What Happended to Banjul? Part III - Banjul, Our Banjul

Photo courtesy of http://www.bradtguides.com

The aborted Banjul Mayoral debate that was to have taken place recently is another painful reminder of how we, Banjulians, betrayed the city we claim we love, by abandoning it for the Kombos. Our 'kerri chosan' thankfully has undergone extensive renovation. Thanks to my nephews and nieces, naturally all living abroad, for making it possible. It has always been occupied by members of the family and, I hope, it ways will. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of many compounds that have been abandoned. Crumbling or collapsed homes that were once the pride of the city litters the Banjul landscape thus providing additional habitat for the mean Banjul mosquitoes that Momodou Ndow described in his revealing and excellent pieces about the city. His great-great-great grandfather will be very disappointed with him for abandoning the city that has been good to the Ndow family as it has been for the Sanneh family. 

The city will not be saved by the resident of Kanilai who sees Banjul as a place to coerce its residents into keeping the APRC in power. I do not expect him to do anything that will revive a once thriving hub of an up-and-coming economy driven by an equally thriving agricultural sector. After all why save a city that will compete with Kanilai for the title of the premier Gambian city. Jammeh's strategy is to keep promising Bajulians an urban renewal program that never materializes for votes that always do. He is at it again by denying Samba Faal permission to face the electorate in a debate with the opposition candidates that would have revealed Jammeh and the APRC of having no plans for the city. Government policy appears to be to develop Kanilai into the capital of the country which makes little sense. Because it makes no sense, it will be promoted by Jammeh. That has been our experience with Jammeh and the A(F)PRC. 

The onus is now on us, led by Grand Marshall Momodou Ndow, to start the gentrification movement to save the city that we all claim to love. The residents of Banjul have been shafted, and left holding the bag one too many times by politicians who do not even live in the city. The one genuine Banjul resident and an Independent who won election fair and square was hounded out of office by Jammeh and the APRC. They managed to exile a once promising politician. The bright aspect of this unfortunate saga is that Pa Sallah Jeng is young enough to return and reclaim his rightful place in Gambian politics. That said, it is evident that those who live in the city do not have a say in the way their city is run. They are not even considered deserving of a mayoral debate to listen, and accorded the opportunity to ask questions about candidates' plans and proposed programs for dealing with the daunting issues facing them as residents. Banjul can be saved. Do not tell me it cannot be done. Ouagadougou was in worse shape in the 1980s than Banjul is today but you can hardly tell by looking at the Ouaga of today. Get on with it Momodou Ndow. Lead the charge.