CRC, Cherno Jallow, QC, & the failure of democracy
By MATHEW JALLOW
It’s not my intention to bombard you with issues I believe are worthy of consideration, but since this is an open invitation, I’d better take advantage of the offer or “forever shut my mouth.”
Constitutions, as guiding principles for how power and authority are exercised for the benefit of citizens, paradoxically have inherent weaknesses that are prone to exploitation.
I am specifically referring to the power dynamics between the executive and the other branches of the government. Recently, Adama Barrow reportedly told the citizens of Foni that Yahya Jammeh is free to come back. I think this level of assumption of authority is an overreach. By default, the Gambian president has exercised power & authority that should be limited by a Constitutional Clause. This could be achieved by either articulating the president’s job description, and power & authority allocated to the office.
Similarly, a Clause in the Constitution can achieve the same results. Sir Dawda had excess power, but never misused or abused it. The same cannot be said of Yahya Jammeh, and the end result was disastrous for Gambia.
The frequent hiring and firings, packing the government with party supporters, friends, and associates is not what a head of state should do. What we have in Gambia, considering the monopoly of power by the head of state, is the real definition of a monocracy; government run by one person.
Political parties belong to their members; government belongs to everyone, regardless of party affiliation. Other Africans may do it that way, but we don’t have to follow their examples.
We can do it our way; the legal and democratic way. Lets aspire to be different. The best national security isn’t the military; it’s justice and fairness in government.
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