's political legacy is far from settled, I prefer him to the entire executive leadership of the current government, i.e., the Cabinet, and other policy-level operators such as Permanent Secretaries. In them we have men and women who willingly participate in the systematic destruction of what little institutionalism there is in Gambian public life. Even as there were ample opportunities for him to join this coterie of so-called leaders, Halifa took the difficult route of the life of modest material means. In this regard, there are many like Halifa in ordinary Gambia, but none like him in the executive leadership of the country. If this is not enough to warrant 'worshipping' Halifa, it is a good reason to celebrate the man and his vision. It appears that without the fact finding mission that earned him jail time, and the subsequent international ridicule and uproar it generated against the government of The
Gambia, the Professor would have proceeded as if nothing was amiss in his happy country of harmless witches and their murderous state sponsored hunters.
Even if Halifa's motives were complex, the lesson derivable from the instant conversation is to always strive to restrict analysis of concrete situations within their ascertainable contours. In other words, there should be no need to fish for reasons why Halifa went on a fact finding mission regarding "the government policy of screening witches". As opposed to manufacturing this particular incident regarding witches, Halifa was merely responding to a live issue of major public concern, and on this matter, he deserves our unreserved celebration. I can see how this may be uncomfortable for the political competition, including Ousainou, OJ, and Mathew K Jallow, but if we denigrate, or ignore our national treasures, we will participate in the U-17 and other diversions of the Professor.
Seeing Halifa as a hero is no different from a country like the United States celebrating Dr King by setting aside a special day to commemorate his ever maturing vision for that
country. Hero worship? Probably, but if it is good for that great colossus of modern times, Mathew should have no trouble celebrating Halifa in the same spirit by recognising, without reservation, his courageous stance on "the government policy of screening witches".
In similar vein, and in recognition of his tremendous sacrifice, I celebrate our own Bailo for his principled stance against "the government policy of screening witches", and its attendant violation of fundamental human rights, including Halifa's unlawful imprisonment.
Long may we live to continue witnessing this type conversation, its sometimes disturbing undertones notwithstanding.
LJDarbo
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