This country is a republic. This means the sovereign power and owners of the country are the people themselves. There is no one above or below the people. No one leads or represents the Gambia without the consent of Gambians. This is well expressed in Section 1(2) of the 1997 Constitution. This consent is sought and exercised through various laws, institutions, and processes.
Those who seek to represent us are called Politicians. They represent us as President, National Assembly Member, Mayor, Chairperson and Councilor. These representatives are further given the authority to appoint other public officials such as ministers, permanent secretaries, generals, directors, principals, governors, managers, and so on. Together these elected and appointed people in public office are the ones in charge of our institutions of governance and development. The progress, peace and prosperity of the Gambia or the lack of it rests in their hands.
These elected and appointed public officials have a duty to uphold and maintain law and order and submit to democratic, professional, and ethical norms, standards, and processes. It is either their adherence or disregard of these laws, processes, norms and standards that will determine the peace, unity, and prosperity of this country or not.
It is observed that in far too many cases public officials have threatened the peace, unity, and stability of this country in total contravention of the law. This should concern citizens immensely. For example, in many speeches, we have heard public officials and politicians in both the ruling party and opposition parties express statements that violate the law as well as threaten citizens, political opponents, journalists, activists and any citizen who criticize them. They have called for violence while also promoting tribalism in words and actions. These actions are unconstitutional and undemocratic, and they threaten the peace and stability of this country.
Holding public officials and politicians accountable for statements that threaten peace, and lawfulness is critical in upholding public safety and societal stability. Such statements, if unchecked, can incite unrest, undermine trust in institutions, and destabilize communities. Robust accountability measures such as legal consequences, public condemnation, and institutional oversight must be enforced to ensure officials promote responsible discourse, maintain order and submit to the rule of law.
Followers of political leaders play a vital role in guiding and holding them accountable. Leaders often draw strength, legitimacy, and direction from their supporters, making it essential for followers to uphold principles of truth, justice, and public interest. When followers blindly defend wrongdoing or remain silent in the face of abuse, they enable harmful behavior. But when they speak out, demand accountability, and encourage integrity, they help steer leaders toward responsible and ethical governance. In a healthy democracy, followers are not just supporters, they are active guardians of the values leaders must uphold.
Let us be active and vigilant citizens and demand high standards from all politicians.
For the Gambia Our Homeland
