Thank you Mr President for not only listening but acting on popular demand to remain impartial during your nationwide tour as it coincides with the NAM political campaign. I have always maintained the best among leaders is he who alerts and avails himself to his people’s needs. It is not disreputable to be alleged of malpractices but been found wanton of blatant maladroitness is detestable and bad leadership. I am not holding brief for you but it is emboldening to see you align yourself with popular demand.
The task of rebuilding a broken, impoverish and bleeding nation is daunting and titanic yet your government must deliver despite being saddled with Goliardic challenges. The political impasse coupled with few missed opportunities and procedural legal blunders had also made delivery of visual progress difficult. Thus, some tested what your government can point at as a manifestation of its achievement since assuming office. If such sceptics are scouting for physical development such as bridges, roads and an airport for Jarra, their bad, such aren’t available. Notwithstanding, successes had been and will continue to be registered. One which quickly springs to mind is a leadership which listens and takes on board its people’s demands. This is followed by the much sought electoral reform which slashed the draconian fees curtailing candidates’ ability to vie for political representation. Additionally, most of the cabinet and other department heads appointments were acclaimed as fitting. However, care and due diligence must be taken to cement these accomplishments with the appointing of a Vice President, introduction of a two-term limit for the presidency, setting of commissions of inquiries to look into truth and reconciliation, asserts of Yaya Jammeh, independent audit of state accounts including all line ministries, thorough reformation of the security services and drawing a sustainable government blueprint which will not only mend broken hearts but rejuvenates the economy, entrenches democracy and usher in sustainable development.
Like Jammeh was admonished, you must also appreciate a state is not administered like a corner shop and/or family affairs. Therefore, to snub popular demand to appoint a Vice President, albeit many are accentuating that there is no constitutional time frame stipulation for its appointment, insinuates an underworld selfish motive. Conversely, Abdou Jallow depicted his annoyance by mirroring the concern of many Gambians: “A government that doesn’t respond to the needs and wishes of its people is soon bound to degenerate into a dictatorship. Meanwhile, the seat of the Vice President is still deliberately left vacant whilst the appointment of political hacks as ambassadors-At-Large proliferate every facet of this coalition government. Our fight wasn’t about disposing a kleptocratic regime only to have it replaced with a leadership that is deaf, dumb and blind to our realities. History is keenly watching and nobody can take Gambians for granted again”.
The UDP has recently being subjected under plethora of attempts to throw it under the bus as a result of its surrogates’ malign tribal and profane politicking. Despite many believing such uncultured views are not representative of the party, it has disfigured its image in many quarters. Yanks Darboe’s admittance on Gainako Radio that UDP needs to appoint a spokesperson who will be speaking on behalf of the party has reassured many that the party actually isn’t synonymous to its surrogates and self-anointed spokespersons crude images. For some also to suggest it is not only the UDP that is guilty as charge and go further to fault others is not helpful. What UDP should concern itself is righting the wrongs committed by its surrogates and carrying out rigorous public relation campaign to revamp its tainted image. Yes, it is the biggest party but that alone doesn’t ascertain victory. The electorates’ trust and confidence must be rekindled to translate the numbers into votes for the party.
I am not a legal luminary but I don’t have to live in Dakar either to know Macky Sall is the President of Senegal. For instance if “a gentleman’s agreement” contravenes laws of a land, should the agreement or contract supersede the law? Similarly, if the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which gave birth to the Coalition 2016 stipulates when its Independent leader wins the presidential election s/he will only serve a 3 years term and the Gambian constitution mandates a 5 years term, should President Barrow honour his MOU agreement and disregard the constitution’s stipulation? Ok for the sake of argument, Barrow agrees to resign after three years there won’t be any presidential election unless the constitution is rectify to create a provision for a fresh presidential election as the constitution abundantly states in such an event the Speaker of the National Assembly assumes the presidential post for the rest of the remaining term. In sum s/he becomes president to the remaining two (2) years of the five (5) years term. Since Pata PJ and I agreed I have lost my marbles, can someone please help me with the logic of President Barrow resigning after 3 years just to allow the Speaker to complete his remaining 2 years as president? Furthermore, will the National Assembly which is not a baby of the MOU be also dissolve as our constitution requires a NAM election 3 months after the presidential? Just asking.
Sulayman Jeng
Birmingham, UK
