According to the statement, based on intelligence reports that some soldiers of the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected Government of President Adama Barrow, the GAF High Command yesterday arrested four soldiers linked to the alleged coup plot.
And we have been told that the apprehended soldiers are currently helping the Military Police with their investigations, while the army continues to pursue three more alleged accomplices.
The aborting of a coup plot by the Gambia Armed Forces just a year since the Barrow government was re-elected for a second term is an apt move that needs commendation, as The Gambia is not really in for a coup.
This is because, an accomplished coup, when it is thought to bring about better reforms, the worst governance in most cases is what is realised at the end of the day.
Recent lessons are the present situations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea Conakry, where coups d’état have not brought about any better reforms or development. Rather it has been dictatorship, more chaos, civil strife, wars and dire economic hardship in those countries.
While no one would say the economic situation in The Gambia is something to pleasantly write home about, the people really cannot be convinced that some soldiers with vested interest – in most cases detrimental ones – would come to change the situation for the better just over night.
Furthermore issues of bad governance, human right violations and lack of rule of law by soldiers who have taken over the reins of power in Africa through the barrel of the gun have continued to linger on in the hearts and minds of African people, particularly Gambians who have just been liberated from the shackles of military rule, dictatorship and despotism for 22 years. So it would be difficult for us in The Gambia to encourage or want to see a repeat of military rule just like that.
We in The Gambia have realised that hardly a coup or junta government would bring about meaningful development or better reforms in Africa.
After all there is provision in the constitution for change of government. And if we feel that a democratically elected government is ill performing, it is our right to remove that government through the ballot box and not by coup, which in most cases can be bloody and misguided.
And just a year ago that we the people of The Gambia went to the polls and voted in President Barrow and his government, we have started to hear of an alleged coup plot by some army officers, whose real intent may be to return the country to another despot, as the nation experienced in anguish under the regime of Yahya Jammeh for 22 years.
Hence the people of The Gambia would not want a repeat of that situation anymore.