While political observers are chewing over what lessons can be derived from the recent election results in Senegal I will cease this opportunity to congratulate the Patient Senegalese voters.The Senegalese have demonstrated that they can serve as a role model for other third world countries.Both President Maire Wada and outgoing President Diouf deserve to be praised for been very mature politicians.Maire Wade had always indicated that Diouf deserves respect even if Diouf's should loose in the election.Mr. Diouf on the other hand had accepted his defeat in good faith.This is how mature and true lovers of democracy should do.The fact that people belong to different schools of political thoughts should not mean that they do not have to accommodateeach others mistakes. Now having said all this,what reasons help to explain Ex-president Diouf's defeat in this election?This is an issue which our mind should be labouring over.The reasons can help many of us to build up a smooth learning curve.Ex-president should have learnt a lot from his former boss Sedat Senghore and many others including his immediate friend and elder brother,Sir Dawda Jawara.Senghore left the post of the presidency when he felt that he had delivered his service to his nation but at the same time most needed by the Senegalese people.Sir Dawda Jawara on the extreme end decided to stay on for good which led to his overthrew in July 22, 1994.Ex-president Diouf decides to follow the style of those who think that they should rule for life.And this had led to a great miracle in Africa.When one is surrounded by people of the same age group one might think that one is still capable to lead.But the catch is that most of those who advice you to stay on to power want to safeguard their own self interest.Hence it is this self interestt that makes one to overstay in power.Mr. Diouf had overstayed in the post of the presidency and as a result his ability to deliver the good to the Senegalese people diminishes. Thus in summary,it is the overstay effect which succinctly explains Diouf's defeat.The lesson is let us not overstay,hence the law of diminishing return will take its own course.As ex-president Diouf is now quite busy packing to leave the Presidential Building I will welcome our learned and patient politician, President Wada.We hope you will learn a lot from Diouf.May ALLAH saves Africa.AMEN! Long live freedom,long Africa! >From: sidi sanneh <[log in to unmask]> >To: arona john <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re:Wade wins-Diouf congratulates winner >Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 06:49:08 -0800 (PST) > >Dear Mr. John, >I appreciate your cautious approach to my posting. My >sources are usually impeccable; in this particular >instance it came from the Presidency in Dakar >immediately following Abdou's phone call. My postings >do not carry the authenticity tag for obvious reasons. >However,I do appreciate, once more, your cautious >approach which signifies prudence. Both Dr. Janneh and >Amadu Kabir have now confirmed the outcome of the >elections in Senegal from reputable media sources. The >rest is history as they say. I thank you and kind >regards. > >sidi sanneh > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. >http://im.yahoo.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------