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| “We did what we could under the circumstances,” Sir Dawda said, at last as he fires back at criticis |
Whether it was part of a condition attached to his return home or he was not given a platform, Sir Dawda never responded to these expressions of simmering discontent that have become a music every Gambian must listen to, like it or not. At last, he fires back!
“To say my government hasn’t done any development is unreasonable,” finally, a reply from The Gambia’s founding father.
"Founding father"
Born in 1924 in Barajally Tenda village, some 150 miles from the capital Banjul, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, was the sixth son of a well-to-do businessman Almami Jawara and the last son of his mother, Mama Fatty.
Thanks to his father’s trader friend, Jawara, at the age of eight, came to the colonial capital, Bathurst (now Banjul) to acquire formal education. He attended Muhammadan Primary school and Methodist Boys High School before leaving for Ghana and UK respectively to study veterinary medicine.
He returned home in 1953, and served as principal veterinary officer. He gave-up the position to accept an offer to lead a political party. And in the first nation-wide election, when the suffrage was extended to the provinces, his party, (then Protectorate People’s Party), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), won the largest number of seat in parliament. He was appointed education minster and then chief minister. He led The Gambia to independence in 1965, republican in 1970.
He ruled the country for over thirty years before his tenure was brought to an illegitimate, abrupt end by five junior soldiers who now peeled-off their skin to fit among the civilian cohort.
Born in 1924 in Barajally Tenda village, some 150 miles from the capital Banjul, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, was the sixth son of a well-to-do businessman Almami Jawara and the last son of his mother, Mama Fatty.
Thanks to his father’s trader friend, Jawara, at the age of eight, came to the colonial capital, Bathurst (now Banjul) to acquire formal education. He attended Muhammadan Primary school and Methodist Boys High School before leaving for Ghana and UK respectively to study veterinary medicine.
He returned home in 1953, and served as principal veterinary officer. He gave-up the position to accept an offer to lead a political party. And in the first nation-wide election, when the suffrage was extended to the provinces, his party, (then Protectorate People’s Party), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), won the largest number of seat in parliament. He was appointed education minster and then chief minister. He led The Gambia to independence in 1965, republican in 1970.
He ruled the country for over thirty years before his tenure was brought to an illegitimate, abrupt end by five junior soldiers who now peeled-off their skin to fit among the civilian cohort.
"first interview with independent press"
Jawara, now 87 years-old, last week granted an exclusive interview, for the first time since his return home from exile, to journalists from private-independent press, led by a veteran journalist, Swaebou Conateh, the editor/publisher of The Gambia News & Report Weekly magazine.
The interview was to sound his opinion on his award as “Person of the Year 2010” which is an annual award the magazine confers on people who have contributed to the development of the country. Jawara was the twentieth winner. Previous winners range from business persons, a human rights activist, and politicians, among others.
Jawara, now 87 years-old, last week granted an exclusive interview, for the first time since his return home from exile, to journalists from private-independent press, led by a veteran journalist, Swaebou Conateh, the editor/publisher of The Gambia News & Report Weekly magazine.
The interview was to sound his opinion on his award as “Person of the Year 2010” which is an annual award the magazine confers on people who have contributed to the development of the country. Jawara was the twentieth winner. Previous winners range from business persons, a human rights activist, and politicians, among others.
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| Kairaba, the book |
The coup was a surprise
When asked about his take on the seemingly ceaseless allegations of rampant corruption in his government, which infact necessitated the coup, Jawara said that is not enough a justification for the coup.
“If you go back to your archives,” said Jawara, who has been globally acclaimed a democrat and a respecter of human rights, but which unfortunately is a travesty under his successor. “All the coups in the world, especially in Africa – whether military against civilian government or military against a military government – are done because there was corruption. But when they come to power they become much more corrupt than the government they overthrew.”
According to him, the 1994 coup came as a surprise to him. But how surprise could he be? For in his celebrated autobiography, “Kairaba,” published last year, he admitted noticing abnormalities upon his return from an overseas trip on the eve of the coup - Thursday 21st July 1994.
As he explained: “On our arrival at Banjul International Airport on 21 July 1994, I caught myself having to piece together a chain of strange events unfolding right before my eyes.
“To begin with, the Vice President and Minister of Defense, Saihou Sabally was not there to receive me. Instead, I was received at the foot of the aircraft by Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Assan Jallow.
“Under the shrill notes of the bugles Hassan walked me to the waiting guard of honour. In all my years of arrival and departure, I had never seen a more excited honour guard commander in action – Captain Sonko clearly appeared nervous.
“I learnt much later that there had been some tension at the airport before our flight landed. The Nigerian Army officer had given instructions to disarm a group of junior officers of The Gambia National Army because it was unusual for them to be armed on official airport welcoming duties.
“Upon alighting from the vehicle at State House, I discovered that Hassan Jallow who had received me officially at the airport was not there. I learnt that he had broken off the motorcade and gone home.”
He explained further: “Tired as I was, the question that kept me awake for a while before I could sleep was the absence of the vice president and the failure of the Attorney General to come for the debriefing at State House.”
According to him, on the following day, Friday 22 July 1994, National Security Service Director Kebba Ceesay and the National Security Adviser arrived in his private quarters at 9:15 am to brief him about rumours of the coup.
“At about 9:40 am my Aide de Camp, Captain Kassama burst in upstairs looking agitated. He urged me leave for the US warship. It was the first time that I heard anything of a warship in our ports. Captain Kassama was beside himself and was insisting that there was a coup taking place and the soldiers were approaching Banjul,” he explained in his book.
