DEMOCRACY: The wind of change and the dawn of a new era in Africa!!!

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