The Republic came into being to make the people sovereign. This is why Section 1 Subsection (2) of the Constitution reads:
“The Sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and, in whose name, and for whose welfare and prosperity the powers of government are to be exercised in accordance with this Constitution.”
Hence legitimate power must be derived from consent and exercised in the name of the people to promote their liberty and prosperity.
It is the duty of the people to scrutinise the authority derived from consent and change it when they deem fit through their own votes.
The first leaders of the first Republic remained for 30 years. On 22nd July 1994 they were removed through the barrel of the gun. On 30th December 2015 others tried and failed to remove the 21 year-old regime, through the barrel of the gun.
On 2nd December 2016 the people changed the government through the ballot.
Interestingly enough, 2 December has passed without any commemoration. 22nd July used to be commemorated but no more. 24th April, the Day of the birth of the Republic is hardly commemorated.
What values do we need to teach in the 21st Century? What type of Gambia do we want? What type of Gambian do we want to nurture? Violence begets violence. Government based on consent begets peaceful transfer of power. This is the verdict of political science and common sense and it is incontrovertible.
