The
wind of change that blew from Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Nigeria has now
reached The Gambia, the Smiling Coast of Africa. The Smiling Coast has smiled again on the 2nd
December 2016 for democracy was indeed at work.
We
now celebrate a new era in our beloved Gambia; in this new era patronage never
ever again to surface. Indeed, the adage
that ‘the truth will triumph’ can be amplified in the changes occurring in
Africa.
A
few years back, it was the Arab Spring and at that time while chatting with
some friends, one of them prophesied that the wind of change is blowing and
Africa will not be spared. The prophecy
is being fulfilled, even in The Gambia.
The
Gambia is a blessed country and nobody can destroy the unique way we live: each
other as brother’s keeper. We have lived side by side since time immemorial as
Christians and Muslims, as different tribes who have intermarried into each
other’s families or married as husband and wife – one a Christian and the other
a Muslim.
We
have loved each other and shared the little we have and have always resolved
our differences amicably without hindrance.
We have celebrated our feasts, marriages and christenings together as
one family.
We
have ever lived as cousins – the Badibunka and Kiangkas, the Nuimikas and the
Jarrankas, the Sukutankas and the Gunjurians, the Jolas/Sereres/Fulas etc these
relationships have made The Gambia the envy of many others because we have
lived together in PEACE and HARMONY from the beginning.
Gambians
do not know hatred, violence or any other Satanic vice that can lead to war or
other evil forces in our society. The
true Gambian is harmless and only preaches love and unity.
This
has been our way of life until 22nd July 1994 when we had a change of
government run by a group calling themselves “SOLDIERS WITH A DIFFERENCE”. A very promising slogan but one can equally
say that once a soldier always a soldier.
However,
many Gambians believed in the slogan and gave the soldiers their full support
and loyalty.
The
beginning was rosy – new roads, hospitals, schools, electricity with street
lights everywhere – there was hope and many Gambians believed that those are
indeed soldiers with a difference. What
has happened since then is now history and Gambians are the better judges.
The
wind of change and that of democracy blew into our beloved Gambia on December
2nd, 2016 with the election of a new president.
The whole world was taken aback as the incumbent conceded defeat and
called the victor promising to hand over power in a smooth transition when his
mandate comes to an end.
The
elections were described as free and fair and the best in the world,
rig-free. But the whole world was again
taken aback as the same person who had conceded defeat a week earlier, calling
it the will of Allah, now made a u-turn challenging the results in court
because of some perceived irregularities in the process.
Since
then, many interventions both locally and internationally have been made for a
change of mind to accept the will of the people. Gambians needed CHANGE and
they voted for it. Therefore, this right
should not be taken by anybody. It is
not fair to put our beloved country in this position after the majority, in the
exercise of their rights, voted for a change of government. Please give it to
them.
As
a true Muslim, and one that fears Almight Allah alone, the incumbent should
hand over power peacefully when his term officially ends. Now is the time for him to show us that he is
a real patriot who loves The Gambia as he once said: “I WILL DEFEND THIS
COUNTRY TO THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD IN ME.”
Your
legacy has been written in the history books of The GAMBIA as one who dedicated
himself to the development of his motherland – building roads, a modern
airport, magnificent National Assembly, GRTS, bridges, schools, agricultural
projects, hospitals, the list goes on. We are all living witnesses to your
contribution which is well appreciated.
I
am sure that nobody will want to witness the destruction of these mammoth
achievements during your presidency.
We
pray that the Almighty grant you the wisdom to leave peace to continue to reign
in our beloved motherland, The Gambia, the Smiling Coast of Africa. May we not become the weeping coast of
Africa. May God continue to guide our
actions, to The Gambia ever true!
HENRY
MANJANG JAWO
PRIVATE
CITIZEN
