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Did President Obama really award President Yahya Jammeh?
Saturday, 18 September 2010 17:12
By Kemo ChamWhen Fatima Jabbi invented a story last July in praise of President Yahya Jammeh, it was considered as a record breaking performance in what has become a trendy show of competition for his ‘benevolent’ attention.
You will be forgiven if you see us as envious on seeing this headline; we really do understand that constant questioning of the authenticity of
some one’s every achievement suggests exactly that. Much more so an award (from the US president) Yahya Jammeh may have fancied for so long despite his pretentious loathing for the Western world. And considering the frequency of his awards – (for now at least 2 PhDs, 1 professorship, the venerable Islamic title of Sheikh, not to mention his supposed distinguished military service record, as attested to by his rank on retirement) and most probably the many more to come, Jammeh’s opponents have a long way to go in trying to ascertain the legitimacy of such honors. The reason being that it is quite clear now that it is not only Gambians who are competing for his attention, but also outsiders are.
But I guess this is a noble thing to do if you are doing it with the utmost intention of loyalty to your nation. By that I mean despite my estranged feelings for Jammeh, and regardless of his excessively unconventional attributes, he is the president of the country I call my home. I am convinced even Lawyer Ousainou Darboe does recognize that; who am I not to?
But do they not say the leader is a reflection of his people? Then any attempt to ridicule Gambia through Yahya Jammeh’s unbridled gullibility will surely attract my attention. And I expect so in every other Gambian, both at home and abroad, supporter of his or not.
Jammeh’s frequent display of his comic side impact more on Gambia as a nation than they do to his person. I vividly remember being mocked by a fellow journalist (although she meant it as a joke) in South Africa in 2008, for Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS cure discovery.
Well, apparently even Yahya Jammeh himself, as convinced as he is in his cure, is aware of the pitfalls involved. He alluded to this as he received some of the most important awards in his life as president; that is if a report on the Friday, September 17, 2010 edition of the Daily Observer is anything to go by. Out of four awards, two were said to have come from the White House in Washington DC.
As a journalist, I expect you to understand my curiosity to take stock of such a remarkable achievement, as it were, by the president of my country. Unfortunately, however, my discovery was as astounding as it was shocking. Despite its recently introduced faster searching technology, not even Google could make my research any easier.
Well, there is actually the ‘President's Volunteer Service Award’, but no such thing as 'President's Volunteer Call to Service Award'. And if you click on the link above you will need no one to explain to you what is presently in your mind. Similarly, unless it has been recently tailor-made for Yahya Jammeh, the Presidential Champions Platinum Awards, which the Daily Observer referred to as ‘Platinum Award 2009 by President Barrack Obama’, is actually meant for sporting people.
So, how did these awards come about? Is this some kind of expensive joke on Gambians or is it an attempt to exploit a president with a painfully unappeasable obsession for recognition?
As a matter of fact, the question we should be asking is what is wrong with the State House officials who are supposed to be vetting these kinds of things?
Interestingly, I found it fascinating that until now, I did not know that President Jammeh had an additional executive portfolio outside Gambia, as vice president of the International Parliament for Safety and Peace (IPSP), whose officials, as amusing as their organization is, presented his award to him on Thursday.
Does Yahya Jammeh really surf the net? Or is he just being deliberate in calling for unnecessary attention?
Anyway, the baffling thing about this whole ridiculous saga is its connection with President Obama. Not to suggest that Jammeh doesn’t deserve a US presidential award, but certainly not in this manner. Not awards meant for ordinary Americans. The office of the president, regardless of our size as a nation, deserves better.
Assuming the rather adventurous Obama indeed decided to defy every American value, which would mean Thursday’s award for Jammeh was indeed genuine, you will cease to rejoice as soon as you take a look at the list of previous awardees by this incongruous organization with a history of repellent leadership - Lansana Conte of Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and Omar Bongo of Gabon.
Now you guess what these men have in common.
Already, Pa Ndery Mbaye of the Freedom Newspaper has done quite a job on the Nebraska Governor’s Award.
Is this really the source of Jammeh’s feeling of vindication?
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Comments
Isn’t it intriguing that Jammeh feels envious of people who are supposed to envy him for all he has – the most powerful president in the whole world with no opposition at home. This is no exaggeration.
I can’t imagine even the newly crowned tyrant in East Africa, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, saying that to Rwandans. And there are very many outdated heavy handed leaders around the world who would think twice before saying something along those lines... But here we are, having been told already that there is no need for elations, we appear indifferent to that.
And like Badara’s link, this link too: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Parliament_for_Safety_and_Peace) will give you an idea as to how this IPSP is viewed by the rest of the world. These are the people occupying the attention of our leadership with such a magnitude! It’s really disheartening.
SOmething must be done; e must go. Enough is enough! What a joker, for God's sake!
NO Wonder he said he will die to "protect" Gambia. Which “awaken” country in Africa can he get away with such a blatant deception of the people. ONLY IN GAMBIA.
I also check Badara's links and Google about this Armenian/Iranian DR. Nesser Heydarian, you will be amaze by the type of organisations this man presides over.
Pa Jammeh envy people, be it money, education, fame, etc. On GRTS, he said on he was being mock as a sergeant and vows all will one day salute him..see youtube 112233444821 channel.
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