By Dr. Ebrima Ceesay
I am not an ideologue or dogmatic, but rather a pragmatist. I have a realist view of Africa, its many problems, and future. Polarization is dividing African societies and therefore, we need a non-partisan approach to solving some of our problems, especially political ones. In most of my political analyses, think-pieces or observations here or elsewhere, I try to offer a non-partisan viewpoint that transcends partisan politics and ideology. In short, I am more interested in providing a perspective that will transcend party lines. With a strong background in (and a nuanced understanding of) African Politics, some of us can bring clarity, refreshing insights and good understanding – to some of the contemporary political issues confronting us or being debated.
Regrettably, our hunger and thirst for blatant political partisanship and ideology have meant that most of us are not impartial when we are discussing many of these fundamental issues facing our countries in Africa. But we really need to move away from sectarianism and start supporting sound and wise political decisions that are aligned with the national interest and forget about our personal or selfish interests. As far as I am concerned, there is no place for uncontrollable and unreasonable emotions in our decision-making process(es). Our political decisions in particular, must be based more on reason, the hard facts, sound judgment and not on narrow-mindedness or narrow/ethnic nationalism. By using our logical mind, instead of our emotional hearts, we can offer a non-partisan view of Gambian/African politics. A non-partisan analysis, based on an evaluation or assessment of the objective facts (rather than on narrow nationalist sentiments or out of control emotions) and also well-grounded on solid facts and sound judgment would help us reach rational conclusions and sound decisions, based on unbiased truth.
Why am I saying all these things? Well, I went to a recent meeting here, organized by the Senegalese Association, of which my wife is a member. The meeting centred on the forthcoming Presidential Election in Senegal, slated for 24th February 2019. I was only at the meeting as an observer but the chair or moderator knowing that I am student of African politics, decided to invite me to make some comments on the upcoming Senegalese Elections. He wanted my perspective or thoughts on the new kid on the block, Senegalese opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, who is the PASTEF party president. It was a packed venue – full of Ousmane Sonko’s supporters, the majority of whom felt that Sonko was God-sent – a person with extraordinary abilities and integrity – and who would, at long last, become Senegal’s savior as President from February 2019 onwards.
I said then, and I say now, that indeed Ousmane Sonko has got a good future in politics and that with good health, long life and God’s will, all indications are that he’ll become president of Senegal one day. He is only 44 years old. However, I touched a very raw nerve when I argued that you cannot assess or evaluate “savior” Ousmane Sonko, at this stage, and give him a pass mark while he is in opposition. You’ll have to wait until Ousmane Sonko is elected President of Senegal to be able to judge him properly or assess his performance accordingly, in order to determine whether or not he is a “savior”, I added. Why? Because African history is replete with many examples of well-meaning opposition politicians who changed for the worse when they assumed presidential office, contrary to expectations. I am not, in any way, shape or form, trying to say that Ousmane Sonko cannot be the exception to the rule. Yet, many of Africa’s presidents were well-intentioned when they were in opposition, but once in power and tasted the sweetness of power, they did not live up to expectations. Often times, for instance, there are too many people in government and outside – who have a vested interest in maintaining status quo – of the endless bribery, corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, favoritism etc. The fundamental reforms needed can be open to sabotage by strong vested interests from within (and out of) government.
In fact, poor governance, bribery, mismanagement of public funds and corruption are actually symptoms of the problem. Therefore, treating the symptoms and not the causes of the diseases, will not solve Africa’s undying problems. Africa’s political or governance diseases – which have been left untreated – have had to do with bad leadership and deeply compromised governance systems, which eventually lead to perennial institutional failures in African countries. You see, the root causes of Africa’s massive problems have often been poorly understood. Again, deep structural problems of governance are in fact what is destroying Africa today. Our inherent and deep-rooted structural problems are deeper than any other issues to do with personality.
Consequently, it is either naivety or even delusional thoughts, as was the case at the meeting, to think that Ousmane Sonko, as determined and well-intentioned as he is, does have the ability and wherewithal to solve all of Senegal problems efficiently and in a timely fashion without facing practical difficulties or other vested interest who will not be throwing a spanner in the works. Admittedly, Sonko, I argued at the meeting, appears to have a good vision for Senegal, but Africa’s structural problems of governance are quite acute and profound. Let me draw an analogy here: if you are trying to build a new stadium with adequate money and personnel, but with no tools and equipment to work with, such a project will never get off the ground. Instead of tackling head-on the root causes and the underlying, intractable problems, it will take generations before our countries are finally on track, as long as we keep making cosmetic changes. Let me again reiterate that our problems have got to do with poor institutional structures, as well as personality. In short, our problems are largely rooted in both poor leaderships, as well as weak or useless institutions that are supposed to offer effective checks and balances, but which are instead subservient to the vested interest of the elites.
Therefore, to bring about a lasting institutional change in Africa, what is needed is not just change of personnel but also fundamental institutional reforms, as well as collective attitudinal change and ethical re-orientation. For example, Africa’s weak institutions such as the judiciary, police and immigration services that should serve as watchdogs against corruption must be prepared to protect the national interest, instead of having the habit of asking for bribes to fill their pockets and top up their income.
Against this background, but being mindful of not spoiling the party so to speak, at the meeting, I felt the Senegalese audience needed a serious reality check, as I played a devil’s advocate at the meeting, putting forward an alternative perspective on matters. I told them Ousmane Sonko can cause an upset by winning next year’s presidential election in Senegal, but I personally felt that the odds, nonetheless, were still stacked against him winning. Despite the euphoria and the sizeable crowds that Ousmane Sonko is attracting in Senegal and abroad, I am of the view that the odds of Ousmane Sonko winning need not be over exaggerated. I also told them, and they did not know about this, that the strategic Trans-Gambia Bridge at the Yelli Tenda – Bamba Tenda crossing points near Farrafenni is actually being rushed for completion in December 2018 and inauguration in January 2019 – on the eve of the Senegalese election – as a surprise gift to the Senegalese voters. The (construction of the) Trans-Gambia bridge, which is both strategically and economically important for Senegal, has remained as elusive as ever – until now with President Macky Sall, though quite unpopular in the Senegalese diaspora, being the first President of Senegal to have achieved this strategic goal.