Gambian political discourse frequently follows a pattern where strong principles articulated before elections are often followed by shifts in allegiance after the polls. Indeed, Gambian politics has a familiar script, marked by fierce principles before elections and what the article describes as shameless betrayals after. According to the article, this dynamic sees individuals who were once vocal critics of a particular political faction or leader subsequently becoming willing partners. The article argues that yesterday’s loudest critics become today’s eager partners, and yesterday’s condemnation becomes today’s coalition. The analysis suggests that previous condemnations of political figures or policies often transform into alliances, forming new coalitions within the political landscape.
The Political Marketplace
Gambian politics operates without ideology, with parties founded on individual appetites rather than concrete ideas, the article states. It asserts that every critic possesses a price in an environment where politics prioritizes "stomach and not service." The article claims that when politics is about 'stomach and not service,' every critic has a price. Politicians, the article claims, believe Gambians have short memories, often insulting voters' intelligence by articulating lofty principles publicly while privately negotiating deals. They are accused of reciting lofty principles during the day and negotiating deals at night. A democracy, the article argues, cannot endure on opportunism. It questions how citizens can trust future promises from politicians if those politicians cannot uphold previous statements made just the year before. The article argues that a democracy cannot survive on opportunism and questions why citizens should trust politicians' future promises if they cannot stand by what they said last year.
An Example of Shifting Alliances
Essa Faal confirmed an alliance with the NPP, an administration he had previously denounced for years as incompetent, corrupt, and a betrayal of the TRRC. The article states that Faal had informed Gambians that President Barrow had failed to implement TRRC recommendations, asserting that the government lacked vision and that he could not and would not work with it. The article specifically states that Essa Faal previously told Gambians that Barrow had failed to implement TRRC recommendations, that the government lacked vision, and that he could not and would not work with it. The TRRC, according to the article, provided individuals such as Faal with national stature, which they earned through their interrogations into the crimes committed by Yahya Jammeh. The article posits that the TRRC gave men like Faal national stature, earned by interrogating the crimes of Yahya Jammeh, which was then used as a political launchpad. This platform was subsequently utilized as a political launchpad.
Failed Ventures and Pragmatic Shifts
The article claims that discussions between the United Democratic Party (UDP) for a potential vice-presidential ticket did not succeed. It states that the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction – Sobeyaa (APP-Sobeyaa) was unable to contest independently. The article claims that the UDP talks for a vice-presidential ticket failed, and the APP-Sobeyaa could not stand alone. These developments reportedly influenced the political landscape, leading to reconsiderations of alliances among various parties and individuals in The Gambia. The situation showed the challenges faced by some political entities in forming viable partnerships or mounting solo campaigns, often pushing them towards alliances that might contradict prior public stances.
The Call for True Integrity
The article advocates for a departure from "marketplace politics," where convictions are perceived as being for sale. It calls for less 'marketplace politics' where convictions are for sale, and more politicians who understand integrity is what you do when it costs you. It calls for more politicians who grasp that integrity is demonstrated through actions taken even when they come at a personal cost. This perspective suggests a need for leaders in Gambian politics to prioritize principles over opportunistic gains. The analysis implies that such a shift could foster greater public trust and solidify the foundations of democratic governance in the country, moving away from the transactional nature that currently defines much of its political landscape.