The tiny West African state of the Gambia turns 52 years old February 18th, 2017. The historic election of President Adama Barrow through a coalition of opposition parties will be the third opportune time the Gambia and its people have to build a Democratic nation and a country that is a champion of Human Rights, economic and social emancipation. A tiny nation with meager natural resources but one that can create an income driven society whose citizens will never again become economic and political refugees.
When the founding fathers of the first Republic of the Gambia led it to Independence from virtually nothing to an “improbable nation”, many citizens appeared to have been content with the efforts of creating a nation with its own Republic. Every efforts were made by the fathers of independence to build a viable democracy and a society that respects the rights and dignity of its citizens. That Democracy was fragile and its foundations were never cemented by building strong institutions that were required to nurture true democracy and economic independence of the Gambia. It was reduced to routine elections every five years controlled by the same powerful elites in office. There was a semblance of multiparty democracy but no strong opposition and or independent civil society to safe guard the checks and balances that are needed to make democracies stronger. Eventually, the first republic went into hibernation and drowned into its own Democratic fashion thus taking their eyes off the fundamental requisites that Democratic governments build to safe guard true values of a Democratic society. Thirty years of Sir Dawda’s rule due to its sketchy foundation and lack of strong institutions and building an independent minded society crumbled into the hands of an inexperience and greedy junta.
The birth of the second Republic through illegal overthrow of a constitutionally elected government in 1994 presented another Golden opportunity for this smile coast of Africa to rebuild and pave a new way forward. Unfortunately, there is a strong correlation between education, experience and ability to lead and transform a society. The only model and blue print the new young leaders of the second republic could mirror their efforts were the little positive things they learned from the first republic. There wasn’t enough experience and or will to study what was truly needed to transform tiny Gambia from a sleeping Pseudo Democracy to a true Democratic society with viable political and civil society institutions. This accidental chapter in the history of the Gambia went from hope of building stronger Democratic institutions to the worst experience this nation would ever witnessed. For over two decades this nation that once pride itself in respecting human rights and dignity of its citizens became a full blown dictatorship. Any hopes of building a viable democratic society and sovereign citizens were dashed and left to the mercy of one leader.
The brutal and autocratic nature of the second republic under Yahya Jammeh at a time of global integration; advent of social media and waves of democratic awareness, Mr. Jammeh choose to be an isolationist from the league of civilized nations. Nations were instead competing to provide a safe heaven for their citizens and building countries that utilities its most viable resources – its human resources to build their nations. Jammeh instead, prided himself in driving his most productive citizens away so he gets to stay in power as long as he could. What former president Jammeh did that was an unintended consequence of driving large portion of Gambian citizens away was the exportation of building a Democratic project outside the Gambia instead of within. While he was busy strengthening himself in power, the Gambian Diaspora were busy fighting him at a distance but also nurturing independent minded citizens who will not be disconnected from their home politics.
Projects and platforms were created that would allow any and all citizens outside of the Gambia to be fully engaged in the fight for restoring Democracy in the Gambia. In constant communication and consultation with a weaken but highly experience and persistent opposition on the ground; an alliance was built between the Gambian Diaspora and the opposition parties. This lose but sometimes highly contentious relationship led to numerous efforts to form a strong alliance against the incumbent. Eventually, Jammeh’s heavy handedness on the opposition and the determination of the Diaspora led to a historic movement to dislodge the incumbent. The Gambian opposition facing political extinction were left with little option but to form an alliance supported by the Diaspora to bring lasting change in Gambia. This historic alliance led to the birth of the third Republic that saw the defeat of the incumbent dictator through the ballot and the election of President Adama Barrow.
The birth of the third Republic on January 19th, 2017 once again has given the Gambia and its people the Golden opportunity to usher in a new Democratic society that was missed in the first and second republic. Unlike the previous opportunities; the election of Adama Barrow and the building of an open society in exile and a well connected citizenry on the ground, a new Democratic open society is dawned in the Gambia. The third Republic of the Gambia requires the type of citizenry Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana described as “a new type of citizen: A dedicated, modest, honest, informed man and woman who submerge self in service to the nation and mankind. A man and woman who abhor greed and detest vanity. A new type of man and woman whose humility is his and her strength and whose integrity is his and her greatness” . This type of citizen as the Champion of African Unity dreamed of, is the type that must take its civic responsibilities seriously and not only hold its government accountable but make him/self duty bound to be engaged in the political discourse of the nation. This citizen must realized that governments and Democracies can neither build themselves nor hold themselves accountable. It is only through citizen participation and full engagement in the governing affairs of its nation that can advance a democratic society. There cannot be a free, open and Democratic society without citizen participation caring about the decisions that are made on their behalf.
The New Gambia and third Republic therefore, must be owned by its citizens who fought so hard to ensure the change happened. Every decent and conscious Gambian citizen must take ownership of the government and fully participate in rebuilding the new Republic. The chronic mentality of using government as a means to enrich oneself or elevate one’s social status as seen in the first and second republic must come to an end. Citizens must be willing to go into public service not to enrich themselves but to become the servant of the people. Every citizen must ensure that they become citizen activists by safe guarding and protecting what belongs to the general public. We must all remain fully engaged to make sure that the independent institutions that sustains Democracies are build on a solid foundation. Individual citizens who will be appointed or remain heads of institutions will never again give a blind eye to injustices against their fellow citizens. We must each take our oaths of office with the utmost honesty and integrity to deliver without fear or ill will to the best of our abilities. Never again, should Gambians protect their individual selfish interest while they look the other way in the face of gross human rights violations and mismanagement of public resources. The mediocrity of public or elected officials that we all witnessed during the second republic must never be allowed again. This can only happen when Gambians are fully conscious and educated on their national civic duties. The accidental chapter of dictatorship, abuse of power and blatant abrogation of the Gambian constitution must come to a close. Gambia once again has the opportunity to rebuild and to usher in a new and open society to regain its natural role in the civilized league of nations. The burden of nation building lies in each and every Gambians’ hands. Congratulations for a new and prosperous Gambia with hope of building a true Democracy and economic freedom for all its citizens. For the Gambia our home land!
1 Comment
A wonderful editorial……..what i would like to emphasize is the part where you describe future Gambians as INFORMED. For a start people need a clear and unequivocal understanding of concepts such as democracy, republic and power.