Leadership, Wealth and Power 
 
Most Gambians wake up in the morning to pray for power and abundant wealth. Many people are willing to do anything and everything to have power and wealth. Since they want to be worshipped when they possess such power and wealth they do not hesitate to worship those who possess them in anticipation that sooner or later their time would also come. It is such people who yearn to be worshipped when they possess power who become praise singers and flatterers of those they rely on for patronage because of their possession of power and wealth. 
 
Since they would have wanted to be treated as demi gods if they were in possession of wealth and power they easily become sycophants who would give the impression that their patrons could create the heavens and the earth and do everything imaginable under the sun. They spread information that would enable them to mystify the patrons. This made them not to see their shortcomings.
 
Unfortunately for the Gambia the culture is still rooted in monarchical traditions. This is reinforced by the various ceremonies associated with marriage, birth, etc. Many still try to trace their blood ties to the nobility of the past just to feel important. Musicians capitalize on their aspirations for grandeur by flattering them. Many would give what they don’t have and even go into indebtedness just to perpetuate an illusion.
 
This culture of craving for wealth and power and mystifying the nobility is affecting every aspect of national life. Competition for wealth and power among Gambians is rampant at home and in the Diaspora.
 
People seek supernatural intervention with the hope that they will be blessed with position or wealth. Those who pray or their children also invite supernatural intervention to enable them to rise above their peers.
 
It is therefore no surprise that extravagance is rewarded while humility is seen as a sign of mediocrity. The society promotes extravagance and mystification of power and sees nothing wrong in leaders displaying their wealth and power. In fact they do romanticise such displays. Today there are some who believe that wealth and power could be derived from magical power. The irony is that such magical powers cannot be used to help Obama to put a lead on the leaking oil well which is polluting the waters and causing environmental degradation. A society gets the type of leaders they deserve. This is the verdict of common sense .Gambians therefore need a change of vision of life and attitude.





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