He was considered at the time as one of Africa’s longest serving Head of State until his overthrow by the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) headed by the current President, Alhaji Dr. Yayah A.J.J. Jammeh on 22nd July 1994.

He has considerable experience in African politics and he is now in The Gambia treated as an Elderly Statesman.

During the country’s recent 41st Independence Anniversary parade at the 22nd July Square in Banjul, he publicly embraced his successor, President Jammeh; a move considered by most Gambians as a manifestation of true reconciliation.

Sir Dauda Kairaba Jawara and Sayo Kamara

Awareness Times Editor-In-Chief, Sayoh Kamara caught up with him at his residence along Atlantic Road in Bakau for a one-on-one interview. During the interview, Sir Dauda threw light on the reason for his long stay in power and laid emphasis on the need for political tolerance among African politicians in the interest of their respective countries and people.

Although Sir Dauda is of age now, in this interview, he demonstrated his astuteness and high sense of the political climate in Africa as well as how potential volatile situations can be averted by politicians across the continent. Please read on:Awareness Times (AT): Thank you very much Sir for the opportunity to talk to the Awareness Times Newspaper from Sierra Leone. Sir, the Gambia has just observed its 41st independence anniversary. How do you feel? How do you see The Gambia 41 years on?Sir Dauda: Well, I feel very good (laughs…)

When I took part in the celebrations on the 18th, marking the 41st year of our independence, I felt great. It took me back to the actual day when we had our independence from Britain in 1965. I was very proud of the day and my participation in the celebration along with the government and people of this country. Yes it was a feeling of pride over the attainment of independence and the ways things were carrying on in the country. It also marks 41 years of peace and stability in the country, and the good efforts at development.

AT: Since the change of government in July 1994, you’ve been very silent or seem to be silent on The Gambia’s politics. Why the silence?Sir Dauda: If you think I have been silent, it is rather on the contrary. But when I was invited by the President to return from my self imposed exile at the end of 2001, I came home several months later in 2002, and considering myself as an Elderly Statesman, I decided to be neutral … I mean to withdraw from party politics, withdraw from active party politics and assume the role of an Elderly Statesman. In this status, I am ready to perform any task that may be assigned to me either nationally or regionally in a non partisan basis.

AT: You were very visible during this independence anniversary. You were seen with the President and you even embraced him. What is your relationship with the President and now can you relate this with The Gambia’s quest for peace, utility and stability?Sir Dauda: Well, my personal relationship with the President is excellent and we’ve both been looking at it as such. This is because in my view I regard the relationship between government and the opposition to be different only in relation to politics and not with personal relationships.

This was symbolized by my presence at the ceremony on the invitation of the President, as you rightly said we were seen together, I think it will augur well for politics in this country. What we want is an open democratic politics, where opposition in politics should not be physical opposition but rather an opposition based on principles and policies with the political dimension in the interest of the country and the people.

Really, I do believe that opposition in politics should not affect personal relationships. The opposition and government should oppose themselves on lines of principles and policies which should not in anyway affect their personal relationships.

Personal relationships should not be allowed to be destroyed by policies. This should be maintained as normal as possible while the contest takes place in ideas and political pursuits. In this context, I think my personal relationship with the President will augur well for the overall political climate of the country.

AT: Sir, how do you think this example of excellent relationship between you and the President can be of significant to Africa’s overall quest for peace and stability?Sir Dauda: Well, this also applies to the political situation to Africa as a whole. Government and the opposition should not be enemies … physical enemies. However, they are at variance with themselves on policies and style of implementation. They can contest on these ideas – social, economic, and political ideas, then leave the rest for the people to decide whose policies and views they will support.

Other than that, it should not be a personal physical context between the government and the opposition.

So I think what I and President Janneh demonstrated on Saturday (February 18th-Independence Day), is a good lesson not only for The Gambia politics, but for politics on the continent as a whole.

AT: Sir, in your opinion, will you relate the instability along the West African Coast, the Great Lakes and several parts of the African continent to the tension between politicians –the oppositions or ruling parties, or will you relate it to certain policies proffered by certain government that go against the interest of their people?

Sir Dauda: Well, this is a very complex matter really, and this varies from country to country and of course we have more than fifty countries in Africa and the situation is bound to be different from country to country.

But it is very important for our stability and harmony if tolerance becomes the order of the day.

Political opponents should be tolerant towards each other. As I have said earlier on, the issue of politics should not be seen as a physical contest, but a contest based on ideas and policies that each side should put to their people so as to make informed decisions as to which side to choose.

That is what the idea of multi party democracy is advocating, providing different shades of opinions for the people to choose from. Any party with ideas and policies that they think is better for their citizens can come forward and contest in the field of ideas and policies. This is what should be attracted throughout Africa, and it is only through this that we can realize true harmony and peaceful political processes, avoiding a lot of conflicts that we’ve witnessed unfortunately on our continent.