The presidential guard was clearly outnumbered and outgunned by the attackers, Jawara wrote. “It would have been suicide not to surrender or relocate.”
That was how the Jawara was forced to leave the country he founded. Alongside his family, and some cabinet ministers, he assailed to the neighboring country, Senegal where he was offered asylum. And on August 27, 1994, he proceeded to his former colonial master, Britain.
His departure from The Gambia saw the beginning of what could be described as a witch-hunt, but in the name of commissions of inquiry against his officials. Their assets were freezed and confiscated, some detained.
Jawara’s return home following an amnesty does nothing to abate the mounting criticisms against him and his government, by the current government and its supporters, who are claiming lifting The Gambia from nothing to something deemed unimaginable.
When asked about his take on the seemingly ceaseless allegations of rampant corruption in his government, which infact necessitated the coup, Jawara said that is not enough a justification for the coup.
“If you go back to your archives,” said Jawara, who has been globally acclaimed a democrat and a respecter of human rights, but which unfortunately is a travesty under his successor. “All the coups in the world, especially in Africa – whether military against civilian government or military against a military government – are done because there was corruption. But when they come to power they become much more corrupt than the government they overthrew.”
According to him, the 1994 coup came as a surprise to him. But how surprise could he be? For in his celebrated autobiography, “Kairaba,” published last year, he admitted noticing abnormalities upon his return from an overseas trip on the eve of the coup - Thursday 21st July 1994.
As he explained: “On our arrival at Banjul International Airport on 21 July 1994, I caught myself having to piece together a chain of strange events unfolding right before my eyes.
“To begin with, the Vice President and Minister of Defense, Saihou Sabally was not there to receive me. Instead, I was received at the foot of the aircraft by Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Assan Jallow.
“Under the shrill notes of the bugles Hassan walked me to the waiting guard of honour. In all my years of arrival and departure, I had never seen a more excited honour guard commander in action – Captain Sonko clearly appeared nervous.
“I learnt much later that there had been some tension at the airport before our flight landed. The Nigerian Army officer had given instructions to disarm a group of junior officers of The Gambia National Army because it was unusual for them to be armed on official airport welcoming duties.
“Upon alighting from the vehicle at State House, I discovered that Hassan Jallow who had received me officially at the airport was not there. I learnt that he had broken off the motorcade and gone home.”
He explained further: “Tired as I was, the question that kept me awake for a while before I could sleep was the absence of the vice president and the failure of the Attorney General to come for the debriefing at State House.”
According to him, on the following day, Friday 22 July 1994, National Security Service Director Kebba Ceesay and the National Security Adviser arrived in his private quarters at 9:15 am to brief him about rumours of the coup.
“At about 9:40 am my Aide de Camp, Captain Kassama burst in upstairs looking agitated. He urged me leave for the US warship. It was the first time that I heard anything of a warship in our ports. Captain Kassama was beside himself and was insisting that there was a coup taking place and the soldiers were approaching Banjul,” he explained in his book.
The presidential guard was clearly outnumbered and outgunned by the attackers, Jawara wrote. “It would have been suicide not to surrender or relocate.”
That was how the Jawara was forced to leave the country he founded. Alongside his family, and some cabinet ministers, he assailed to the neighboring country, Senegal where he was offered asylum. And on August 27, 1994, he proceeded to his former colonial master, Britain.
His departure from The Gambia saw the beginning of what could be described as a witch-hunt, but in the name of commissions of inquiry against his officials. Their assets were freezed and confiscated, some detained.
Jawara’s return home following an amnesty does nothing to abate the mounting criticisms against him and his government, by the current government and its supporters, who are claiming lifting The Gambia from nothing to something deemed unimaginable.
responds to accusations
And until today, Jawara’s government stands accused of not only corruption, but failed to develop the country. These accusations, according to Jawara, are unfair.
“We did what we could under the circumstances,” Sir Dawda said. “We were making a steady progress. [Critiques] keep on saying we could not even provide a television. Yes, we don’t provide a TV therefore what!”
“TV was not our priority at the time. It would come as others. We were not having independence, a national flag. We built Central Bank, construct roads, spread education and built hospitals across the country. We had our own currency which was viable while bigger countries could not have a national currency.”
According to him, national development is never completed at any stage and independent minded people will judge him right.
Commenting on the award, Jawara said, he was overwhelmed when the news was broke-out to him. “Like I said, I was inundated with telephone calls. I thank News and Report for selecting me ‘Person of the Year 2010’. It is an honour.”
And until today, Jawara’s government stands accused of not only corruption, but failed to develop the country. These accusations, according to Jawara, are unfair.
“We did what we could under the circumstances,” Sir Dawda said. “We were making a steady progress. [Critiques] keep on saying we could not even provide a television. Yes, we don’t provide a TV therefore what!”
“TV was not our priority at the time. It would come as others. We were not having independence, a national flag. We built Central Bank, construct roads, spread education and built hospitals across the country. We had our own currency which was viable while bigger countries could not have a national currency.”
According to him, national development is never completed at any stage and independent minded people will judge him right.
Commenting on the award, Jawara said, he was overwhelmed when the news was broke-out to him. “Like I said, I was inundated with telephone calls. I thank News and Report for selecting me ‘Person of the Year 2010’. It is an honour.”
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