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Momodou
Denmark
11681 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Sep 2011 : 14:30:22
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Dailynews Editorial: Despite the Contradictions
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
 Public utterances of a head of state do not obviously represent the private opinion of that particular head of state. In essence, the utterances of a head of state, by virtue of their possible implications, represent the position of a state on an issue in question.
A head of state should therefore at all times make sure that his or her utterances are at least rationally and responsibly thought-out beyond the standards of a reasonable individual being, before blotting them out.
When our own head of state re-iterated in July this year that, ‘neither election nor coup’ will remove him from power; and that he will remain in power as long as he wishes to stay – not when the people wish – he no doubt sent a terrifying message to the electorate.
The timing of that remark was bad. It came barely few weeks after the conduct of the general voter registration exercise by the electoral commission and few months to the November 24 presidential polls.
It is also worth mentioning here that all these developments came few months after the unpopular kingship campaign led by traditional chiefs, who were busy rallying support to transform our hard earned republic into a monarch.
The ‘no election campaign,’ it should however be noted, is familiar in Gambia, particularly in this regime. It could be dated back to the transition from military dictatorship to civilian democratic rule when some so-called opinion leaders deliberately attempted to frustrate our return to democracy.
And the fact that the government of the day never denounced the actions of those so-called opinion leaders nor the traditional chiefs’ could be interpreted that it endorsed the no election campaign.
Despite the contradictions, however, for our head of state to tell the people of North Bank region recently that the practice of staying away from voting is an act of disloyalty to the nation will no doubt imbue confidence in the people to participate in the political life of their country.
The Gambia has been experiencing a worrying trend of voter apathy in all categories of elections ever since our return to multi party democracy.
While this status quo is being largely blamed on fragmented and weak alternative political parties, it is also quiet apparent that the approach of the regime and its leadership towards elections potentially promotes the lackadaisical attitude of the voters.
Indeed, what could one expect from cowed voters when they have a head of state who always remind them of his illegitimate ascending to power and never hesitates in reminding the citizens about it; even after he is said to have legitimised his authority.
Although it is commendable on the part of the regime for creating an ‘independent’ institution that is responsible for elections in the country, nonetheless its approach towards the elections, as well, determines the fairness or otherwise of the process.
We therefore hope that our head of state will not only urge Gambians to exercise their constitutional right to vote, but will tell them that he is prepared to concede defeat if results turn out to be so. This will no doubt imbue confidence in the people to massively vote in the upcoming elections.
Despite the contradictions, you are now talking Mr Head of State.
Source: Daily News
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