The
nation has been gripped by fear as we count down to January 10 and 19, when the
stalemate in our political journey is expected to be cleared.
Some
are saying it could be a make-or-break affair; hence people are busy finding a
seemingly safe abode.
According
to reports reaching us, and our own findings, a lot of people are leaving the
shores of The Gambia almost on a daily basis, for fear of the outcome of the
political impasse looming in the country.
Trucks
full of household goods and people are leaving various car parks, in Serrekunda
and Brikama, for the provinces and neighbouring countries such as Senegal,
Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau, with some even going further than that to
countries like Nigeria and Sierra Leone; the majority of whom for fear of a
violent outcome of the political standoff in the country.
While
this is happening, businesses are also closing down and the general climate of
business in the country is getting colder by the day. Some institutions,
organisations and corporations have ceased fulltime operations owing to the
political tension in the country, doubting whether there will be a peaceful
resolution of the dispute surrounding the results of the December 1, 2016
presidential poll.
At
the Brikama car park, our reporter said, yesterday morning, some gele-gele vans
were seen carrying household materials, cooking utensils, furniture tied on top
of vehicle carriers en-route to the provinces, while some shop owners in the
town have reportedly closed down their businesses and relocated to the
provinces, southern region of Senegal (Casamance) and Guinea-Bissau.
This
state of fear and exodus continues by the day, and goes on to let business
transactions wrecked in the country, resulting in hardship and suffering even
before anything of a conflict could take place.
Running
from one place to another is just one of the negative sides of the current
political impasse, but what again could be of something to do is a national
call for a peaceful resolution of the matter, backed up with national prayer so
as the protagonists in the situation could reason out and agree on a peaceful
and smooth exit of the sitting president from office, thereby making way for
the president-elect to assume the reins of power.
Also
people should curtail the fear and follow reports of newspapers and media
outlets in the country. This will help all and sundry to allay the high level
of fear being nursed by the populace.
“The
brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Nelson
Mandela
