By Kemo Kanyi
Madi Jobarteh, rights activist and founder of the Edward Small Centre for Rights and Justice has said that Dr. Ismaila Ceesay’s target is to silence people, who hold them to account.
Dr. Ceesay recently claimed that Madi has a political agenda but scared to show his face in politics.
‘’As typical of dishonest people in power, they are notorious for trying to divert attention by defaming, misrepresenting and caricaturing individuals who demand transparency and hold them accountable. The role that people like Alagie Saidy Barrow, Pa Samba Jow and many others including I play in this society is that we wish to ensure full transparency and accountability of the Government to the people of the Gambia,’’ Jobarteh wrote on his Facebook wall. He added:‘’Unable to defend the corruption and incompetence of this Government, Ismaila therefore chose to target voices of transparency and accountability with the intention to discredit and silence us. He is not the first minister to do this and will not be the last to do so. His insults and rantings, intended to demonize and discredit me, only expose his dishonesty and betrayal of the people of The Gambia. But Ismaila cannot silence me or anyone for we are determined to uphold and defend the Constitution in exercise of our civil and political rights to speak up and participate in the scrutiny of the Government and its officials like him.’’
Madi stated that just like sunlight kills germs, transparency would root out corruption in government. He continued: “The role and contribution that others and I play in this society is to make sure that there is open government, knowing fully well that there cannot be accountability, efficient public service delivery and protection of human rights in the absence of transparency. For that matter, I shall not relent nor stay silent in the face of blatant abuse of office, corruption and incompetence. It is that voice that Ismaila wishes to silence but he cannot in any way.’’
The prominent human rights activist said no one can deny that the incidence of corruption in the Barrow administration is deep, widespread and endemic, and yet fully encouraged. “This is confirmed by official reports from the Auditor General, the National Assembly, the Gambia Police Force, and presidential commissions of inquiry, not to mention reports by investigative journalists, and established by the courts. Exposing and combating corruption and holding public institutions accountable is a national duty – whether one is called activist or not. After all, it is not Ismaila Ceesay who defines who or what activism is or not,’’ he added.
Madi asserted that Dr. Ceesay is too small to caricature and discredit him.
“He can choose to sell his soul and indeed power has already exposed his true character as a man without faith and conscience. No educated person aids and abets corruption and injustice and enables bad leadership,” added Madi.
‘’Therefore, what Ismaila demonstrates is the malaise inflicting this nation since independence. That is the weakness and failure of our intellectuals in charge of our institutions of governance and development in betraying their own people by imposing on them a corrupt, incompetent and oppressive system which they defend with disinformation and dishonesty. But Ismaila has come too late in the game, hence he is advised, for his own interest, to return to the original ideals which underpinned the creation of the Citizens Alliance – of which he became the chief betrayer, sadly.”
Madi pointed out that Gambians decided to end self-perpetuating and autocratic rule and corruption since 2016. “In 2017, the new Government launched a transitional justice program with the slogan ‘Never Again’ to abuse of office, corruption, human rights violations and bad governance. If Ismaila and his ilk think the country should relapse back to those horrible days, then he is dreaming,’’ he stated.
“Those days are over and long gone when public officials think they can impose their false narratives on our people with arrogance and impunity. Public office is a noble institution which must be occupied by the best sons and daughters of this land who shall be challenged to prove themselves with honesty and humility. If that is an inconvenience for Ismaila, then let him vacate public office,’’ stressed the activist.
He called on all Gambians to speak out to defend democracy and human rights and expose abuse of office and corruption.
