The Glass Ceiling has Shattered

Isatou who? Dr. Isatou Touray. Oh yea the renowned gender activist who wants an end to female genital mutilation . The name not only rings a bell but resonate with progressive contemporary Gambians who cherish social justice and equity. She fights for the marginalized and less privileged amongs our lot especially the women folk. Can she be a game changer and a bridge builder come Decision 2016? I think the answer is a resounding yes based on her proven track record and steadfastness towards the Gambian cause. This lady will surely tilt the political fulcrum and pendulum more towards the centre. A voice of reason and conscience who can cement the cracks evident within the GOP camp. I am looking forward to her maiden press conference and reasons for her political ambitions.

Her position as a non state actor equips her for political participation in our political arena. A day in politics is eternal and the political landscape is yet to take its appropriate course. Political evolution is beginning to reach a new high in the Gambia and lets patiently watch the space for the back door deals and intense jockeying and maneuvers. It is still not high noon in our new found political day. So lets keenly watch the space and avoid false starts. The polity will collectively demand their yearnings and aspirations to the GOP as an entity and therefore, I expect from the GOP electorate to force their respective parties to rally behind Dr. Touray. Her neutrality makes her the candidate of compromise for the GOP to rally behind for a viable coalition. From my vantage point, I see Dr. Touray as a bridge builder who has burst on the scene without excess baggage. For the interest of a unified force Dr. Isatou Touray is more appealing than any candidate presented to date. This has nothing to do with her academic credentials but the mere fact that she is an outsider within the political establishment. Therefore anybody who means business will not only encourage her as a compromise candidate to boost turnout and cross party support but if one wants to be myopic and self centered then they can opt for a candidate that will not galvanize unanimity amongst the existing GOP. Just my take being closer to ground zero than most pundits. Mind you my assessment is without prejudice or ill will to Kandeh. I am a mere political investor who wants a greater return on invest on my political capital nothing more. It's a dawn of a new day in our political dispensation. I am not endorsing her candidacy for now but it ushers in new dynamics that may change the race for the highest office in the land.
 

The emergence of Dr Touray will be a litmus test for our political sophistication and priorities. The dynamics have surely changed and the career political operatives will now have to unveil their true interest; Gambia or their narrowly defined political interest. The proof of the pudding will surely be in the eating. Gambia or them and this is the end product of Dr. Touray's addition in the race. A candidate who is well known in all nook and cranny of the country. A person who has directly interacted with more families and communities in the country than most political operatives.

Them Versus Us Syndrome

My diasporan family and friends will not like the premise of this post am about to construct. Gambians at both home and abroad do have collective aspiration to build a better Gambia that is premised on sustainable social justice and access to economic opportunities. That said, the two sides (home based and the diaspora) have a divergence of philosophical thought and reality and this will forever frustrate our sincere and bonafide efforts of convergence. I urge all to read keenly and not to denigrate the author as he is simply venturing into the mind of the Gambian based on his intimate encounters with both sides.

For a start, we have an imperfect relationship as the diasporans are mostly the financial underwriters of political activity on the ground. Naturally, they will want more stake in the administering and direction of political activity on the ground by peddling their influence to reorient the prevailing political thought to suit their objectives. This issue is delicately managed by the political operatives on the ground but with a degree of skepticism. The homegrown activist is weary of the diaspora as they smell a sense of entitlement and down play of local participation. In reality, these are all perceptions harbored by both sides and any constructive endeavor to synergistically converge may be a daunting task.

The political narrative is controlled by the online media outlets mostly based in the diaspora. They often rubbish the intellect, guts and will to effect change by the locals. This stereotype extends the preconceived notion that the locals are not ready for change. Perceptions are strong and it can be reinforced by the stereotypes harbored. The locals also have a strong sense of entitlement given the fact that they operate on ground zero and bear the brunt of being in the front lines. The shifting of allegiance by political opportunist and escapist is also another cause for concern for the diaspora. We have seen mouth pieces and disciples of the regime morphed into super nemesis/activist. Are their actions genuine? Can they be trusted? These are to name a few concerns lingering in the hearts and minds of the diasporan Gambian. The nuances and road blocks impeding our concerted regroupment are all trivial and centre around prejudice and perceptions. Gambia though small boast of a highly polarized citizenry whose minor differences hinder their collective resolve to do great things together. Finally, the diaspora has a vested interest in the political outcome of the country but they MUST realize their limitations as it relates to their disenfranchisement. I wished they have the right to vote and be counted but for now that is not our political reality therefore they must regroup and effectively agitate for reforms that will yield dividends for that cluster of Gambians living in distant shores and by extension us on the ground. However, this cannot be attained if they remain splintered. There is a leadership vacuum in the diaspora and often times, the online media is allowed to sway/peddle influence on lives of organizations. A classic example is the demise of the organization led by one Mr. Kanteh in Switzerland. The split was played out for all to see on social media. Reforms are always introspective meaning it starts inwards. Equally, the Gambians on the ground lack inspiration and hope as the opposition on the ground are bickering and jockeying for personal space rather than a common position for the greater good. Personally, I refused to rent out premium real estate space in my head to some of these entities as their agenda will not advance my cause as a Gambian. Lets battle our inner demons and purge ourselves of the destructive tendencies of the new Gambian. Change starts from within and genuine change evolves from courage of conviction. Do we believe in ourselves and ability to do good and be better Gambians? If so, lets get the ball rolling or we continue being the opportunist, prostitutes and subjects we resign our fate to. No prejudice intended from this post just a thought residing in the mind of a provocative curious Gambian who yearned for a brighter day

The Prostituted Gambian Mind

Prostitution is not only manifested through sexually perverted and deviant practices. It is also manifested in the unconscionable behavior of humans through our deliberate actions that negate the moral compass innate in our subconscious state. Being a slave of our conscience can be a beast of burden that consumes our daily thoughts and activities. Most humans find it irreconcilable to be at ease with what they know to be outright and flagrant abuse or transgression on fellow humans.

In the case of the Gambia, I am of the view that most in our midst have lost the ability to communicate with their inner self thus the demise of their conscience. A spineless human being cares about nothing but the preservation of self at all cost and hence the deliberate indifference manifested by some of us against our fellow compatriots. This attitude is morally repulsive but it is a consequential effect of poverty, Social complex borne out of age old prejudices and moral decadence borne out of our insatiable appetite to acquire material and worldly possessions at the least cost to our efforts and energy. Prostitution of the mind is a severe state of decadence that is irreversible once entrenched in our daily routines. The distinction between wrong and right is often swayed by expected returns and or favors to be accrued. God bless the Gambian for we have become our own beast of burden due to our deep immersion to worldly possessions. So lets start looking inward for a solution to our festering Gambian nightmare of insincerity and lack of loyalty and conscience. We have to take ownership of our thought processes and also question authority as power is vested on us and by proxy, we delegate our inalienable powers to chosen leaders to deliberate on our behalf. We must fear no one but God because he is our provider and protector not any mere mortal like us. Our mortal existence MUST be dignified and meaningful to all that we encounter be it humans or the environment. The Gambian has opted for a non dignified existence by playing second fiddle to the whims and caprices of the highest bidder. What a painful existence! Finally, lets not expect MUCH from the preachers of morality for they talk like angels and act like men. Our theologians/clergy are supposed to be the shepherd of the flock we collective called Gambia. They must give us spiritual guidance to sanitize our existence and interactions with our fellow brothers and sisters. The Gambian cause must not be a political revolution but a moral crusade. This moral crusade will be the arbiter of our conscience and once attained, we can then have viable political decisions to benefit the Gambian family at large. Let the real Gambian please stand up not the self centred opportunistic animal innate in our existence. We just want to receive and hardly give back. Time for a serious and critical rethink of our national values and priorities. Gambia is here to stay for posterity therefore we all must endeavor to do the right thing for her so that our off springs will be proud of us and the plume of the historian will serve us right. After carefully shopping for great Gambian virtues and ideals, I walked to the checkout counter called the Gambian reality and I felt short changed by myself and by extension, all of us as Gambians