QUESTION OF THE DAY
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GAMBIAN AND SENEGALESE POLITICAL DISPENSATION?
In Senegal a transfer of power has occurred from a president who was elected by the Senegalese people despite the fact he was a Christian by faith facing an electorate 95 % of whom are Muslims. The presidency has also been transferred from one person who is from an ethno-linguistic group which is considered to be Serer to another that is considered to be Wollof to another considered to be Hal-Pularr. Despite their ethno-linguist backgrounds Wollof is spoken in Senegal as a national language. Hence religion and ethno-linguistic backgrounds do not bar Senegalese citizens from occupying the highest office in the land.
The Gambia started with religious tolerance by accepting to elect Pierre Sarr Njie, J. C. Faye and David Jawara as Christians. However, no political transition took place in The Gambia until a coup d’etat was staged. The Gambia has never experienced a peaceful transfer of political power from one citizen to another. Now the Gambian people must make a decision whether to allow the nation to disintegrate into religious and ethno-linguistic groups and vote on the basis of religious and ethno-linguistic prejudices or put the national interest first and support political leaders on the basis of merits.
2016 will define the type of Gambia that has been built after 51 years of attaining the right to self-determination.
