Interface of two Administrations Elderly Statesman Jawara’s Historic Book Launching

 

Foroyaa’s Managing Editor, Sam Sarr, did witness the launching of the autobiography of Ex- President Dawda Kairaba Jawara. All the members of the Editorial Board were invited and they delegated the Managing Editor to represent all of them.

 

We do admit from the report that the Ex President has the fundamental objective to leave a legacy behind. On the other hand, the current President wants to be seen to have conducted a justifiable coup d’etat. How these two contradictory aims could be done on the same platform was the irony and challenge of the day.

 

The current Ministers were there and so were the ambassadors, religious leaders, National Assembly Members, security chiefs, some former members of Jawara’s cabinet and public service and other personalities. The mixture of the past and present was orchestrated by the Kora Players and the traditional praise singers who played the old tunes such as "Jawara ila Jamaanoo Diyaata" (Jawara’s time was nice) but would also conclude that every person has his or her day and that Jammeh has done a unique thing in Africa by according a high status to Ex- President Jawara. One Jali Tamba Suso is reported to have led the others into singing praises and recalling past glories as the audience dipped their hands in their pockets to decorate the hands of the praise singers with dalasi notes.

 

Serious business started when President Jammeh arrived. The National Anthem put everyone on their feet. As the past and the present blended to put Jawara’s legacy in black and white, both leaders should draw the fundamental lesson that political succession is possible and inevitable; that it should be a matter for the people and that it is best done in a peaceful and democratic manner so that a whole list of former leaders could be maintained, all of whom should work together to give meaning to these words of the National Anthem: "Let justice guide our action towards the common good and join our diverse people to prove man’s brotherhood."

 

In our view, President Jammeh could have given an additional historical significance to the occasion by announcing his prerogative to release Femi Peters without conditions. It is however better late than never. As Gambians now turn the pages of the book to know what is behind the cover, we should all remind ourselves the great task that lies ahead in remedying all deficits in liberty and prosperity and build a society where our diverse people are joined to promote the common good. Ex-President Jawara has been favoured by history to produce his autobiography. This is a rare opportunity enjoyed by few leaders.

 

Foroyaa wishes to express appreciation for the invitation and would take note of the salient points of the book in any future review. The chapter of the past has been written according to Ex President Jawara’s memory and diary. Others will do the same. However, what is not written yet are the chapters of the future. They are in the making through the deeds we do. This is the time to learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones.