I will be President until I am ready and then hand over the presidency to my children, who in turn when they are ready would hand over to my grandchildren.” Adama Barrow, President of The Republic of The Gambia, 2024.
I will rule 1 billion years” Dictator Jammeh in 2011
This rhetoric is reminiscent of similar declarations made by former President Jammeh in 2011, just five years before he was removed from power and forced into exile. His unyielding grip on authority led to a legacy of fear, human rights abuses, and economic hardship that Gambians fought to overcome. Mr. President, your remarks call to mind that same era of unchecked power, an era we overcame to usher in a new era of democracy that brought you to office.
Mr. President, The Gambia is not a monarchy, nor does it have a hereditary line for the presidency. The Gambian people do not view political power as a family heirloom, it is a responsibility entrusted to you by the people and grounded on the principles of democracy. Despite all of this, your recent statements seem to echo a troubling sense of entitlement, suggesting that power could be passed down through your family who ever they may be. This attitude dangerously shifts your focus from public service to a personal claim over the country’s future.
Mr. President, political power is not a birthright. Gambians placed their trust in you not as an inheritance but as a mandate to serve. Statements suggesting that power can be inherited reveal an attitude that not only disrespects democratic values but undermines the sacrifices Gambians made to reclaim that democracy. By your very statement you have usurped the power of Gambians to select who they want to lead them. You have insulted Gambians by indicating that you have the power to decide who leads them and it is limited to your children and grandchildren.
As Madi Jobarteh reminds us, leaders in a democracy are servants of the people, not rulers above them. They hold their positions as stewards of public trust, a trust that can only be maintained through humility, transparency, and accountability.
By suggesting a future where your children could inherit your position, you are disregarding the very essence of democratic governance. Leadership should be a privilege earned through dedication and service, not passed along as a family legacy.
Gambians want a government that listens to their needs, improves their livelihoods, and upholds the rule of law. True leadership means building strong institutions, fostering economic development, and creating a society where all citizens can thrive. The notion of inherited political power directly contradicts these aspirations and mocks the democratic principles Gambians have fought so hard to uphold.
Mr. President, the entitlement in your words is what is fostering the present environment ripe of corruption, undermining the rule of law, and encouraging a governance style that lacks accountability. Surrounding yourself with those who echo your views, rather than those who challenge and support growth, have weakened your governance this stagnating the country. Your focus shifting from serving the people to maintaining control, a pattern all too familiar and dangerous.
A reminder, Mr. President, that power belongs to the people. The true strength of this nation resides not in any one family or individual but in the collective will of the Gambian people. Gambians have fought hard for their freedom and will not allow any leader to undermine that hard won right.https://www.facebook.com/OpenGambia/videos/9338552746174637
We remain unwavering in our commitment to democracy and will ensure that no one, no matter their title and perceived power, can take away our voice or our rights. The future of The Gambia is not to be determined by one family, it will be shaped by the resilience and unity of its people.
By Ndey Jorbateh
