STOP THE TYRANNY; LET’S TALK ABOUT POLITICS:

KAYJATTA

The November 24^th, 2011 presidential election approaches in the Gambia, and the debate intensifies over the need and form of an opposition coalition to unseat the regime of President Jammeh. Jammeh , was a junior officer in the army when he led a group of fellow disgruntled officers in a military coup that ended thirty years of democratic rule in the Gambia in July of 1994. Since then, President Jammeh has ruled the Gambia with an iron fist continuously firing civil servants, judges, and national Assembly members; jailing, assassinating, and summarily executing real and perceived opponents.  Media houses have been torched, journalists are intimidated on a daily basis, and all forms of dissent-including opposition political parties are suppressed .It should be noted that before Jammeh took over power, the Gambia was roundly hailed as a symbol of stability, peace, and rule of law in a continent mired in civil and military conflict. Since coming to power in the summer of 1994, Jammeh has won three elections amidst widespread intimidation and violence, all controversial and described by international observers as not free and fair.

As the 2011 presidential election approaches, representatives of the opposition parties, namely PDOIS, UDP, PPP, GMC and GDP have intensified negotiations to forge a united front to challenge Jammeh’s APRC regime that has ruled for nearly 18 years. The current negotiations for an opposition merger occurs in the shadow of the previous failed merger called NADD in 2006 that left the opposition heavily divided and disorganized. The negotiations are so far stalled for the following reasons:

1.      The United Democratic Party (UDP), the largest opposition party wants to be the unconditional leader of the coalition to be represented by its long time presidential candidate, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.

2.      The National Reconciliation Party (NRP), represented by Mr. Hamat Bah, a former hotel entertainer insists that it is his time to lead.

3.      The People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) insists on the conduction of a primary election (convention) to select the leader for the opposition merger.

This stalemate has generated an intense debate inside and outside of the Gambia about the way forward. However, the real argument or negotiation has since been stifled and the whole effort has been reduced to accusations, vilifications and ridicule of those considered to be the obstacle. Some stakeholders in the Diaspora, including the Freedom Radio and newspaper have viciously attacked Halifa Sallah and PDOIS for their stance on the need for a convention of delegates to select a leader. These third party stakeholders are pushing for an unconditional UDP-led coalition because they believe that there is no more time for continued negotiations. Yet they failed to realize that for over a year Halifa Sallah and PDOIS/NADD has been selling the idea of “Agenda 2011” without serious support from the Diaspora and other opposition parties. Now all of a sudden, there is no time!!! All of a sudden the idea of a convention or primary election is in the domain of “academia”!!!

Again, in my humble view, the Gambians have shown their true color-the contempt for institutions, due process, and procedure. Halifa Sallah, the United States trained sociologist is the only political leader who stands for due process, a mechanism to select a leader that can be accepted by all. Everybody else in the crowd is opting for sycophancy and patronage-two familiar words in Gambian body politics. In the Gambia, it appears institutions do not matter; due process does not matter. How is democracy possible without respect for institutions and due process? Lack of time is not an excuse for this apparent tyranny of the majority. This lack of Gambian respect for institutions and due process in favor of sycophancy and patronage is again being played out in another event unfolding in the Gambia currently-in the matter of Moses Richards, Lamin K. Mboge, the Bar Association and President Jammeh.

It should be clear to all that PDOIS ( Halifa)’s significance is not measured by its less than 10% electoral share of votes as critics like to argue, rather it is measured by the weight of his ideas. That is what made Halifa an incredibly huge authority figure in Gambian affairs. Besides, if the majoritarian camp really believes that PDOIS and Halifa are so insignificant, why are they wasting so much time trying to get their support?

African politics, opposition politics for that matter is an adaptation to the succession of ruling parties since independence in the 1950s and 1960s. It is largely characterized by longevity, single candidature, and personality cults. I am deeply concerned that the Gambia is poised to preserve this legacy beyond Jammeh’s rule.