Editorial: Are Gambians Ready For A Leadership Succession??

Are Gambians  ready for a proper succession of leadership in the event of Yahya Jammeh’s demise?  Who is going to replace Jammeh? Will business be normal as it used to be after the departure of Jammeh?  Will relative peace be guaranteed? Will there be recriminations, and witch hunting? Will the military stay in the barracks? These are pertinent questions, which required  urgent answers. Whatever, the case might be, it appears that we are not fully ready to overcome the upcoming challenges.

Our people are preoccupied with an unnecessary bickering. The country has been divided. There is hatred, and distrust everywhere. No one wants to admit responsibility for the current predicaments,  we are going through as a nation.

Yahya Jammeh’s replacement should be of great concern to all and sundry. We do not want to effect change, for the sake of effecting change, without understanding the rationale behind such a change. Change of leadership is a good thing, but restoring public confidence into a failed state is another thing.

As Gambians, we should start strategizing regime change succession programs in  order to avoid blood bath in our dear motherland. For this to happen, we need to have the active participation of the intellectual community, civil society, the media, and professional organizations. 

For a kick start, we need to educate the masses about the realities of change. There is also the need to forgive, and forget. APRC supporters, Government workers, and families of Yahya Jammeh should not be antagonized, or persecuted because of their past ties with Jammeh.

We should allow the rule of the law to prevail.  Those accused of corruption, and gross rights violations should face the full scale of law. They should be afforded the right to a fair trial, without any intimidation.

That said, there is also absolute need for national security reforms. Be it the police, the army, and the NIA should be restructured to meet international standards. These security agencies,  should develop close relationship with the community-without any suspicion, or fear, as it obtained in today’s Gambia. The public should be able to relate with the NIA, the army, or the police without having the fear of being harassed, or jailed.

The culture of impunity should ceased.  Members of the security forces should be properly trained about basic policing, human rights, and press freedom.

The post Jammeh era needs a serious Truth, and Reconciliation Commission.  Gambians should be able to bury their respective differences, and rebuild their country.  There shouldn’t be any blame game after Jammeh’s demise. We must move on, and embrace each other. 

In as much as we despised Yahya Jammeh, it is our ardent belief that he should  be used  to head the farming unit at Janjangbureh prison. He has proven to be a good farmer over the years.  Perhaps, Jammeh can help us realize,  the nation’s much talked about food security. This is no jokes. We are dead serious about this.

Finally, we call on our people to start working on Jammeh’s replacement. We do not want to have another idiot at the State House. The Gambia needs a sincere, dedicated and matured leader.