SOOTHSAYER  I see a dark-complexioned woman, eyes glittery-white!

        JAMMEH   (Recollecting himself) Is she a threat yet?

SOOTHSAYER  To what?

        JAMMEH   To Me, Zeinab, Muhammed, and Mariam. And then Gambia!

SOOTHSAYER  (Struggling to hide a chuckle) Your Lordship, I frequented the dales of wisdom and dinned with sages of the unseen. None has yet dismissed the apothegm that “Yahya shall never be vanquished until Kanilai woods march to Nyambai Forest.” This, the Sphinx of Kansala himself a signatory to. For he only assumes tidings of those born to rule.

         JAMMEH (Delighted) The bowels of this heart shall exult tonight! You’re too close to an abode in Brufut Gardens, a Toyota Suv, and coy damsels from Cassamance. But do say more about the dark-complexioned woman. Is she Fatou Camara?

SOOTHYSAYER (Brandishes a cow-tail and gawks at the heavens) Who’s Fatou Camara?

           JAMMEH (Riled) You better know Fatou Camara – or not only that house in Brufut and the Toyota, but your breath shall abide no further. Aren’t you supposed to know everything?

SOOTHSAYER (Disturbed) Aaaahhh! Fatou Camara! I also know Lang Tombong Tamba, Musa Jammeh, and Chief Manneh!

(A ghost appears which the soothsayer can’t see. Jammeh disengages, jittery with unease)

           JAMMEH (To ghost) Who are you? Koro Ceesay? Tell Chief Manneh guilt can’t be manufactured! Adieu! I’ve been too wary of the preternatural, immortal intruder!

   SOOTHSAYER (Clearly perturbed) Your Lordship at any whit of ease? Who’s Chief Manneh?

           JAMMEH (Abstracted) I’m, but sworn to the thickest of might! Adieu! This combustible creature of light! Yahya Shall never be vanquished until Kanilai Woods march to Nyambai Forest. And ye intangible tyrant, for the Dickens, woods don’t move. Do they?

    SOOTHSAYER (Struggling) Your Lordship! Your Excellency! H.E! Dr! Professor! Nasseeru Deen! Field Marshal! Poet! Cartoonist! Curer of HIV/AIDS!

            JAMMEH (Grabs soothsayer’s cow-tail. Ghost still maintains a presence) Silence! Soothsayer! When did I commission the other titles?

SOOTHSAYER Which one?

        JAMMEH Cartoonist! Poet!

SOOTHSAYER My apologies flow too superfluous.  I’ve forgotten which to pick from the most revered of nomenclature.

(Ghost disappears)

        JAMMEH Come closer, Soothsayer!

SOOTHSAYER (His fear swells) Yessssss! Most venerated Sir!

        JAMMEH I love Gambia at heart!

SOOTHSAYER The birds can attest to that.

        JAMMEH  I built high schools, universities, hospitals, roads, cured barrenness, and invented Facebook. Where did I go wrong?

SOOTHSAYER (Relieved) Soothsayers seldom spew opinion. They only prognosticate.

        JAMMEH   Then spew opinion this hour.

SOOTHSAYER Gambians are afraid. Prophets were criticized. Even Allaah let Satan express his difference when he refused to prostrate. Why do you want everyone to agree with you? Why do you consider dissent a sacrilege? Don’t you feel heavy seeing Gambians fear?

        JAMMEH   I’m not aware Gambians are afraid.

SOOTHSAYER Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) tolerated dissent. Omar Ibn-Al-Khataabh, during his tenure, would quietly patrol the streets at night to listen to citizens’ complaints. Prophet Dawood (AS) used to mask himself and enquire from the public about his rule until an ordinary citizen once posited, “Dawood is a good man, but has only one problem: He lives on the donations and contributions from people.” Remember, Dawood was a king and prophet. Hearing this, he prayed to Allaah to endow him with something he could live on. Allaah mentioned in the Qur’aan how He blessed Dawood with the art of moulding iron into any shapes for coats of armor and other uses. If Dawood stifled opinion or dissent, do you think he’d have benefitted from that ordinary soul’s feedback?

        JAMMEH (Harangued)   I don’t know!

SOOTHSAYER It’s up to you, Your Lordship, to weigh the gains and losses of your emergence in the midst, and for the mirth, of those you claim to serve. No one forced you to rise. Did any? Real leaders don’t seek power. And once it’s thrust into their hands, they’re eager to dispense with it. It’s been almost twenty years, Mr. President. Tell me I’m wrong!

        JAMMEH You also work for America and England, don’t you? Are you really a soothsayer?

SOOTHSAYER I trumpet not that which only soothes thee, but piques the conscience beneath thine robes.

        JAMMEH Do you know you can die at an impulse?

SOOTHSAYER I know I’m, but an atonement. My presence had already lamented my coming absence. Do what pleases thee, for this soul hath long considered an immolation.

        JAMMEH I’ll spare you.

SOOTHSAYER I pronounce not its begging.

        JAMMEH Talk to me about America, Democracy, and Taiwan.

SOOTHSAYER The ghost my frame will morph into hath potential to announce those answers.

        JAMMEH I said I’d spare thee! Hark!

SOOTHSAYER I shall beg at your feet not the weight of those words, but the sweetness of Gambians’ liberty, freedom of expression, and choice of association!