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Momodou
Denmark
11604 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Dec 2010 : 18:19:42
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Foroyaa Editorial: CHIEF JAMMEH AND FOROYAA ON THE KINGSHIP ISSUE
22-12-10
Saturday, 18 December 2010 Chief Queen Jammeh of Upper Nuimi brought the issue of Kingship to the full view of television cameras. He said that the President of the Gambia has shown his commitment to tradition and condemned the systems of the West. He mentioned that Foroyaa has been campaigning that No monarchy could be introduced without the amendment of the Constitution. He expressed his agreement with that view and expressed that they are not ignorant of the provisions of the constitution and are determined to pursue their objectives in line with the Constitutional provisions.
First and foremost, those who truly understand the Constitution in letter and spirit would not campaign for a monarchy. Let us ask Chief Queen Jammeh to explain what is wrong with section 1 subsection (2) of the Constitution which reads: “The Sovereignty of the Gambia resides in the people of the Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of government are to be exercised in accordance with this constitution”
Is there any Gambian in his right mind who would accept such a provision to be amended at a referendum and be replaced with a provision which states that sovereignty resides in the King from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name all powers of government are to be exercised?
In short, instead of electing a President every five years a king will rule for life and be replaced by his children as heirs while every Gambian is reduced to a subject? Is this what Queen Jammeh is campaigning for?
Is this not what was existing under colonialism? Did we not fight for Independence so that we move away from being subjects and become the architects of our own destiny? Which Gambian would go and vote to make his or her children and great grandchildren subjects of their fellow human beings. Those countries which are still monarchies are not in that state because of choice. Their peoples are not subjects because of choice but because of the accident of being born in such countries. If they had their choice they would not be subjects today. We are also confident that few Gambians would pay lip service to the promotion of a monarchy but deep in their hearts they would not accept to be subjects to their fellow human being or spend their last days on this earth toiling and moiling for their children to become the slaves or subjects of their fellow human beings.
It is very clear that there is no traditional base for the chieftaincy in the Gambia since they are appointed and removed by the Head of State. Chiefs have no security of tenure. They could be removed in the split of a second.
It was in 1920 that the Gambian leaders of the liberation movement started to struggle for representative institutions. The slogan “no taxation without representation” implies that those who pay tax should have the right to elect those who are to manage it on their behalf. This is the foundation of Democracy. There is nothing foreign in having authority to choose who should be entrusted with one’s properties. If there is any Gambian who is ignorant of this fact we should consider our education system and political system failures.
Now that the campaign for a monarchy is still on we at Foroyaa will also intensify our campaign to nip it in the bud.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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