After all the brouhaha about Jammeh's five years of misrule, he has again sailed to a comfortable victory giving him a "mandate" for another five years. Many amateur analyst on this forum have allowed their emotions to get the better of them, and in the process have confidently written off Jammeh's election chances.

I wonder whether these were merely engaged in wishful thinking, or they are that ignorant of Gambian politics to arrive at the erroneous conclusions they often do. The Gambian people have always voted for the party in power, no matter what amount suffering is inflicted on them by that party. For those old enough to remember the 1986 presidential elections, the overwhelming defeat of the then opposition leader was shock to all. This was after the country went through the most turbulent economic period in it's history. Currency devaluation, chronic shortages of essential commodities, mass retrenchment  for many public servants and any number of difficulties that families can face.

However, when election time came in 86, those with the most to loose, that is managing directors of various parastatals and permanent secretaries, moblised government resources and showered the electorate with all forms of bribes to ensure a Jawara victory.

The same process was repeated in 1992 despite clear evidence  lethargy, indifference, and massive corruption at every level of government. When in July 1994, a young unknown army lieutenant mustered courage to topple the admittedly corrupt government, most who voted for him only two years ago jubilated, and concluded that Jawara had overstayed his welcome; as if the chance to remove him by the ballot never existed.

Now Jammeh has been in power for seven odd years; these years saw unprecedented violence inflicted on the Gambian people. The farming community experienced unimaginable suffering for 3 consecutive years of trade season failure. Thuggery and murder have become common place. One would have thought these were grounds enough to reject the APRC at the polls. But no, having taken several leaves from the books of the previous government, the APRC went on a pre-election spending spree, the like of which had never before been seen in our country. This was enough to ensure them a resounding victory as it had always done for the PPP.

But if tomorrow, a lieutenant Samba comes out and declare himself president by toppling Jammeh, there will be a suddenly deluge of anti Jammeh sentiments and a heap of praise for the unknown Samba. 

We must ask ourselves what is it in our political culture that makes us fails to see the gross failings of an incumbent, and why are we suddenly excited by the vague promises of a new and totally untested political leader. Or still, is it that we don't expect our political leadership to change by the ballot, but rather by the bullet. 

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