“We are opposed to Barrow’s third term bid because it represents a betrayal of his solemn promises to honor the 2016 coalition agreement. Barrow was chosen as the candidate for a coalition of political actors who spent 22 long years fighting a dictatorship that thrived on self-perpetuation and the abuse of the Gambian people and constitution. Unfortunately, once elected, Barrow broke the primary condition for which he was chosen as the 2016 coalition candidate, namely, that he would serve for only three years and organize and oversee fresh elections among the coalition partners and other interested parties. Barrow saw an opportunity to cling on to power and seized it, without regard for his coalition mandate of serving only three years.
We are opposed to Barrow’s third term bid because it represents a breaking of another promise he made to the Gambian people - the promiseto ensure that term limits become an entrenched provision in our constitution. Barrow is on record assuring the Gambian people that he was a big fan of term limits, and admitting that if people overstay in power, they run out of ideas. Why does Barrow think that it is okay to break his promises to the Gambian people just because he can?
We are opposed to Barrow’s third term bid because it represents a repetition of part of our dark history under the Jammeh dictatorship. When Jammeh and his henchmen seized power onJuly 22, 1994, they assured the Gambian people that they were “not here to stay.” One of Jammeh’s favorite mantras in those early post-coup days was “we are not here to stay.” He further declared that no Gambian president will ever again be allowed to stay in power beyond ten years, that “in fact, ten years is too long.” In order to appease the Gambian people and the international community, he set up the National Consultative Committee (NCC) under the able chairmanship of the late and incorruptible Dr. Lenrie Peters. The NCC did nationwide consultations and in its report, which Jammeh readily accepted, recommended a transition period of two years. Jammeh set up a constitutional review commission that also came up with a new draft containing term limits. Jammeh readily accepted the CRC’s report but surreptitiously removed the term limits provision, giving us the current 1997 constitution. He then conveniently “retired” from the Army to contest the 1996 elections. It is to be noted that Jammeh further went on to have the 1997 constitution amended over fifty times to consolidate his stranglehold on power. Surely, the person elected to replace Jammeh should not play by the ousted dictator’s book. By seeking a third term in office, Barrow is playing Jammeh politics.
We are opposed to Barrows third term bid not because we doubt his capacity to serve as president; or because we disregard the achievements of his administration in some notable areas. However, we know that if Barrow can do it, another person can do it as well as he is, or even better.
At this point, we also seize this opportunity to say a BIG NO to the proposed media regulations. There is absolutely no rational justification to police the Gambian people’s freedom of expression. Government can choose to take action against any journalist who breaks the law. But until then, let our thoughts flow!
Do not shackle our national imagination! Let us have a free marketplace of ideas. Only backward and repressive regimes muzzle their citizens’ freedom of expression. We like to think that Barrow does not see his government as backward and regressive, and does not want his government to be seen as backward and regressive.”
