EDITORIAL: THE AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTIONS WILL DECIDE GAMBIA’S FUTURE!

The political euphoria is tense in Banjul ahead of the country’s Presidential elections due in one week time. Presidential candidates are touring the length, and breath of the country reaching out to electorates about their parties programs and policies if voted into office.

Despite our ailing governance record, coupled with the “compromised Independent Electoral Commission” which toes on  the dictates of the dictator Yahya Jammeh, one could safely argue that this year’s State House race is a contentious one—given the fact there are three solid candidates vying for the position of the Presidency.  These are patriotic Gambians, who are committed to the welfare of the nation, with the exception of  our “little President” Yahya Jammeh, to borrow Lobbyist John Aycoth’s expression, who thinks that the Presidency is another avenue to pursue his sheer greed.

Mr. Jammeh has been a liability to The Gambia and her people. He spends the past seventeen years on misplaced economic, social, and political priorities to the detriment of the impoverished nation.  He has undermined almost all the sectors of development in the country—with Jammeh transforming the nation as his personal property.  

It’s only in The Gambia that you will find a head of state competing with the private sector in terms of E-commerce, retail, wholesale, import/export, and other profit making business ventures.

 Mr. Jammeh is too busy pursuing his business ventures. He doesn’t have time to run the country. That’s why he is out of tune with the realities on the ground. He is a typical businessman; a conscious one for that matter.

That said, it’s imperative to note that Mr. Jammeh’s lack of understanding about the basic tenets of governance , and the demanding nature of the position entrusted to him by Gambian electorates, to some extent had rendered this country into a state of failed state.  He has neglected the country  for his own selfish interest. 

Mr. Jammeh, as an individual, he is a very  successful business entrepreneur, but sadly The Gambia, and her people are stagnant in terms of development.  Development stops at Mr. Jammeh and his cohorts.

The average Gambian cannot afford one decent meal a day, while unemployment and other tropical diseases are on the rise.

There is no future for Gambians under Jammeh’s rule. It’s a class welfare state; in which few individuals are deciding the fate of the country.  This is a country in which corruption and gross rights abuses are at its best.

In real sense, there is no elections in The Gambia. The verdict has been delivered, and Jammeh is the announced winner, per the electoral conspiracy reached between Mustapha Caroyol, and Jammeh.  The opposition should stop fooling itself. There is no way that they can win the polls under such fraudulent electoral environment.

It’s not a bad idea to participate in the elections, but it should not stop at that. There should be unanimity among opposition parties to reject the election results. If it means protesting until dictator Jammeh steps down, it’s worth doing because accepting another five years of Jammeh’s rule spells doom and disaster for the country.  This man has nothing to offer on the table. His regime had brought untold suffering, economic nightmare, humiliation, and destitution for Gambians.

There is also nothing wrong with the opposition advocating for a peaceful change of Government. It has happen in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. Now is the time to pressurise the regime to consider an exist route. 

President Jammeh appealing for orderly and peaceful elections is not the solution. He has done so much harm and destruction in this country. It will take us decades to repair the damage!

Mr. Jammeh should resign in the interest of peace, stability, and tranquillity. Trying to exploit the hospitality and magnanimity of Gambians in the form of appeasing the disenchanted population will not save him from going. The general consensus among meaningful and peace loving Gambians is: Without a change of leadership the country’s future is doomed. Gambians want to see you go President Jammeh. 

You can avoid any form of instability in The Gambia; provided that you are committed to putting the nation’s interest ahead of your own personal interest.  You can take a wise decision now Mr. President by stepping down or at least announce a unity Government before pro democracy forces will knocks at your door.

There is no way that you can survive a national uprising! The forces working against the downfall of your regime outnumbered the folks you considered as your di-heart loyalists. You will be shocked to see the army, police, NIA, and other security apparatus in the country joining the protesters demanding for change.  That day is nearing!

The country has reached  a point that everyone is pissed off! Many will pretend to be with you, but in reality they do not support your Government. That’s why you are making last minute U turn to recall folks that you had fallen out with it in the past.

Recalling Yankuba Touray, Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay, Nyimasatta Sanneh Bojang, and others will not change the general public perception about your regime Mr. Jammeh.  No one likes you today in The Gambia. It’s the same “Nyakapehea” as the wollofs called it that’s why Yanks and co are responding to your call to help rescue your sinking regime. These people have had enough of your betrayal schemes (Jamfa).  There is no way that they will be loyal to you. 

Since your regime forces people to attend its rallies, Yanks and co had no alternative, but to respond to your call for help. Mind you: the dirty tribal card that you are busy trying to spew will not succeed in appeasing  the Mandingka voters.  Gambians are now familiar with your dirty tricks.

Each time that you are in trouble, you would want to use Mandinkas as a “front” to pursue your growing appetite for power.  Without the Mandinkas, there is no Yaya Jammeh. You power base is mainly from the Mandinka voters, and this is the tribe that you hates  to see prevail in The Gambia.  

Lamin Kaba Bajo, an intelligent fellow, and also a God fearing Gambian should be cautious about his dealings with Jammeh.  Mr. Bajo, you have been playing low profile since your reinstatement and continue to do so. Do not make statements during the tour that will live to hunt you after the fall of Jammeh.  Gambians respect you, and do not shake the confidence bestowed on you by the silent Gambian community.

Mr. Bajo, you will agree with us that Yaya Jammeh is in the business of treating Gambians as guinea pigs. This is evident on the composition of his Government.

By the way, how many times have you been hired and fired Mr. Bajo? How about Yanks Touray? How about Fatou Jahumpa Ceesay? The list goes on and on. This man is not sincere at all. He blames his colleagues when things goes wrong. Jammeh never takes responsibility for his shortcomings, or blunders he perpetrates daily in the country. 

As far as Jammeh is concerned, he is Mr. Perfect. He apportions blame against folks like you. He turns around to knock your heads together by playing the role of a hypocrite. How many times has Jammeh invited you Mr. Bajo to the State House, or other Ministers telling them to be careful of Minister X, Y or Z?  The sooner the individual leaves the state house Jammeh will pick up the phone and call the very person he has been bad mouthing to be wary of his colleagues.

This is typical of a mentally challenged dictator like Jammeh, who thinks that the only way he can command a total grip of the country is by dividing its people. In other words, he shows seeds of distrust among Gambians.

The aftermath of the November polls will no doubt determine the future of The Gambia. It’s up to Gambians to rise up and say NO to dictatorship, or go down for the rest of their lives with this monster.  The choice is yours Gambia! Act now and free the country from Jammeh's misrule!

The author can be reached by E-mail at: panderrymbai@gmail.com  Editor M'Bai can also be reached by phone at: Tel: 919-749-6319