The forthcoming Local Government Elections is, no doubt, getting closer as we now enter the nomination process of candidates, with just three weeks to go.
As we in the media and those outside the media have seen, this is the time when our politicians, most of whom have in the last couple of years never approached people within their wards for anything, are now doing so in order to seek their mandate.
Even as they do so, we would want to remind our politicians of the need for them to turn their backs on character assassination, as they try to win the confidence of the electorate.
Our politicians should face up to the challenges confronting the people in their respective wards, as we head to yet another Local Government Elections.
The electorate would want to know how far their representatives have measured up to their tasks during the past five years, as their mouthpieces in the council.
Anyone who had, over the past five years, lived up to expectations as representative of the people should have no fears over his future, as the electorate will surely give the person another mandate.
But politicians should expect the opposite, if this was not the case during the last five years.
A leader who can represent his people well in the council will, no doubt, enjoy the unalloyed loyalty of the people of his ward.
We have also maintained, on several occasions that change just for change’s sake will never help.
As we always say in this page, Gambians are now fed up with criticism; they want constructive action. Our politicians must learn to be creative and results-oriented.
Ahead of the polls, our politicians must create entirely new paradigms not only for their people’s advancement, but for The Gambia’s development as well.
Our politicians must cease to play to the gallery by exploiting the predicament of our people.
What Gambians want to hear is not the reiteration of their problems, but practical ways of getting round the problems.
While we pray for a peaceful, free and fair Local Government Elections in the country, we urge all the players in the political arena and all Gambians, in general, to work towards ensuring this.
We should avoid anything that would hinder the holding of free and fair elections, as this will go against the image of our peaceful country.
Our final message is that all contesting politicians should display a high sense of maturity, and treat each other with respect.
As we move closer to the polls, we want to remind all politicians that The Gambia’s political evolution has, no doubt, surpassed the era of politics of violence and character assassination.
The more it builds up, the more the excitement in the build-up to the 4th April polls!
