However when party politics is steeped in blind partisanship and not bothered with building and formulating a concrete will based on the core principles of democracy that overrides the individualistic wishes of a few, then it becomes a defeatist project that cannot build a viable state.
What opposition leader Ahmad Mai Fatty was alluding to in the Monday edition of The Standard on the need for unity between the various parties, both opposition and ruling could not have come at a more opportune time.
The process must be embarked upon with the best interest of the Gambian people at heart. It’s an open truth that the president and his followers cannot accomplish all of their dreams and wishes alone. The involvement of the other side is a means of bringing together minds that have over a long period of time been in the political struggle and know a lot of what is needed for improving the country.
Of course there are doctrinal, ethical and other differences, however the fact that there is a common ground, which is the consolidation of the democratic process and the rule of law, must inveigle the disparate political forces to sit down and talk. The only way out ultimately is to recognise and accommodate each other’s differences of opinion without incriminating one another for it.
On the other side of the spectrum, the parties should also be working hard to teach their followers to put aside party differences and work for the betterment of the nation. We must all understand that beyond the politics and party affiliations, we are all Gambians, hence the need to love and respect each other and work in harmony when it’s demanded of us. We are still very far behind when it comes to that and it’s really key if we are to make any head ways in development that is sustainable and progressive.
Patriotism demands that the interest of the nation is looked at before the party. The deep rifts in our societies due to affiliations to a certain party is becoming increasingly threatening to the social fibre that hold us together. We are a people whose heritage is built on harmony and to destroy that is in essence the destruction of the bond which made us a peaceful people. Without a doubt the only people who can prevent this from happening is the party leaders themselves. They need to revisit the codes of conduct that guides their actions and duly uphold them.
The spirit of tolerance should be a dominant factor within the parties. The fact that every party has its own methodology, approach and policies alone makes it a rational case that there will be differences and disagreements; however this should not be an impediment towards uniting forces for the good of the country. It’s within this understanding and framework that the opposition should engage one another and also the ruling party. To also promote that tolerant approach within their various following and with that we can move on to the next phase of the development agenda.
We need all hands on deck if we are to achieve Vision 2016 and Vision 2020. Carpe diem! Let’s seize the day.
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