Gambia is a tiny land surrounded by Senegal on three sides, located in the western part of Africa with an approximate population of two million people. The country derived her name from her only river which is the most navigable in the whole  of west Africa.

The Gambia is inhabited by people of tolerance and unity, living harmoniously in their diverse culture and multi-linguistic society. The Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, Manjago, Fula, Sarahuli, to name few all inter-marry and accept each other to the core.  This has been a long  practice for many decades.

 Today, the long lasting bond between these people has broken. The tolerance and unity they are known for has crackled. The beautiful name given “smiling coast” of Aest Africa has faded and a new face emerged.

The new face is suffocating and an intimidation to humanity, disheartening and shameful to the diverse, beautiful culture and tolerance we once had. I bet something serious need to be done to avoid chaotic and civil war in the country. But I pray that such shall never prevail in the Gambia, our beloved land of peace.

Furthermore, I must prsent  to you that we need change and that change we need is system change. This was ones said by Hon. Halifa Sallah, and I concur with that statement of his.

Here, I believe the system change entails more than what people merely think of, but this has a wider and deeper  perimeters than people thought. It is not only confined in the political domain but beyond. The change includes even social, economic and moral domains.

For a  rebirth of better Gambia, this change needs to set now to put us on the path of better development so that we make better history for the generations to come. We must decolonise our minds and liberate ourselves from tribalism and tribalistic mentalities. We must realise that we are one, regardless of the multi-linguistic set up.

We must realized that, a tree is planted by a generation, and then watered by another generation and finally harvested by another generation. So to prevent and avoid precarious and chaotic moment of panicious acts, I suggest Gambians decolonise their mind and set for a better nation.

In addition, we must affirm that a nation can never be developed when corruption becomes the order of the day. Corruption, nepotism and favoritism must be fought to the core both in offices and outside. National interest must be a priority for every Gambian before any other thing.

Each citizen has a duty to execute and shall not misuse it. Public officials shall refrain from corruption, nepotism and favoritism, and those incharge  must bear in mind that they are not in enrichment centres but instead a  path to also play pivotal roles in the development of the country.

Furthermore, the change also entails the leaders and leadership styles we have. However, I must present to Gambian and Gambian leaders to develop compassion and consider the vision of this country. And let the elected leaders bear in mind that the will and plight of the their people shall be respected  and considered. We must realize that election is not an ethnic census to determine which ethnicity is the largest.

Julius Nyerere, a great son of Africa once said, ”the tragedy of African politics is not the song that is sang, but who the singer is”, And this is very obvious that most nations are suffering of political crisis because of this, the Gambia is not an exception. Our leaders should set their minds on the right trajectory and care for national interest. Then we shall attain the change and the Gambia we want.

I inform our leaders to build compassion and understand that a war of battalions cannot be victorious by an individual alone. I remind them to realize that the seat is not hereditary but instead rotational.

Finally, for the change to be implemented effectively, we most challenge ourselves by emancipating from the indecent and barbaric acts, and see the country first before anything. And I remind Gambians to decolonise their minds from tribalism and tribalistic mentalities. I remind Gambian leaders to build compassion and I remind Gambians to think beyond the box. So then we shall attain better change and better Gambia!

Bakary Dibba

Gambia College