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Government(s) all over the world possess similar state managerial organs; these state pillars are no other thing than the three arms of government and their existence and consequentiality in a state are inexhaustible. It is apparent that these institutions work hands in gloves towards the creation of a nation built on the strong values of justice, accountability, transparency, separation of powers and the presence of checks and balance systems. Notwithstanding, institutional checks and balances does not advance the idea of one organ meddling into another’s affairs. But sardonic it is today that this has become an evident feature of most developing countries within the ECOWAS sub-region and by extension, a pandemic that has dared the indigenes of continental Africa with the Gambia inclusive. In principle, the executive ought not to befriend any arm of government triggered by the motive of silencing them. But to my astonishment, the premiering movie that caught the sights of all Gambians had something contrary to showcase before the public eye.
It would be futile learning a lesson from an attempt by one arm of the government intimidating another by citing countries beyond our bounds when we just concluded experiencing a one organ hegemonic system under the governorship of the former regime. For 22years, we have seen how Jammeh and his government used different means of corrupting and silencing our Assembly for his individual interest. This is what led us to perpetual corruption for 22years, this is what rendered us brutalised for 22years, this is precisely what frustrated and made us demand for a leadership turnover.
Reflecting from these encounters executed by the former regime, I guess it should be a lesson to my fellow compatriots that would further embolden us in averting the emergence of a tragic administrative reoccurrence. The national Assembly and its members serve as the hope and aspirations for the citizens of a country; they represent us and engender laws and regulate socio-political and economic issues that define and determine our lives through the influencing of the executive arm of government in order to give birth to an apt and popular leadership as the primary wish of the governed. Parliaments represent the eye of the blind and the voice of the voiceless and if this people accept to be bribed and corrupted, then we will be doomed as a nation.
Every observant Gambian who is cognizant of the political unfolding of this country will side with me that several attempts designed to marge the executive with the legislative house has been made in the form of offers from Barrow (executive) to the National Assembly. we have seen him offer vehicles to them whose sources yet remain anonymous and it was the responsibility of the parliament to question the vehicles and where they came from and for what purpose were they given. it was unfortunate that this could not happen because the National Assembly representatives who ought to hold Barrow and his cabinet to account were part and parcel of the scene. Furthermore, an intriguing revelation of similar nature continue to surface as allegations of offering special allowances of D10,000 to National Assembly members trend across the country. What does this insinuate? Possibly, the succeeding gifts may be compounds and the rationale behind these offers must be unraveled. By all indications, this is another attempt to bribe, corrupt, silence and subject the institution that represents the masses and ensures consistency in checking the engagements and dealings of the executive as well as holding them accountable. This is a threat to our toddling democracy and a retrograde to our development as a nation.
It is crucial to know that president Barrow’s choice of befriending the parliamentarians should be vigilantly looked into as we saw a constitutional review commission being launched recently. We should bear in mind that the laws that they will rebuild and formulate determines our existence and future as people of a nation thus, this process we must ensure that we participate as foremost validators and acceptors of it through our representatives. Consequently, we must not ignore an encroaching matrimonial relationship of which the president sought to establish between these two independent arms of government.
Barrow attempting to extend his corruption to the parliament and its members is unacceptable and should not be accepted by any serious patriotic and genuine member of the Assembly. The National Assembly members must be cognizant of the fact that their job is to question bribes, to combat corruption and not allowing to be prayed by it. We expected better from them than what recently out-shadowed the political limelight of this country.
President Barrow ought to redefine his agenda of self-entrenchment in power and shift his focus to developing this country for a more prosperous and economically secured Gambia.
Omar Saibo Camara,
Political science student,
University of the Gambia.
