By Dibba Chaku
It has become apparent that one thing that continues to reverberate in President Barrow’s ears is the notion that he and his administration are the ones that allow freedom of expression and politicking in our new dispensation, and this is far-fetched. Mr. President is being ill-advised that the presumed autocratic powers that his predecessor had and used to stifle dissent and abrogate the rights of Gambians are the same powers at his disposal. Hence the recent premonition that political agitators on the other side of the aisle will be barred from navigating the political landmines after the December polls in which he is anticipating victory. Will this be the beginning of the erosion of democratic principles, or is it just an incumbent drenched in a pool of paranoia trying to resuscitate a re-election agenda that appears to be on life support? Either way, democracy appears to be in danger.
Should we remind Mr. President that the freedom that Gambians are enjoying today was not conceived and born within three months? Matter of fact, it had a twenty-two-year gestation period that ravaged families, consumed lives, incapacitated many, exiled others, disenfranchised a lot, and irreversibly changed lives. So, when the Gambian people voted for change in 2016, it was not because we saw a would-be quintessential leader in Adama Barrow. Instead, we knew we had a situation that decelerated from bad to severely messed up, and that the status quo could not be allowed to continue in perpetuity. That was a common denominator that bound us together as a unifying force to take on a dictator who thought his military might and spiritual capabilities were enough fortification against all forces. This freedom of ours was never given to us on a silver platter, it was earned and will be safeguarded against usurpation.
It is my fervent belief that the powers vested in Mr. President today will be the exact same powers that he will have after the December polls should he win the elections. So why wait until December to use those powers? If they are advising you that you have both manpower and firepower to stifle dissent, why not act now? You can go ahead and instruct your Inspector General of Police to start dancing to your music if the choreography is indeed lively. It would be interesting to see if the IG and his men will be coerced to stifle dissent by any means necessary as a way of appeasing their commander-in-chief who is now averse to multiparty democracy and dissenting views. Watching that crowd erupt in a clapping frenzy as Mr. President vows to stop political opponents from holding rallies and other political activities after the December polls is just mind-boggling.
A great writer once wrote that “the mind is a powerful force. It can enslave us or empower us. It can plunge us into the depths of misery or take us to the heights of ecstasy. Learn to use the power wisely.” Do not be misguided by those who know better, but just will not do better like they have done when your predecessor was at the mantle of leadership in The Gambia.
