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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
 Posted - 28 May 2010 : 16:37:35
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The Gambia at a Cross Road A need for positive change
With Saihou Jammeh
There is no need to be a guru political analyst to diagnose some of the major political predicaments of The Gambia.
It is common knowledge that we are in a country where there is absence of a two-term limit for presidency. The president has also been given power by the deputies to dissolve the parliament coupled with simple majority requirement to win elections amidst citizens being pessimistic about change. This is why I believe that there is more to the story than the public know.
The ruling APRC is trying with main and might to perpetuate itself in power while the opposition is getting weaker and more divided. Any careful observer interested in Gambian politics would notice that some of our prominent political figures involved in the last coalition are now operating in isolation, thereby creating different camps which would not do any good to our political dispensation at this challenging moment of ours. Politics is not an ordinary service. It is the highest stage of participation in the administrative life of society.
The pessimism of the populace has been manifested by voter apathy during the last general election in 2006 after the failure of the coalition designed to uproot president Jammeh from power. The battle is not yet over, in fact tougher now than ever before.
It is therefore the duty of political parties to make people build confidence in them. If people shy away from making change at the right time they become victims of circumstances. This change can be effected by either the ruling party or the opposition depending on which of them is ready to drink from the chalice of sacrifice.
Economy and Survival of the People
Imagine where the majority live under the bread-line standard living in an era where emerged a leader who could dish out money and throw biscuits to the people whom he owes descent life from their share of the national cake created by the taxpayer’s money.
There are three GSM companies making the poor population to believe in gambling as a means of changing their lives drastically. Cash chamber has been introduced, car draw, now a draw for a power tiller and the $1000 draw. All these are targeting poor people who can neither afford their three square meals a day nor pay the fees of their children to be schooled.
The concluding question arises: Which government of moral authority can tell these companies to engage in a more people-centred business than raffling like a lottery company?
The ‘back to the land initiative’ could have been a very productive initiative to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of the people. But the majority of the farmers in the provinces are still using crude tools to engage in backbreaking farming to earn a living and continue to befriend poverty. This does not stop people from storming the Kanilai farm to volunteer on the President’s farm. Then when shall the people be free if a person in a high position like the president should allow citizens from farming communities to toil on his own farm leaving their own. If district farms were established country wide, with the kind of facilities available in Kanilai, farmers could take control and enjoy the benefit of their labour without being servile to a fellow citizen.
On Kanilai International Festival
The Kanilai international festival is believed to be a programme to ‘rediscover the mystical power of our heritage’ by going ‘back to our roots’. Artists and other culturists are participating in the festival in anticipation of cash prizes from the head of state.
It is very important to develop and promote the culture and art of the country, but a different method should have been chosen. There are many Gambian artists; painters, musicians, writers, actors etc who want their works to be produced but many of them find themselves in funny situations when they want to enjoy the benefit of their work. They sing praises to the leader, paint his portrait or write a propaganda story of him and his ‘22nd July Revolution.’ Artists should be free to enlighten the people through their works and portray society with their artistic eyes, minds and hands.
There have been slogans for the eradication of mental slavery during colonialism and still we talk about them. Then what government do we have other than a neocolonialist one?
The Quest for Freedom of Expression and of the Press
Who killed Deyda Hydara? Where are Chief Ebrima Manneh and Kanyiba Kanyi?
Having known the challenges of creating a democratic society, Thomas Jefferson, the primary drafter of the American Declaration for Independence did all he could to make sure the American constitution made provision for freedom of expression and of the press. He wrote: "If I were to choose whether to have a government without a press or a press without a government, I would choose the latter without any moment of hesitation."
It is explicit from the above that trying to muzzle the freedom of expression and freedom of the press cannot be legitimate in any democratic setting.
When Deyda Hydara was murdered in 2004, it was expected a thorough investigation of his murder would be conducted and the culprit/culprits be brought to book. His murder/murders still remain at large. When Chief Ebrima Manneh disappeared in 2006 the state denied having knowledge of his whereabouts until ECOWAS made a ruling in his favour, for him to be released and compensated which is yet to be heeded by the state. Kanyiba Kanyi also disappeared since 2006 without his whereabouts being known or his case investigated by the state.
As the situation unfolds, one wonders whether there is any adviser for our president and if there are what kind of advisers are they. But Jammeh should know that if things go wrong at state level it can go wrong at all levels. If you read what the Qur’an and the Bible say about leaders who rule at their own whimsical desire without taking into account the plight and the rights of their people, you will jump out of your skin and do your leadership home works without waiting for the ringing of any alarm bell.
To be continued
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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