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In Solidarity with Ebrima Dibba

OpinionGuest EssaysIn Solidarity with Ebrima Dibba


By Da One

According to Ebrima Dibba, he was a junior protocol officer at the Gambian consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He got fired by the president for expressing his solidarity with the Secretary General of the United Democratic Party, Ousainou Numu Kunda Darboe. He highlighted in his released audio message that he has not received any warning for his actions and that he was a personal acquaintance of the president. Ebrima also revealed certain aspects of the conversations he’s had with Adama Barrow. According to him, these conversations centered around the intentions of the president to engage him in corrupt practices for his political support and allegiance. He said he has some evidence to prove his allegations. So far, that’s Ebrima’s side of the story. He has given interviews to media outlets to affirm his position and assertions. 

Up to the time of typing my opinion on this electronic device, I have not seen or heard a rejoinder or a rebuttal from the president’s office. Probably, he or his media team do not deem it necessary to put out a statement to clarify to the nation what actually happened. That’s no surprise to me because neither the president nor his media team are known for coming out to clarify issues or prompt discussions on any policy matter or governance undertaking for that matter. It, however, beats the imagination that under the shadow of such grievous accusations, the president and his advisers once again chose the course of silence. Trust and credibility are on the side of Ebrima until proven otherwise, which I believe is impossible to do if hindsight has taught me anything about the regime of Adama Barrow which is daily having a growing taste for more power only to abuse everything that we collective fought for; rights, freedoms and economic prosperity. 

I have a word for Ebrima Dibba. Brother, you mentioned your demonstrated qualities and qualifications to handle the post you were handling in Jeddah. And I believe without reservation, that you had a passion for your job. That Gambia has benefited from your service is in no doubt, and could and would further benefit from young minds like yours is unquestionable. Having said all that, I would like to believe you could have been strategic with your support for your party and its leaders when their services were being terminated. Looking at your own statement, The Gambia and Gambians need you in that capacity inside than outside. In my mind, you could have played your cards differently and still be loyal to Ousainou Darboe and continue to serve your people. Mind you, I’m not at all implying you should be lamely punished for freely expressing your views and getting the sack without respect for due procedure. Far from it. I’m saying you could have killed two birds with one stone. 

My message to Gambian people is to take a serious look at the people we elect to rule us. Adama Barrow is morphing into a dangerous political animal, one worst than the two previous leaders in the persons of Dawda Jawara and Yaya Jammeh. The parallels cannot be missed. We yearned and fought for an overhaul of executive overreach. That means the president and the ministers should not have the power to summarily terminate the services of any civil servant. Today, we are witnessing the very opposite of what Adama Barrow promised the Gambian people. To ride in his bus, you have to dance to his despotic tunes. Gambians want workers who represent the ideals of service to one’s people, not persons serving the interests of an egomaniac. 

My message to Adama Barrow is to inform him Gambians will not standby whilst you, your family and political cronies milk the nation for your personal greed and unsavory taste for wealth and fine dining. We know you are using your position(s) to enrich yourselves illegally through kickbacks and backdoor deals. Ebrima has a point that you have become a hungry hyena that has tasted blood and is willing to sacrifice morals and ethics to stay in power. History will not be kind on you and Ebrima might just as well have the last laugh.

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