The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will today start the nomination of candidates ahead of the forthcoming mayoral and chairmanship elections.
This forthcoming election plays an integral component in strengthening grassroots politics especially the way and manner our local councils are governed. Therefore, as voters we have a crucial role at stake.
As voters it is incumbent on all voters to actively participate in these elections as it directly affects us.
This brings to mind Theodore Roosevelt Jr., a former American politician, soldier, conservationist cum historian, and writer, who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909, once famously stated that ‘A vote is like a rifle, its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.’
Let’s not be easily carried away by the false promises of these politicians. Our vote is our power and therefore we must make good use of it.
Let’s always remember that any mistake we made today will come after us or our children in the future.
The country is currently faced with a series of challenges from hike in the price of basic food commodities, to skyrocketing house rents, basic services just to name a few.
However, from the look of things, the number of aspiring candidates who want to contest is high. This also reminds us of the need to call on all stakeholders to campaign peacefully and desist from remarks that have the tendency to incite violence.
We’ve all seen a rise in tribal remarks that have the tendency to incite violence in New Gambia. As a peaceful and civilized people, let go off remarks that would only take the country backward.
Whether we know it or not, tribal rhetoric is a threat to any thriving democracy. And in the past elections, we’ve seen how peace advocates intensified their campaign in trying to discourage all to do away with tribal politics.
As attacks against one ethnicity in The Gambia are becoming a cause of concern, people should be very careful campaigning on tribal lines.
We all have a duty to make this country great. Nation building calls for concerted efforts by all.
Significantly, The Gambia has been widely credited for its openness and tolerance. However, it is only under a climate of tranquility, tolerance and rule of law that a peaceful election can be conducted.