Halipha can't you see?

by Fatou Jaw Manneh

Halipha can’t you see?
Silence fell over the horizon
As the inevitable scribes hit the platform
A sham document is brandished
Confirming all that we dreaded
That indeed after all this agitated noise
There is a coalition
NOT.
Halipha can’t you see?

Over ten years and counting Gambians have given you respect fit for a king
Cause you showed up when needed
With courage and tenacity you persevered
I remember falling into the devil’s water while you swam along
And for that I am forever grateful
Endurance is your second name,
Perseverance your trademark
Your character in mandinka is called Foroyaa
And you
r pen never shied from the truth
We cajoled and begged and crawled but all was met with stiff rigidity

And we hailed and hailed and hailed you
Our highest and dearest Halifa
But time is running out
And indeed these are trying times
But Halipha can’t you see?

The prisoners’ roofs are leaking
Countless victims are killed and buried unnoticed
As presidential convoys become
DEATH’s HIT SQUADS
Markets running dry, rice untouchable
As this golden coast of West Africa
Is turned into a kingdom of beggars
Where mediocrity is celebrated
Hypocrisy applauded and brutality condoned
Halipha can’t you see?

Even lawyers are jumping fence
Or was it the bar that got spoked?
Gambians hate to see any coalition
Without your stamp of approval
So open your heart and stay the cause on the people’s side
And do not take us for a fool Halifa
You took
us for a long ride Halifa
And now we feel duped and suspicious
Of your actions and intentions
Halipha can’t you see?

Of PDOIS I am no member
neither do I identify with other parties
But if truth be told to you Halifa
Your strength and power
You have misunderstood or miscalculated
In the political arena Halifa
You are neither Mohammad nor the mountain
So Halifa please track back and follow the flow
Or else history will paint you ugly
Some fights are still worth the fight
Even when you know you lose in the end
Halipha can’t you see?

Nelson Mandela made the giant leap from prisoner to president
Not because he was more handsome, educated or concerned
But because a thousand other great men gave way and allowed him to pass
So that liberty reins supreme and terror is banished forever
Halipha can’t you see?

The restaurant is burning
Halifa so shocking you talk about setting the table
Sharing the cake with inadequate spoons and forks and
Please trash out this residual garbage
Omar OJ Jallow definitely my hero
He was arrested over 20 times, beaten and his house raided
Halipha can’t you see?

I interviewed OJ thrice and thrice I failed to produce the final draft
Cause I got shamed and emotional beyond belief
Anytime I tried to account for the trials and tribulations
Of this gallant son of The Gambia
It feels inadequate to address the ordeal of this brave son of the land
The country fell and he did not budge
And out of loyalty
He stood for his party
Even when he knows it was doomed
Halipha can’t you see?

Over ten years of the UDP
Ousainou Darboe we taunted, tormented and haunted
Abused and caricatured
With scandals of tribalism, naivety and timidity
Unfairly so for this humble man with great integrity
Out of love for you we hardly listened to Ousainou
But we shall not at the expense of our dear country
We cannot smooch smooch to our detriment
In The USA we call it  tough love
And In reality, i mean country above ego
And some fights you fight even if you lose
Halipha can’t you see?

The humble man ran after you
Pleaded, stumbled and pleaded again
Cause we will not take anything less from him
But now and for now I say to OJ and Ousainou
You must move on and God speed!!
For Halifa and his band of flip-flops
I say good luck to you too and God bless you too
And history shall eventually be the judge
I shall leave you with some wisdom words from
Thomas Paine in the thick of the American Revolution
It gave inspiration to millions of Americans yearning for liberty
Hope it melts your heart and put you into Action
too
Halipha can’t you see?



“These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis,
shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and
woman.   “
Thomas Paine
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