The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) will tomorrow hold its election for the position of the president, which has been vacant since July this year after the conviction of its former president Lang Tombong Tamba.
The most interesting thing is that, when the position was officially declared vacant, two aspirants were nominated to run for the post, and they were all nominated by different associations as the GNOC's constitution requires.
The announcement of the names of the presidential aspirants arouses a lot of debate within public circles, resulting in attacks and counter-attacks on the candidates from supporters of the two camps.
Our advice to the GNOC family is to conduct their election in a peaceful manner, and avoid castigating each other. The most important thing is that they should elect a competent person, who would be able to run the day-to-day affairs of the organization without fear or favour.
The delegates should know that they have a big responsibility in choosing their leader, and that the selection should not be based on favouritism, but on competence and knowledge.
The delegates should know that the whole world is watching them; so let them elect their leader based on merit and not for any obscure reason(s).
We wish you good luck, and may the best candidate win.
We also want to send a word of advice in advance to whoever shall emerge winner, as well as the bureau members. They should all put their differences behind them after the election, and work together for the good of the GNOC.
The incoming president should also take home the sage advice of South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, who says: "It is better to lead from behind, and put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line, when there is danger. Then people appreciate your leadership."