Last week we reported that the Gambia Football Association in its last electoral cycles have set a model democratic elections in Gambia when not only did they campaign vigorously with utmost respect for their opponents, but when the elections were over both the losing parties and the winners showed an incredible sense of maturity and respect for the democratic process. This is what we wrote in our report last week…
“During the last elections when Mustapha Kebbeh and Modou Moussa contested the Presidency, Mr. Moussa in a very classic act graciously accepted defeat, congratulated his opponent and offered his services to the then elected President Kebbeh. In return, Kebbeh reached out to all and urged the contending parties to forget their differences and work to strengthen Gambian football – something we have not seen of recent even at the National Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Unfortunately, Kebbeh’s Presidency was cut short after Gambia was caught cheating in playing over age players. This was a system and culture that Kebbeh and others inherited in Gambia’s football culture. We have seen again current candidates contesting for the seat of President condemning the disqualification of their counterparts with the exception of Kaba Bajo who many people believe is being implanted as an APRC backed candidate.
Many people wish that Gambia as a Nation would follow the footsteps of the GFF elections and democratic process where candidates will freely express their opinions and be accorded the respect they deserve. This is almost a foregone conclusion if Mr. Bajo is to be elected as President of the GFF. Many believe that the government will meddle with the affairs of the football federation if partisan politics is encouraged in its ranks”
In another developing story two of the contesting candidates for the GFF leadership Mr. Buba Mbye Bojang and Omar Danso have issued a joint statement declaring that they will be teaming up and launching a “united joint manifesto” during a press conference held at the Serekunda mini Stadium. According to the point newspaper the two candidates speaking at the press conference disclosed that they have been engaged in “common dialogue” to discuss issues they agree on and strategies on how to approach the elections. When asked if they were concern about losing the elections scheduled for September 20th, Bojang emphasized that when contesting elections one must expect to either win or lose. He stressed that as much as one expects to win elections one must also prepare for a defeat. Mr. Bojang’s camp appears to have reached out to Danso’s camp and both are open for a possible alliance against the favored APRC backed candidate. At the press conference both sides expressed optimism that they are prepared to form an alliance which may be the strategy to defeat the more favored Kaba Bajo.
In our view Mr. Bojang and Danso have demonstrated political maturity by coming to terms that going to elections as individual candidates against Mr. Bajo may put them at a disadvantage. This is a strategy that even National Political parties are not able to grasp during the last two decades. It can be argued that given the kind of proactive communication coming from both present and previous GFF office contenders, one has a reason to be optimistic that the younger generation in Gambia may have a better understanding of electoral strategies to win elections. Gambian opposition may need to take a page from these young guns and craft a strategy that will allow them to overcome partisan politics to present a formidable electoral contest against President Jammeh and the APRC. It is also encouraging to see that these young Gambians understand the role of the media as well as their political and civic rights.
As reported already former President Mustapha Kebbeh is poised to take legal action against his disqualification from contesting the elections. That is a stark difference we have seen from our current opposition especially given the fact that they have been consistently denied access to the National television, political rallies and most seriously the age limit that disqualifies UDP’s Leader from contesting upcoming elections. If these opposition leaders were to take more proactive measures by either suing GRTS, the police and the government for denying them their political rights, at the very least they could have gained some ground. For now it is evident that institutions like the GFF manifest more viable political strategy than the national opposition parties And the alliance of these two candidates may end up winning the GFF elections.
Note: Gainako will closely monitor the campaign and will bring our readers the latest updates and results of the elections..