As much I think it to be listless banter, I must share some ideas with Mr. Hakilo. I would appreciate your time and space and I will endeavour to do this efficiently and without opening the door of endless chatter. I will use Mr. Hakilo's notes to that end.

[Mr. able Editor,

Again I request for some space from you to clarify some of the issues Mr. Haruna Darboe seem to misconstrue on my person as he analysed my late article on suggesting for a possible solution to rescue beloved Gambia. I would first of all make it abundantly clear to Mr. Darboe and whoever might think so, that I DO NOT HARBOUR any interest for political office for he may as well have insinuated so.] Hakilo.

It is quite alright to harbour ambition for political office. Whether you do or do not is insignificant to our discussion. In general, all mankind must be encouraged to dream and be ambitious.

[Though am entitled to seek political office like everybody else, am contented contributing my share to national development from within. I am happy for his response to the article as his contributions are additional positive efforts and no doubt vital in our quest to search for a solution to free our great mother land from the tyrannical grips of Yaya Jammeh which the debate is all about.] Hakilo.

I join you in this sentiment and ambition.

[Haruna would wish to know that I do NOT believe Yaya Jammeh is capable to head a household much more a nation.] Hakilo.

I am sorry but I do not wish to know that. It is nice of you to share that with us however.

[So to suggest that I believe he could be voted for if not for the murders, corruptions, insincerity, etc, etc is inaccurate.] Hakilo.

I refer you back to your maiden notes on this matter. From that I shared that But for Yahya's high crimes, All Gambia would vote for him and the opposition leaders would encourage their supporters to vote for him. What this means is that Any Gambian of age can become President and remain president for as long as the people or the constitution determines barring crimes against his/her fellow citizen and the state.

[Yaya is more evil than we all can imagine.] Hakilo.

I agree with you Hakilo. So in the midst of the suffocating vortex you find yourself and given you desire the existing opposition leaders to unite and look for a candidate outside their parties who will contest the 2011 elections to remove Yahya, would you now ammend your statement where you shared that but for Yahya's high crimes, the existing opposition leaders are exactly the same as Yahya in patriotism and selfishness?

[With my sociological background, I have had a long look at issues on the nature of political parties in (Gambia) Africa from far back as I have been on this earth for a while now, and hope God continues to let me do so much longer. I never meant any offence for I actually believe I was ‘calling it spade’.] Hakilo.

Hakilo, I understood you not to mean any offense. I merely saw it as error in unbridled excitement.

[I DO NOT deny ‘we (may) have the right leaders in (current) opposition leadership’ but have not been able to mount a successful challenge on Yaya-the –Bandit since 1994.] Hakilo.

It is obvious the opposition leaders have not been able to remove Yahya via prior elections Hakilo. That is why we are in the vortex.

[Haruna would not deny that the present main opposition leaders sees themselves as ENTITLED to lead the rest at all cost for one perceived reason or other.] Hakilo.

I will deny this proposition. I see no evidence of such and I should be beside myself to divine what my fellow citizen thinks of him/herself. Putting that aside Hakilo, if you were one of my opposition leaders and you actually think you are entitled to lead me at any cost, must I do cartwheels over your dreams or would I be better off in identifying those costs you inflict on me in order to lead me? We must be very careful about ascribing motives to other or at least in identifying our real problems. This listless banter is what keeps you and I in the vortex.

[Hence this is what the wrangling are all about despite the populations’ plea for individual tendencies to be abandoned.] Hakilo.

So you ascribe insiduous motive to your fellow citizen and set about to wrangle with them based on those perceived motivations. You will be pleased to know that I do not share your perception and I am not engaged in wrangles with you. If I did share your perceptions of other, I will certainly not wrangle about it. I will infuse my perceptions of them into my calculus for voting.

[This was the MAIN reason why there was no successful unification since the idea was first proposed.] Hakilo.

