WHAT NEXT FOR GAMBIA'S DEMORALIZED OPPOSITION

After a grueling and highly disappointing election that saw President Jammeh of The Gambia, the elected Leader of Africa's Smiling Coast increase his support to 72% and a political fiasco that caught international attention involving ECOWAS, it will be interesting to see how Gambia's badly bruised opposition will attempt to pick up the shattered pieces from a crucial and deeply disappointing election with hopes of rebuilding ahead of the Parliamentary and Local Government elections.

Before I explore the political fallout from the just concluded presidential election for the opposition and President-Elect Jammeh, let's recall some important facts and circumstances that preceded the election. The 2011 Presidential election was widely billed by the opposition and many of its supporters as a chance to break the firm grip Jammeh has on power over the country and liberate the Gambia from a 'one man dictatorship'.

Many called for a coalition opposition of all the opposition political parties to form a united block to stand a decent chance of dislodging the APRC (Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction) government and usher in a government of National Unity. This was a credible observation considering the simple majority voting system in The Gambia. The loudest proponents of such a coalition were the diaspora opposition interest groups and political observers and analysts. Debates were held online, in telephone conversations amongst friends, meetings and webinars with stakeholders as to the composition and correct setup of such a coalition. Some suggested a UDP (United Democratic Party) lead coalition considering the party's support base that the UDP and GMC (Gambia Moral Congress) parties favor and others thought a Convention (a trial concept in Gambia) would be more acceptable and democratic and will guarantee that there is no undue advantage given to a single party in which regional delegates would select a leader with the most qualification and best chance of defeating Jammeh and the APRC. Ultimately, no agreement was reached between all the parties and two alliances later emerged. An UDP led alliance comprising the UDP, GMC and PPP (People's Progressive Party) chose Lawyer Ousainou Darboe as their candidate and Hamat NK Bah led the United Front after winning the most delegates at a convention of the NRP (National Reconciliation Party), PDOIS (People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism), GPDP (Gambia Party for Development and Progress) and NADD (National Alliance for Democracy and Development) parties.

The opposition was not lacking in enthusiasm during the period between the nomination of candidates and the ensuing 11 days campaigning. In a November 21st publication of the FOROYYA Newspaper, the paper highlighted the leaders of the United Front as promising to usher in a new governance strategy that will give The Gambia a 'facelift', improve the standard of living of Gambians, turn the Gambia into a 'debt-mess free' nation and improve the plight of the suffering farmers by improving Agriculture and provide adequate marketing for their produce. Not to be outdone, Ousainou Numukunda Darboe of the UDP accused Yahya Jammeh of using tribalism rhetoric to maintain support and intimidate voters. He pledged to fix a 'Bad' Economy, create a 'Youth Enterprise Fund' for the youth of The Gambia and an eternal commitment to Human Rights and Freedoms. Both opposition alliances vowed that come November 24th 2011, they would surprise the APRC political establishment and many pundits and defeat the incumbent, Jammeh.

President Jammeh on the other hand was not about to rock the boat and maintained what many thought was an uncharacteristically cool-headed campaign for the most part during the electioneering process calling for calm, peaceful conduct of the vote and urged his supporters to be tolerant towards the opposition. He was sure to clarify that he was not on a campaign trail, something he vowed not to do. He stated that he was merely fulfilling his mother's wish to conduct a 'Thank you' Tour of the country to show his gratitude to the electorate for the giving him 3 consecutive mandates of 5 years. This was barely two months after his September 2011 People's Tour that is constitutionally sanctioned by the Constitution, days before Election Day. As far as President Jammeh was concerned, Gambians are development oriented people and would not all of a sudden go 'mad' and vote against what he considered a development and progressive government in exchange for 'enemies of development' and unpatriotic elements who never succeeded in bringing any form of development their supporters or the country.

The stage was set for a political showdown, the likes of which was rarely seen in Gambian politics. An emboldened opposition, a determined, confident and cautious incumbent and an increasingly more enlightened electorate against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world political landscape in a year that saw perennial dictatorships falls as a result of the Arab Spring (Islamic Awakening), a global economic meltdown and realignment and a spiraling Occupy Movement. It was an incredible plot and a gift that kept on giving, especially for the online Gambian newspapers and political pundits.

To be continued….

By Mr. Anonymous
Email: [email protected]