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Momodou
Denmark
11513 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Oct 2018 : 11:08:22
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President Barrow’s Best Bet is Honoring 3 Years Agreement
By Madi M.K. Ceesay
Daily News Editorial: October 10, 2018
The clock is ticking closer by seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and months to the three years agreement between the Gambians and the Coalition government of President Adama Barrow.
When the Coalition came into existence some two years ago; the key driving message the team used to sell their agenda that; there shall be a three-year transition government of a three year period.
If the Government of Adama Barrow is to keep to that promise, then it is time that he begins to wrapped up his activities and prepare working on a handing over note to the next care taker government. The constitution states that should a president resigns before the five year term ; the Vice President should take in charge for 90 days, and then elections be held for a new president to take over.
But if President Barrow wishes not to honor the three-year agreement and relied on the constitution he can continued for 5 years as stipulated in the supreme law of the land. The constitution is not saying that one has to go for 5 years by-force but if a sitting president wishes to step down for any reason he or she is free to do so. What the constitution will not allow is to rule for even a month more than 5 years. The ball is now in President Barrow’s court.
President Barrow will be more respected and honored by the majority of Gambians and the international community when he honored the 3-year transition period agreed. As indicated in the previous editorial of the Daily News there is life after presidency.
All is not lost and it is not late for Barrow to make up his mind to leave power at the end of the 3 years or 5 years and become a hero and or even an international icon.
What president Barrow should focus on now is to transform our economy, laws, security and pay some attention to the development of the education, health and road infrastructure sectors.
In 1994 when former President Jammeh took power he made a very powerful statement and key in the speech was that he and his team were only going to stay for 2 years and then return to the barracks as their mission was to effect corrections. They accused his predecessor for over stay; thirty (30) years was just too much, they claimed. But Jammeh became greedy and failed Gambians after he too stayed for 22 years and even seek for another 5 years; that would have made him president 27 years. What was then his reasons of coup; when he claims that Sir Dawda Jawara over stayed after serving as president for 30 years.
Jammeh’s mistake was not to honor his promise to Gambians to stay for 2 years ; he stayed for 22 years instead and wanted to go beyond that 22 years. Gambians refused and he lost elections after the December elections. Again, he made a good move by accepting results; but still because of greed; one week later he refuses the results; then the impasse and his ultimate status changed from president to a refugee.
Mr. President you have all the chances to make best out of your time and not fall in the trap of former President Jammeh and Jawara.
If you limit your services according to the agreement or the five years is better; but your best bet would have been the 3 years. You will be remembered forever and shall raise the flag of Gambia very high.
Mr. President you will automatically become an international consultant as you will be invited worldwide to explain how you did it. Taking over from a dictator without a blood shed and handing over power after a term, just like Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Mr.President seized this opportunity as opportunity knocks only once at ones door..,
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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President Barrow’s Best Bet is Honoring 3 Years
