Friday, March 29, 2024

Activists-Turned-Politicians Become Political Gamblers:

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Alagi Yorro Jallow

The Gambia is blessed with a multitude of men and women with lofty mental faculties such as pundits and activists employed in government agencies, private entities or the world of politics where they are given a seat of esteem and power.

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Ergo, it is only right to conclude that our country is equipped with trusted sages whose economic ingenuities, leadership dexterities and spiritual differences​ could gladly put our country at the peak of moral and socio-economic progress in a way where equity and equality transcends according to the “rule of law,” which is the very foundation of democracy.

But, sad to say, those so-called pundits and activists-turned-politicians become political gamblers and power freaks after winning the election; they commit themselves to accruing their campaign loses through the clever use of illegal resources. They take advantage by persecuting their inimical political foes, which is the by-product of sham empathy and fraudulent performances​ in public service. In time, their credibility and integrity will be placed under deplorable criticism because of their grotesque acts of authoritarian control, that is, a despotic shift leading to the “rule of men.” And when we say the rule of men, we mean “tyranny, or despotism, or oligarchy, that is a government of the few.” Any means they use, however unlawful, may be justifiably employed to maintain a strong government, which is characterized by political cunning or bad faith.

Now, by carefully observing how the new government works today, the question is as follows: Are we under the reign of the “rule of law” or under the “rule of men?” And which of the two is the most reliable system for delivering a safe, secure and progressive Gambia?

Remember, “prudence lies in knowing how to distinguish the best between the degrees of justifiability in judging things and in choosing the least justified!”

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Human Rights activists and groups to advance human rights have long been hijacked by self-appointed guardians of the “truth” whose definition of free speech is censoring, shouting down or even physically assaulting those who might disagree.
Hardly surprising that there is a growing backlash. The tragedy though is that the values of true human rights activism have been terribly degraded by these, some malicious, some misguided pretenders. Human rights are not left-wing or right-wing, they are universal. Everyone is entitled to freedom from torture, slavery and has the right not to be imprisoned without a fair trial. I’m glad there are organizations and brave individuals who challenge human rights violations wherever they occur irrespective of political tribalism.

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