I'm an optimist but also a realist. The Gambia and Gambians including myself welcomed ECOWAS' initial position of 'Jammeh must respect the will of Gambians', their subsequent position that was a strong communique signed on December 17, 2017 communique signed on December 17, 2016, to ensure president-elect Barrow isn't only inaugurated but his personal safety guaranteed. What we're hearing from Accra today, that they're still pursuing mediation efforts did NOT change anything. Their posture and commitment primarily, is to 'peacefully resolve' this crisis. That's what all responsible people, leaders and institutions do. These are not bodies of mercenaries with pens and guns. Gambian lives are what their priorities are, not anything personal against Jammeh or favouritism towards Barrow. So, we should expect them to exhaust all possible means that could yield us success with less collateral damage.
NOW!
When the Gambians were forming a coalition, going to polls and voting Jammeh and APRC out, there was no ECOWAS. They didn't even send an observer mission to the Gambia. Gambians were determined to end the dictatorship, the servitude, the oppression. They entrusted a competent, respectable group of determined patriots to steer their affairs. The COALITION are doing just that. Thus far, they've not put a foot wrong.
The Coalition asked that we be calm through all this. They insist that Jammeh is still president until January 18, and Barrow becomes legitimate president at the expiration of the term of Yaya. These are facts. When ECOWAS delegation went to the Gambia on a 'fact finding mission', the coalition were obliged to listen to them. And in good faith, had to welcome that mediation. NEVER did they tell Gambians 'you voted for us but now we're bequeathing our responsibility to ECOWAS'. They NEVER told us they're folding hands to wait for ECOWAS.
Whether ECOWAS comes to our rescue or not, Gambians are the ones to defend their votes and mandate and IT WILL HAPPEN. Yaya cannot do much about that. So DO NOT go into panic mode cos you heard a diplomatic statement from ECOWAS. What were we expecting? 'Oh we're going to Fuck Jammeh up at 3.47pm on Tuesday January 10, 2017'? They reiterated that they're 'standing by/with the people of the Gambia'.
My faith is in the thousands of Gambians who had the will and capacity to vote out a 22-year brutal dictatorship. The same people have the capacity to defend their verdict. That's with ECOWAS or not. Anything less than that would be not respecting them!
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First published January 7, 2017
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