Dear Saiks,

Glad that we are at the threshold of agreeing to a framework of analysis. It
is extremely necessary that we set out on a firm basis. That will make the
discussion more enligthening.

Just to address few things before embarking on my second part, understand
Power and Politics here to be referring mainly to how a person/s is/are able
to both establish himself/themselves in a secure position to rule, in this
case, a country, and at the same time enjoy the undivided confidence of the
ruled or the led. If at all and according to the way you put it, that Gambia
would have had a different story to show to the World if the President had
kept to his promises, then that would even not fit into my ideal society. I
can only qualify it under the category of my No. Two Hypothesis. Remember, I
have defined Power Base as the "degree of popular support" and the "ability
to maintain stability and cope with opposition".

Yes, one can rightly conclude or expect that, if the Gambians had had course
to enjoy from those beautiful hopes as declared by the President, then the
regime would certainly would have a resonable degree of popular support from
the people - again as I define it. I now ask. Is that really enough? Does
that make the opposition dormant? Does that deter outside threat? I mind,
does it say much about how dynamic a regime is to both outside and inside
forces? Certainly not. Under such circumstances therefore, Gambia wouldn't
have still been stable, so to speak. It is how concious we are to addressing
these factors together as a whole which is crucial to my ideal type of
society.

So, perhaps if you had mentioned that the President wanted to look after the
peoples' welfare and also indicate and justify why the President sees it fit
to fortify himself so as to continue satifying the task of looking after the
peoples' welfare, then that could be considered to fit into my ideal type of
society that would ultimately bring about stability.

I will labor, as I progress, to detail further with my own examples how this
can come  about, I will be looking at questions such as what the role of
opposition should be and that of those who wish to bankrole such an
opposition in my ideal society. I am to inform you that most of political
societites in Africa do not share characteristics of my ideal society.

I would wish to reintroduce my opinion on Political Maturity in relation to
colonialism and the Monicagate issue. They may either implicitly or
explicitly appear in the discussion as we proceed. I will throw more light
on them later.

To be continued.....


God blesses us all for a better world.

Alieu



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