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Momodou
Denmark
11740 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Apr 2010 : 16:54:29
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Dailynews Editorial: Our politicians Need To Put Their Houses In Order
The 2011 general elections are fast approaching and yet the writings on the walls are becoming less impressive on a daily basis. One of the opposition party campaign managers is behind bars, and there is a very gloomy political climate looming over the Gambia as a nation. With the sentencing of Femi Peters with no option of a fine, over a permit issue to hold a political rally sends a very strong message.
Since that rally of 24th October 2010 neither the opposition United Democratic Party nor any other opposition party has held a political rally over the period. It is only the ruling APRC party that has been touring every corner of the country. The APRC one could say is already in high gear as far as the 2011 elections are concern. It is not clear to the other parties if the ruling APRC is given permits to hold rallies or not. But what is clear is that they are the only political party that holds meetings using the public address system without hindrance. Is this a fair way of treating political parties in the run up to general elections?
Elections are not only about the polling day. It is far beyond that. From registration of voters to the campaigning period and the counting of votes are all inclusive, these are what make up elections. If one of these links is seriously abused then the whole result is affected.
The opposition in the country has to first and fore most put its houses in order, before they can tackle national issues. They should remember that they are governments in waiting. That is a fact which no body can deny, be it government of the day or any other institution.
Their colleague, Mr. Peters of the United Democratic Party (UDP), is currently serving a one year sentence for holding a political rally without a permit, which crime any other opposition party campaigner can face. Unless the opposition parties in the country do something about it, there is little progress they can make come the 2011 elections. It is a campaign manager today tomorrow it can be a political leader.
Custodial sentence for politicians is becoming a norm in the second republic. Sometime in early 2000, Lamin Waa Juwara, again formerly of the opposition UDP, was sent to jail for six months without an option of a fine for sedition. Over the years there were opposition leaders sent to mile two for periods ranging from one day to months for various reasons. Is this a healthy political environment? Does this tantamount to intimidation? What kind of political environment is being made up?
To make any meaningful head way in the 2011 general elections, our opposition parties must act maturely in the light of the sentencing of Femi Peters. There is what is called an inter-party committee, which we were made to understand met to put heads together and find solutions to the immediate release of their colleague from jail through a presidential pardon.
They could not make any progress, simply because according to our sources the committee could not come up with representatives to meet president Jammeh on the issue. Why? I do not know, but one cannot deny the fact that it was a proposal that religious leaders and other civil society members should lead the group.
Why is it that none of our political leaders is willing to become a member of the delegation to meet president Jammeh? Since the APRC is a member of the inter-party committee and they attended the meeting is an indication that their party boss has given his blessing to the meeting. Why then are politicians shying away from meeting Jammeh face to face on this issue? We want to agree with Lamin Waa that they, the politicians, should be the ones to be part of the delegation to meet Jammeh on the issue. They must take the bull by the horn.
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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