QGroup
chairman Muhammed Jah advised that Gambian leaders of corporations;
intellectuals and activists of every description, including politicians and the
general citizenry should not be bystanders in the country’s democratic journey.
Addressing
participants at Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow’s book launch at Qcity in Bijilo
on Saturday, Mr Jah said today’s generation of Gambians must be willing to
assume the mantle of leadership in this period of social-change and national
renewal. “This will help to realign the national trajectory towards the
realization of the unfulfilled socio-economic aspirations of the people
especially the poor and to provide enlightened leadership towards the creation
of a modern nation state,” he said.
He
said many have lamented the lack of social capital such as well-educated and
highly skilled and innovative citizens, who refused to assume political
leadership roles at home, instead are content with the administrative functions
in big organisations abroad.
He
said the factors associated with leadership failure in Africa, are less complex
than they are sometimes made to appear. “They continue to blame the adverse
impact of the colonial legacy; including the fragmentation of our traditional
governance systems, the lack of historical knowledge and the loss of identity
on the part of citizens.”
But
Mr Jah said people must bring to bear their intellectual capabilities, learnt
experiences and knowledge of enlightened ideas of politics, the economy and
society to the national development imperative of the country.”
He
said time has now come for competent and able Gambians to take up the challenge
of the generation to bring the benefits of the diverse range of talents and
skills of the citizens, to the stewardship of the nation; to join the frontline
of a new and enlightened leadership with knowledge of the history and a clear
vision for the collective future.
“It
is very easy to criticize, but unless we assume our historic responsibilities
and become active agents of change, our democratic rights as citizens to hold
our leaders and our governments accountable for their policies, decisions and
actions would have been misplaced.”
Mr
Jah said today, Gambia needs all her citizens, with the capacity and the
know-how to engage in the political and economic process and become change
makers, whether one lives in the diaspora or resident at home.
“We
must follow the example of Chief Justice Jallow and emulate his demonstrable
leadership qualities. We must benchmark the Rwanda that he helped to reconcile,
by building on his living-legacy, to bring development to our own people and
our country. We must learn from his achievements and his successes.”