I'm sorry I do not share your reasoning. Nor do I share your view Hakilo that there was no successful unification.

[It is not uncommon in Africa and in Gambia for that matter for leaders, ruling or opposition to perceive themselves as ‘Life-Leaders ‘once elected or appointed to lead. And MOST of them, whilst some do attempt, wish for the leadership to be’ kept-in-family’ after them.] Hakilo.

Hakilo, if you have a chronic problem of leaders in Africa and in the Gambia wishing to perpetuate themselves or their kin at the helm of leadership, why would you take offense at that if they haven't committed any crimes? And if they have committed crimes, why do you not see to it they are prosecuted or removed from leadership????

[Do you ever know of any opposition leader in Gambia who came to realise that after a couple of attempts at elections that he should give way to any potential leader/leadership and accept to rally behind whoever is chosen?] Hakilo.

Hakilo, might you consider that you never had an election in Gambia??? And you will be surprised to learn that the opposition political parties determine who leads their parties at any given time. Simply because you have no say in who leads a party or not does not mean your fellow citizens who have that privilege do not.

[They all want to either be left to lead or die trying.] Hakilo.

What's it to you?

[This is what my ‘thin-layer’ expression between ruling and opposition leaders’ about.] Hakilo.

OK.

[I do NOT believe in character assassination.] Hakilo.

I do not think you do either. You are simply prone to error in judgement as we all are Hakilo.

[The fact is, one should not seek public office if you shy away from or do not want to be told the truth which always is bitter pills.

In as much as I respect Haruna’s opinion about the Way-Forward for a solution to The Gambia’s crisis and perception about myself as he is entitled to one, I believe he has not understood the theme.] Hakilo.

I suppose you will explain the theme to me then Hakilo.

[For he seem out to defend in the same sinister complexion deployed by the current opposition leadership to justify their positions.] Hakilo.

So here you say the current opposition leadership deploys a sinister complex. And you hope I am not defending that. You will be pleased to know that I only defend human rights and attendant freedoms. I must share with you however that I do not agree with your characterization of what the existing opposition leadership deploys. I am confident you accord me the right to disagree with you.

[I hope he is not related to any opposition leader in Gambia which may as well have fuelled his reactions to translating my opinion into insults.] Hakilo.

Indeed Hakilo, I am related to some of the leaders of the opposition parties. I am also related to a good number of the rank and file members of NADD, UDP/NRP, APRC, GDP, and GMC. Relationships were not a consideration when I advised temperance and consideration for you. That is not worth expending Relationship-value on.

[Mandinkas have an adage; ‘When an elder do not want to accept guilt, he/she always translates truth from a minor/junior as insult’. This is what I see here.] Hakilo.

I am sorry you see it that way Hakilo. Guilt and Insult however are not a mandinka word. You may miss context in translations. No matter whether I am your elder or junior.

[I finally make it clear that am in this for an honest (healthy) debate purely for nation-building and not picking any fight.] Hakilo.

You will allow us to determine your colour in debate wont you Hakilo?

[And hereby tell Mr. Darboe and any (die-hard) individual or (particular) leadership supporter that I have rest my case and would continue to contribute to our search for solution.] Hakilo.

Hakilo you never had a case to begin with and I am not die-hard anything. In fact, I do not even belong to any political party. That may come as a shock to you.

[And also declare that I will NOT engage of respond to whoever trivially (want a fight) think I have no right to opinion to point out facts.] Hakilo.

You do have a right to freedom of expression. What you do not have a right to do is to commit crimes against your fellow citizen as you exercise that freedom. I am confident you will appreciate that.

[It is healthy for us to disagree and seen to agree for productive outcomes. May Allah give us the will to do so and help rescue ‘Poor Gambia’. I rest my case. Thanks,] Hakilo.

Thank you Hakilo for this opportunity at further discernments. I do admire you energy and zeal. I advice you more efficiently harness those attributes.

Haruna.