Jammeh has for too long taken the opposition for a ride. He was so confident that the opposition isn’t his match that he asserted that…”no vote will oust me out of power”. This was a hard slap on the face of the opposition by President Jammeh. On the one hand, it underscored his disregards of the opposition. It also spelt out clearly that he believed the opposition lacked the ability to challenge his government excesses and incapable of making him accountable. On the other hand, it also brought to light that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is not only dependent on Jammeh but mainly serves his interest only. Consequently, with such an IEC in charge of the Gambia’s electoral affairs, Jammeh will always emerge victorious in every election conducted by it. Perhaps his chilling and arrogant disregard of the opposition stems from the assurance that the IEC will never let him down.
Several opportunities have slipped from the hands of the opposition from which they could have easily remove Jammeh from power. An instance which quickly springs to mind is the execution of the Mile II 9 dead row inmate. This was swiftly followed by the abduction and unlawful detention of Imam Baba Leigh. In fact, coming to think about it, Jammeh has been all along testing the viability and capability of the opposition. He began by unlawfully dismissing prominent public officials. When he became confident, he went on a step further by unlawfully arresting and detaining innocent Gambians. Next he experimented slaughtering vulnerable citizens. What do we see in all these systematic and calculated moves of Jammeh to instil fear in Gambians? A group of hypocrites guised in the robes of religious and community leaders begging him for mercy and/or to forgive his victims who have by now become criminals instead. I am of the fervent belief that President Jammeh got away with murder for so long because the opposition let him.
Like the English say better be late than never. In one of my article captioned “Gambia-A Fractured Opposition and Election 2016” I remarked…”What makes The Gambia peculiar and exceptional is not her size or perimeter but her people. Generally, Gambians are a very hopeful people who strive on this premise in the pursuit of their goals. Despite all the odds that an oppressive Jammeh regime heaves at us-the harassments, intimidations, tortures, extra-judicial killings, disappearances, unlawful arrests and detentions, we have never given up on hope about our future. Hope, therefore, is one powerful energizer that strengthens the heart and enlivens the spirit which propels the will to match on head high when everything else suggests otherwise. It is this hope that President Obama may have alluded to when he posits…”not blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stands in our path. I am talking about the wishful idealism that allows us just to sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight. I have always believed that hope is the stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.” Significantly, it is with this hope that something better awaits us that we must work together to fight and change the tide of political waves in The Gambia to our advantage against Jammeh.” The recent coming together of the opposition leader under one umbrella to tell President Jammeh that enough is enough is not only commendable but also rejuvenated that hope I talked about. They have won the admiration, respect and trust of many Gambians both home and abroad. For them to jointly issue a very strongly worded communique to the rogue President is a very bold step by the opposition. They have equally proved to doubters like me that they are both capable and ready to take Jammeh head on. Moreover, it goes to further highlight that a new sun is about to rise behind the Gambia’s political hill.
Albeit the opposition has now stood its ground against Jammeh, they should not be complacent. To solidify this laudable achievement, they should further draw plans to mobilise a wider support base and commence campaigning against the dying Jammeh regime. For instance, from now on any violation of the law or abuse of office by President Jammeh or any of his gang of official bandits should be openly challenged and were necessary organise protest matches. It is about time that Jammeh is taught that there is no rehearsal in running a state. He must be forced to coil his tail and sit on it knowing that the Gambia is not his personal shop. That can be attained by mass mobilization of your support base and showing all Gambians you are not toothless bulldogs; you have what it takes to restore law and order in the Gambia. Use the social media to your advantage. Through it, you can reach large numbers of people at the same time as well as generating financial support. Once people are assured that you really mean business this time around, everything you need to help and support you will fall into place.
President Jammeh is nothing but a pussy who criminals to instil fear in ordinary Gambians and prove his manhood. If he really feels his ball and they fill his hands why doesn’t he come to the UK? What he tasted in America will be a drop in the ocean compared to what he will receive when he dares and come to the UK.
Sulayman Jeng, UK