Kinteh
Conflicts are by nature inevitable in human interactions and a guiding element that also serves as a mirror to recall us from the brink of self destruction as a result of our words and actions. These perennial conflicts can be inflamed or discouraged very early on before it comes to open fore.
The author mentioned that the governor of NBR has ruled for a settlement that goes diametrically contrary to the habits and customs of imamship regulations in the Gambia – not only in Baddibou. Being the unelected representative of the regime in NBR, he is the direct stooge of a regime that has voiced an open desire to strangle opposition anywhere where dissent could emerge. In Baddibou, to my knowledge, Salikene is such a place. Sheriff Dibba [former Vice President, Speaker of Parliament and opposition leader] hailed from there and I think they were once the rulers of Baddibou or played crucial role in the formation of that region as we know it today (I solicit correction from anyone with knowledge about badinbung [house of relatives]).
Hitherto there is a strong interest in the part of regime to inhibit the potential this village or people from there have. The method of the governor to settle this conflict is a clue to me that they have a hand in sowing discord.
Otherwise, they would just leave it to the village people to solve problems locally without coming fort with a preordained settlement that is bound to plunge the village into further turmoil. In other words, keep the village in perpetual crisis so that they won’t have time to attend to real problems facing the country. Among which, is to demand for the unconditional release of Lamin Dibba (UDP Executive ) who is a native of that village.
I believe that there is a grand plan behind the conflict unknown to the participants serving as proxies.
Background or possible identical political interventions in Salikene’s communal affairs:
There is also another story relating to the alikaloship in Salikene. According to a friend of mine, the longstanding tradition was that the Dibba’s put up the alikalos (very usual in many villages). But the last transfer was sabotaged by the regime, when they installed Mr. Kanteh as alikalo even though the old Alikalo Dibba was still alive and reigning. Salikene people kept their allegiance to the old Alikalo until his death. Meaning dual alikaloship was practiced in the village until the demise of the old Dibba. After his death, Mr. Kanteh consolidated his power base and silenced every remaining source of usurpation of the role through the lineage, in collusion with the governor (s) as stooges of the regime. Because the regime still has scores to settle with the village or more appropriately the Dibba Kunda clan.
PS. I am not a Salikene person nor a descendants of the village. So if my narration from a source I found credible, should be found “wide off the mark”, so do I solicit corrections to put the records straight for everyone’s benefit.
Ends
Since jammeh came to power, everything started going down hill in our dear nation…..
We need a serious deep reflection of our selves and what went wrong so very badly for our nation to end up this.way
Kawaku….
The image of terror is crookedness, malignancy and hypocrisy. Many good people’s images are lovely(not beautiful) even in the pictures.
giggle it low!
The governor was bribed.
He wants Alh Omar to be the imam of our village but be careful jammeh regime will soon collapse Fa Illo is our imam for almost two decades.He has the knowledge character friendly so I think is all about of capable to lead us. All the 12 clans in salikenni are behind him God bless Salikenni .
Manjou can u kindly tell us how the governor was bribed,wer u an eye witness during the bribery or did u jst heard it.let us know that as well
first of all i would like to thank the author of the above article for highlighting the plight and victimization of the people of Salikenni socially, politically and economically by Yaya Jammeh for 22 years.
It is very true that the Dibba or Cha Kunda clan of Salikenni played a very important role in shaping the political landscape of the region called Badibou {Badinbung}. The Dibbas became political rulers in the 1900s, but the original and traditional founders and rulers of Badibou are the Marong Clans from Jajari.
Another correction I want to make is that the Dibba Kunda Alkalo is still alive and kicking, his Alkaloship was politically disrespectfully seized from him to the rejection of the entire village yet still the villagers refused to accept or acknowledged APRC Alkalo imposed on them.
The Dibba Kunda Alkalo was Ba Kawsu Dibba, an uncle to Lamin Dibba, jailed UDP administrative secretary.