The
President will embark on a 10-day tour of the country commencing today through
Sunday 2 April 2017.
As
indicated by a statement from the Office of the President, the tour will avail
the President the opportunity to thank the Gambian people for the overwhelming
support given him by the people, as well as to call on the nation to vote for
the “Coalition candidates” who form his government.
It
is good that the President is going on a nationwide tour of the country to
thank the people for voting him into office and for standing by him through a
difficult power transition phase from the regime of former President
Jammeh. The tour is quite in place as it
demonstrates a spirit of gratitude and respect for the people.
However,
what we are ambivalent about is whether the support the President wants from
the electorate to ensure “coalition candidates” dominate the National Assembly
to enable him implement his policies, would go that way.
Many
people would have liked a smooth flow of the coalition parties and their
candidates, through thick and thin, and with one mind or focus, for the
President and his coalition government to be able to implement their policies
and programmes.
But
with the swift and very early split of the coalition right from the heads of
the coalition pyramid - leaders of the various parties, it is largely doubtful
whether the Barrow government would get that cohesive purpose of mind, action
and focus from candidates who will emerge winners of the National Assembly
elections.
In
the first place, the cracks and split in the rank and file of the coalition
would discourage many of the people who voted in the coalition government, as
well as push some electorate to shun the elections and others to vote for
candidates other than the coalition party members.
If
things should go this way, it would be difficult for the coalition government
to have a smooth run of state affairs in this new dispensation, which also
means that the government’s policies and programmes will be hardly implemented
as planned.
On
the other hand, a government with majority of the parliamentarians in the House
also poses a dicey situation, one with no strong or formidable check in the
event it wants to go off track, as this has been the case with many governments
of similar makeup around the world.
However,
the people have the last say on voting day, and can make the crucial decision
of who they want to serve as their representatives in the National Assembly,
just as they decided in the December 1, 2016 presidential election.
Meanwhile,
we wish the President a successful tour. Bye for now, Mr President!
“I
know what motivated you was not just a political campaign. It was your love of
our country”
Alan
Nunnelee
