Independent View

Could they still be fighting?

Could it still be – this infighting within the APRC party? Is it worth the violence, war of words and unhealthy intrigues that so nearly marred the presidential election last year? The acrimonious atmosphere attending to the nomination of candidates for the local government is to say the least unbelievable and shameful for the supposedly mature men and women who want to be entrusted with our concerns at the local level.

Save for the North Bank Division, where the winner and his losing rivals showed maturity and commendable goodwill by accepting the democratic verdict of those who selected or rejected them, there seem to be rancorous disagreements, violence, threats and even hatred among people of the same party. It is therefore hard to be convinced after all that the APRC is not prone to the tantrums it was accused of unleashing against supporters of the United Democratic Party in the heat of the October poll. Going by the fact that some members of the APRC would not exercise restraint when dealing with their own people, it is tempting to say that as long as they don’t have what they want some APRC militants do not care to be cutthroats against their comrades in the party.

It is serious to wonder over what would have happened if the UDP had tried to take part in this local government election and had faced their arch rivals in public places where nominations or selection are supposed to take place. Almost certainly more confrontation, more quarrels and more tension. >From Banjul through to Tallinding and the Western Division, APRC aspirants for local government positions are jockeying wildly, throwing not only their wild cards for the ultimate prize but also blows and insults, behaving like noisy children scrambling boisterously for sweets thrown in their midst. And the funniest thing is that they are quarreling amongst themselves notwithstanding the fact that the whole delicious cake as wholesome as local government positions so to speak has been left for their leering tongues.

This is true in spite of the NRP’s interest in the local government election Perhaps one explanation for this childish scramble for position, is the fact that many of those posing as militants for the APRC are without jobs or any gainful activity and would not want to let this sole chance of a lifetime slip without a fight – a real fight if necessary. Ipso facto it would be interesting how such personally inclined individuals give premiere place to the interest of their locales, when the first reason for occupying the position could not be divorced from the need to satisfy their survival instincts. However, we are wont to say that politics whether at the local or national level is not a career, it should be a life of sacrifice especially in The Gambia, where the poor majority live daily on the hope that those who lead them would deliver selflessly and efficiently.

Politics is not like eating fufu, it is the art of doing much for the country even if it winds down to a question of life and death. Politics unfortunately is seen as a game by politicians who arrogantly think they can dribble on top of the people’s head and ride high in the heady clouds of some hidden desires, that are for the most part parochial and selfish. That’s the sort of politics we do not want anymore. So many years of hoodwinking are enough. No other party is tasked to show a better example than the APRC, whose leaders pride themselves in their grassroots appeal and the soundness of their policies and programme. Thus it would have been even better if these fights and insults were over policies and programmes to develop the country. When we say a lot is desired to re-launch us to that elusive path to prosperity, we do not exclude the need for politicians and their supporters to be responsible always. A word for the wise is quite sufficient.