AT: Sir, by July 1994, you were considered as one of the longest serving heads of state. What was it that actually kept you so long?Sir Dauda: Well, again as I have said, multi party politics is all about ideas and policies presented to the people to make informed decisions. Well it happens that my ideas, politics and the way I governed the country was acceptable to the people, and I am sure I could have gone on and on in the free and fair elections that we have ways conducted in the country since independence.

So that is that and in addition to that, the change of government from one party to another would have depended on the choice of the people - like I said, in a free and fair election.

Infact at one stage, I even decided to take a rest and step down - which I declared at the party’s congress. But there were lots of opposition and demonstrations to that decision - this did not only come from my party supporters, but also from certain sections of the society who were not actually supporting me in government, that wanted me to stay. I pondered over this for almost a month and in the end, I gave in. When I stood again for a third term, of course I got a very strong majority in a free and fair election.

But as time went on the, issue of time limit became more and more the accepted principle in politics. As you may be aware, in the UK for instance, there is no time limit for the Prime Minister. Mr. Tony Blair stood for the third term and he goes on.

Margaret Thatcher also could have gone on and on. But nowadays, that idea has changed.

Presidents and Prime Ministers are now required to serve only two terms in office.

However, this has come about by evolution in politics. I want to assure you that if that was the vogue at the time, I would have graciously stepped down to allow for somebody else well before 1994. But that is the idea now and I think it is a good idea that Presidents and Prime Ministers serve for a certain period in office and thereafter step down.

AT: So, would you rather prefer that The Gambia’s constitution be charged to be specific on terms of office for the President?Sir Dauda: Well, I don’t think I want to make any pronouncement on that, I rather leave it to those concerned.

As I have said, I am an Elderly Statesman, retired from active party politics and that will be a very controversial political idea. So I will rather leave that to the current crop of politicians to decide on, or to debate upon if they want to.

AT: Sir, do you feel being treated the way that is deserving of a former President? Sir Dauda: Yes, I am treated with respect and dignity and I think this is how it should be for all former heads of state.

Actually, anyone who has served his or her country as the head, shoulders very heavy socio-economic, political and other responsibilities.

They are a heavy load, and any leader chosen by the people to shoulder those responsibilities and does so and then retires, should be accorded the dignity and respect, and if he or she has more to offer in terms of service to his or her nation or the region should, he or she must be given the opportunity or assisted to do so.

AT: Africa is beset by instability especially the West Africa subregion and the Great Lakes. As a former African Head, and how in your opinion can such situations be resolved or avoided?Sir Dauda: Well, it is an extremely unfortunate situation, I really feel very sad about these developments. But it is a very complex matter and they stem from a combination of causes.

And in Africa, the whole of Africa had been colonized, and in the 50s and 60s was suddenly given freedom to run on own affairs. The continent had been divided into states as carved by the colonial powers. That in itself - the partition that was imposed on Africa, is possible the primary cause of the present day problems because the boundaries cut across tribes, religion and so on - Some to small, some too big and so on. That is definitely one possible cause of the multifarious problems that are causing instability across Africa.

But again one could say that we should have had time to settle down and live together in harmony, which is partly true. But again there are obstacles in the way of that which needs to be looked at in their true context.

AT: Do you see the African Union possibly having the capacity and capability to resolve some if not all of these problems?Sir Dauda: Well, the African Union should be the international body that should come foremost in tackling some, if not all of these problems. But Africa is part of the international community and African problems should be shared by the rest of the international community. The Au should do its utmost in terms of personnel and resources and so on to deal with the many problems that are a cause of instability in Africa. But not necessarily should it be left above in this task. Why not the United Nations? The United Nations is there for all member countries and other countries outside Africa can on a bilateral or multilateral basis also assist, be it the AU, regional organizations or individual countries in addressing these problems in Africa.

AT: Sir now NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development) was actually born after you left office. In your opinion, do you think this initiative is a plausible alternative to Africa’s development aspirations?Sir Dauda: Well, I am not really familiar with NEPAD and its records. I have not been able as at now to follow on what its aims and objectives are, and how they will be able to achieve them. So really, I will reserve judgment on this NEPAD question until I have time to really absorb it, and then I think I can give any considered judgment or opinion if you like.

AT: On a final note Sir, based your experience, what could be your advice to African politicians generally, and particularly to heads of states in the way of carving a way forward for Africa’s peace, stability and development?Sir Dauda: My advice I think to politician in African countries is that, they should be magnanimous enough to bring their issues to the table. Be it pertaining to elections or not so that it can be discussed. This I think will be good for peace, stability and harmony in the respective African countries. They must muster tolerance. They must do away with corruption, they must be very genuine to the development if their respective countries in all aspects of Socio-economic and political spheres.

I can only give such general advice to African politicians. AT: Thank you very much Sir for taking the time to talk to me and I must express gratitude to Mr. Alex de Costa, your Personal Assistance for making this interview possible. Sir Dauda: Thank you too. Its been my pleasure.