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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 21:41:38
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Foroyaa Editorial
PRESIDENT JAMMEH, THE MUSLIM LEADERS AND
ETI NDAANAN VS FOROYAA.
The Muslim elders visited President Jammeh to orchestrate what has been established as a tradition between the executive and the Muslim leaders after every prayer that marks the end of the fast month. This started during the colonial period. This is usually an occasion where the elders speak their minds regarding the functioning of the executive and the impact of the policies on their congregations. President Jammeh would utilize the occasion to make policy statements on controversial issues. However, people were therefore waiting to hear what he would come up with this time. On his part when he spoke the pattern was different this time. First and foremost, the chairman of the Banjul Muslim elders reminded the President of what he said about Islam and tolerance of diversities, the Imam of Banjul praised the President for his achievements and called on the press to write such achievement and the international community to emulate Gambia’s religious tolerance. All the other spokespersons dwelt on the same message. The Amir of the Ahmadiyaa Mosque added more to the message by emphasizing the importance of the shepherds to look after the sheep in the homes, villages, communities, districts, mosques, divisions and the nation at large. The representatives of the Islamic council spoke about the responsibilities of leaders and those with knowledge for the success and failure of society.
The President in his turn simply thank them for all the good things they said, noting that since the people had given him a new mandate he will try to prove that he deserves to be trusted. This is the shortest speech he has ever given on such occasion. Readers would recall that this was preceded by the dissolution of the cabinet and the reappointment of members of an incomplete one. Foroyaa cannot read and will not try to speculate on what is going on in the mind of the President. We will wait and see. We however maintain that Gambia demands an Executive that is a good listener who wants hear his people’s concerns and one who responds to these concerns with immediacy.
In our view, the Executive should tell the religious leaders that he is more interested in people’s concerns than praise.
It is not a sign of disrespect to tell the president that 3 onions were being sold for 10 dalasis; that a cup of sugar costs 5 dalasis, a cup of rice costs 3 dalasis. In short 6 cups of rice a day is equivalent to the daily income of many daily paid workers. There is nothing wrong in asking the President to find out what is wrong with the price hike and do something about it. In the same vein, there is nothing wrong in telling the President that government upper basic and high schools are not sufficient to accommodate students; that the private schools are charging 5000 dalasis. There is nothing wrong in asking whether government cannot provide subsidies to private schools at reasonable rates so that they could cut down in the tuition and fees and keep them at the same rate as government schools. These and many others regarding the need to promote the rule of law and liberty could be raised. In our view, a healthy dialogue is what is necessary at all times between the executive and representatives of civil society. They should be encouraged to speak the truth in good faith in the public interest.
In short, a leadership that is open and responsive to the needs and interest of the people become an informed and secure leadership.
See Our Next Editorial, Eti Ndaanan Vs FOROYAA (The Beauty Of Respect For Freedom Of Expression.)
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 91/2006, 25-26 October, 2006
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