Twenty-Two Years In ‘PAWA’: Jammeh Still Wants More

Now it’s my turn to make the most difficult phone call. The call many world leaders dread. I’m calling Gambia President Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh.

I don’t know where he got Jemus Junkung from. He was born Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jammeh. But anyway, that’s beside the point. Well let me start it this way, if we can’t get it into the warehouse we would dump it at the junkyard.

Hallo!
“Hallo…Eiish.” Are you hearing me?”

I wish you all the best. The country will be in your hands in January and you’re assured of my guidance on your transition and I don’t mean to ….but afterwards work with me… “

“Who’s this?”
Mr. President this is Gordon Offin-Amaniampong (GOA for short).

“Hey, you sounded like me.”
GOA: Yeah right, I’m mimicking you if don’t get it. Doesn’t the line sound familiar?

Those were the exact words you spoke barely two weeks ago to congratulate President-elect Adama Barrow following his victory on Friday in the December 2, 2016 presidential election.

Did you really say you aren’t relinquishing power because there were irregularities in the election process? And I suppose such irregularities only affected you and not the other candidate right?

Chaiiii, Yahya you’ve disappointed me. You’ve disappointed many too, many across the continent and the world at large. Most people thought you meant well in your concession speech. But it didn’t last long. You’ve proved your sceptics right. I was one of them. I knew something wasn’t right.

Remember I likened you to a ‘Born-Again’ Lion?

See what you’ve done. You’ve put the whole Gambia on edge.

The ECOWAS nations are worried about what‘s going to happen should you follow through this wacky plot. I’d barely crossed the border to my homeland when the news came in that you aren’t going to hand over power to Mr. Barrow. For a moment I thought I was dreaming. Wasn’t he the one I spoke to? So what happened to all the admonitions and the sweet talks you sang to the ears of the world?

Please tell me, what came upon you this time?
I recall the first one you said: “Allah is telling me that my time is up and I hand over graciously with gratitude to the Gambian people and gratitude to the Almighty Allah to you.”

You said that right?
YJ: “Yes, I did.”
Don’t tell me Allah commanded you to continue to stay in office. Allah himself knows Gambians are sick and tired of you. They’ve had enough of your gimmicks and antics. They’ve had enough of your despotic rule. They gave you the chance but you blew it away and they’ve voted for a change. So I’m appealing to you to back down your decision. I guess it isn’t that bitter to swallow it now.

Back to my question, you think I’ll let you lose.

What necessitated your dramatic U-turn?
Was it Zeinab who influenced your decision?
YJ: “No.”
GOA: Did I get that right are you guys still married, I learned you’re getting divorce?

Anyway, let’s get back to the substantive issue. You don’t want us to talk about it. Why?

I called you purposefully for that.
What was that for? You cleared your throat as if to say leave me alone. I ain’t leaving you alone. You’re hurting the whole continent; you’re psychologically and emotionally torturing your people. So let’s talk about it.

I bet you saw my president there (and you met all the guys Buhari dems). I’m talking about Ghana’s president John Mahama. He’s leaving office as the first one-term president in the fourth republic in our nation’s political history. And if you think that’s cool reconsider your stance.

Mind you, it isn’t about you the leaders anymore. It’s about the people—the citizenry. It’s about us. The young chap in the village who squats or lay on his belly to study at school while you guys line the state funds in your pockets. It’s about the unemployed graduates, it’s about the teachers and nurses and the judges whose allowances haven’t been paid for months or years.

The leaders have come to talk to you. Listen to them as they pump some ideas into your coconut. Have you forgotten what happened to Kabila of DR Congo? How about Sani Abacha of Nigeria? Where are they now?

See how your nose is shaking like that of a mouse caught in a trap. You’re laughing Mr. President. Well, this isn’t funny. This is a serious matter. Ok go ahead and tell me what made you change your mind not to hand over.

GOA: Are you just power-drunk?
I shouldn’t kid myself anymore. You must be intoxicated with some substance.

Did you sniff something?
YJ: “No.”
Did you drink something? No.
Did you smoke something? No.
Did you swallow or ingest something? No.
I don’t want this to become a telegraphic conversation. So please give some tangible reasons.

What actually made you change your mind?
Let me tell you something quick you probably don’t know what’s going on around the world. CNN failed to give coverage on the Ghana’s general election because of you. We’d a successful, peaceful, free, fair and transparent election yet they spent days talking about you. The good image about us went unnoticed because of you and your ego.

All the cable news networks were taking about you. It was all about you as usual as ambitious as Lucifer. Because of you the west thinks we Africans aren’t capable of ruling ourselves. Yes, because of you and some rogues on the continent who’ve made themselves life patrons in office---resulting economic hardships, youth unemployment and brain drain.

Excuse me, Baffour can I get some pain relief meds (sorry Sir that was my son). I think Paracetamol or Benadryl would be alright. I’ve lost my deep thought. I just can’t think far Yahya. And it’s all because of you Yahya. I feel a little better now.

There’s one thing though, I seem to agree with you on. It’s about the International Criminal Court (ICC) headquartered in The Hague the Netherlands. I think the intergovernmental organisation isn’t fair in its approach when it comes to prosecuting individuals deemed to have committed crime against humanity. How can the ICC be targeting only African, Arabian and East European leaders?

By the way, you’re aware former Ivorian president Lauren Gbagbo is there. Charles Taylor was also tried there and former Yugoslav and Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. I’ve never heard any western leader (s) hauled before the international court.

But you can’t use that as an excuse to put your country on edge or punish your people. You withdrew from it right? And I’m not sure Mr. Barrow intends to send you there for trial. I hear all the conspiracy theories flitting around in the air.

Do you still have the two speed boats on the waters by the State House and what are they for?

And what’s your plan now do you still want to stay or to hand over to the president-elect?

I would advise you as a brother to take the deal leave peacefully and allow Gambians to have some semblance of peace.’ Aba’ 22 years and you still want more. You will be offered a safe haven in one of the countries in the sub-region.

Oh I think Ghana would be your next destination. We already have two Guantanamo guys with us. Yeah it was a deal Mr. Mahama struck with the United States government. So I believe we can accommodate you. You aren’t a threat at all. Call me and let me know when you soften your stubborn heart. OK.