"It is high time for Gambians to learn how to say “am sorry” where they go wrong."
==================================================== By Madi M.K. Ceesay - September 7, 2018
What is going on now on social media platforms tantamount to hate speech and should therefore stop. The unfortunate tribal insults being traded among Gambians should stop as a matter of urgency. If nothing is done about it, the country can slip into serious chaos with possible genocidal consequence. The unfortunate trend of citizens trading insults on tribal lines should be condemned by all and sundry and then life moves on. The insults of one particular tribe by a member of another tribe started off recently by one Ablie Saine a former member of the National Assembly for the APRC political party representing one of the Banjul constituencies. However, APRC as a political party quickly disassociated itself from the former member of the National Assembly saying the party has nothing to do with the statements expressed by Mr. Saine. The Daily News commends the maturity displayed by the APRC party for their quick and professional respond and the manner it handled this uncultured behaviour of their former National Assembly member. The tribal insults over the social media are becoming a cause for concern. The issue has gone viral and people of all kind from different parts of the country and the world at large are now trading very terrible insults against each other and against one tribe and the other; this is a very unfortunate thing to happen to the Gambia a country of religion and morality. What is happening is uncalled for and the way it is going viral; make it even more dangerous for us as a nation. The nature it is going, is not telling well for us as a nation. The insults are un-Islamic and against our culture and in our being as a nation. If the trend continues like this the Gambia as a nation can only be a loser as where it will lead us to will be one of losing our peace. What is being peddled is hate speech and hate speech is dangerous and can easily lead us to a situation of crises. The media and all other stake holders including religious groupings, academics and teachers should all use their various platforms and preach against this horrible trend of hate speech. The newspaper columns, their editorials and other commentary columns should be use to preach against this hate speech. The arrest, detention and subsequent charging of former APRC law-maker is a right thing but cannot solve the problem in its entirety. The police are commended for their action but the larger community need to do a lot of sensitization and urge citizens to calm down and immediately stop the insults over the social media. Gambians should know that the Rwandan genocide was as a result of hate speech and if the Gambia did not want to have a Rwandan situation, then what is going on now must stop immediately. Government and other stakeholders must do all it takes to put a stop to the trading of insults going on over the social media. One important thing that may help in cooling off tension is for Ablie Saine to come out public and apologise to the nation and openly express regret over the hate speech he recently sparked off in the Gambia. It is high time for Gambians to learn how to say “am sorry” where they go wrong.
TRIBAL insults should stop.
Posted - 07 Sep 2018 : 19:30:44
