The
political momentum in the country is bubbling as leaders of political parties
take turns to appear at the Independent Electoral Commission house (IEC) for
nomination, less than three weeks to the December 1 presidential election.
Soon
after the nomination, which wraps up today, parties will be released on
Wednesday 16 to crisscross the country as they engage in a nationwide campaign
to canvass votes for the seat of the presidency.
In
this atmosphere of political activities, we reiterate our call for a peaceful
electioneering under the watch and fair play ‘disposition’ of the electoral
commission.
The
airtime on state TV GRTS, and the allocation of time and days for party
rallies, should be handled in the most appropriate manner that should give no
semblance of favouritism or bias by all the concerned institutions.
Peace
starts with fair play and justice, so these virtues must be maintained in
officiating or overseeing electioneering matters.
We
are, however, calling on all and sundry to cherish peace and tranquillity, and
eschew violence and hatred.
Violence
and hatred should have no place in modern day electioneering. The
just-concluded US election is a case in point in terms of non-violence and
protection of the national interest.
The
battleground in our election really should be on national issues such as the
economy, industrialisation, job creation, electricity and water supply,
provision of quality and affordable education, food and health, foreign
exchange rate and inflation, housing and road rehabilitation, poverty
alleviation, human rights and democracy, freedom of association and expression,
press freedom, international relations, and good governance.
These
are among the burning issues at play in the hearts and minds of the people of
this country, not violence and hate speech.
The
Gambia needs continual progress, growth and development in all facets of life.
And so these are the heart cries the people want addressed, so that abject
poverty, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism and drug addiction,
back-way or illegal migration, and misery can be put under arrest.
“We seek peace, knowing that peace is the
climate of freedom.”
Dwight
D. Eisenhower
