Opinion

New York Letter With Alagi Yorro Jallow: To All Aspiring Chairmen And Mayoral 2018 Candidates

Alagi Yorro Jallow

There are many hitherto unknown persons, some of them nondescript and a few familiar faces who have expressed interest in running for Mayoral and Local government offices. Several candidates in total seeking elections to become Mayor and most conspicuous comes from Banjul and Kanifing Area Council. Many of us have called them non-starters, projects and time wasters.

Collectively, we are the non-starters. We are the projects of tribal bigots who use us to ascend to power. Yes, we are the time wasters by electing people who are not fit to become chairmen of local cattle dips to high office. These aspiring Gambian politicians have something many of us lack. Guts. They have risen to the occasion to participate in a leadership contest that many of us will never take part in.

Many of us prefer being in the “anonymous fringe” as ordinary voters. We complain about bad leadership, yet we are afraid of offering ourselves as the alternative.

I pray that in April 2018, Local government elections we reject ethnic fortification in exchange for a battle of ideas. It must not be the ultimate battle between the Coalition & the Tactical Alliance and between APRC & GDC just for the sake of it. It is about finding the right leadership for the Gambian voters. It must not be about the display of wealth and endless campaign spending.

It is not about the most beautiful billboard, branded cars or the most glittering political party headquarters. I hope Cham Demba now knows that elections are not won by displaying large military grade trucks. It takes winning the hearts and souls of the ordinary voter to govern. It has never been a beauty contest! Remember the crowded primary conventions at Kairaba beach hotel, a standard bearer of the coalition was elected? Some contestants thought they had won the race by their physical looks! Fatoumatta, in 2016 December historic elections voters were not looking for the “Jester ” but were looking for a Messiah.

A night guard was elected to represent his people as flag bearer. A night guard equally become President of a nation. This gentleman who campaigned on a coalition platform. He was elected, and voters were excited to hear from him and his coalition. We must start electing leaders who live like us. Those who appreciate our daily struggles.

The Banjul and KMC Mayoral offices must not be reduced to a jewel crown “negotiated” in turns among a small circle of organized money.

Some fools are talking 2021, yet the 2018 hurdle remains. That is the trademark folly of organized money. They imagine they are the only constant in the political equation. As the organized money cartel loot and accumulate for 2021 they have no guarantee that they will be alive or in good health to run for office. They have forgotten that God is the extinguisher in chief. Remember Comrade Solo Sandeng? May he rest in peace. He died a few months before December 1, 2016 elections that packed President Yahya Jammeh into exile.

Benjamin Todd Jealous opined “In a democracy there are only two types of power: there’s organized people and organized money, and organized money only wins when people aren’t organized.”

I think we have given too many chances to the organized money cartel. Since Independence. They have rewarded us by looting from us to get more powerful.

It is time for organized people. I salute all aspiring politicians who have decided to run for the the Mayoral and Local government elections.

2 Comments

  1. Most of these candidates cannot articulate why they want or choose to be Mayor. They are uninformed about the problems of the municipality that they are trying to control. Nearly all of them live outside the locality they are trying to run in. They all are eager to chop and peddle influence. None of them have a pedigree, except maybe the candidate/lady in Banjul. Most are domestic labor in Europe and large number of the men are drug dealers and criminals with extensive records of arrest and spending time in American and European jails. All of them are poorly educated or uneducated, claiming worthless pieces of paper from cheap unapproved online “school”.
    These are our so called candidates or better our nightmares.
    God Help Us.

  2. The article below offered by Bai Lamin Jobe is very apt under the circumstances and presents sobering proposals for all Banjulians, aspiring mayoral candidates and well meaning Gambians!
    It is particularly important for the current mayoral candidates that appear to be largely devoid of sound and pragmatic ideas.

    Minister Jobe advises Banjul Mayoral candidates
    Africa » Gambia » SHOW MAP

    Tuesday, February 27, 2018
    “To all those candidates wanting to be mayor of Banjul, this is my take on the mayorship, as a Banjulian. The mayor is the “manager” of the city, a job at the moment that requires, above all, a vision for change. Change in turn requires resources, the raising and dispensing of which require the acumen of an entrepreneur, and makes running the city the same as running a business.

    So what could be a business model for Banjul? So far, the city has always been in the transit trade, and a logical vision is to become a major player in this respect. This will have to include being both a commercial and a financial center, covering the inland river ports, Senegal, the West African region, and possibly beyond, supported by robust infrastructure and financial services.

    To be more specific, a good mayor of Banjul would first give the city a facelift. Except perhaps leaving Albert Market and the ferry terminal at their present locations, and modernizing them, all other buildings and structures to the left of Wellington Street, he or she should consider razing to the ground, to give the city a marine broadwalk, lined by trees and benches, and opened to the sea. This will bring sense of space to the clustered city.

    Next, the mayor should consider reclaiming the “tanne” or bund polder, to provide the Port Authority with container and truck yards and warehouses, also space for more offices and commercial buildings of related services. Perhaps the owners of the demolished properties along Wellington Street could be compensated with land in this area. Rehabilitation of the bund polder should include the city drainage network, which includes the main earth ring drain in the tanne, and Bokis pumping station.

    Also, the mayor should be bold enough to review all existing properties in Banjul, whether commercial or residential, from the point of view of the city’s development. All delinquent and absentee property owners should be engaged to develop or sell their properties, otherwise city ordinances should allow the council to sell properties to settle tax arrears. As we all know, owners of properties in Banjul lack interest in the development of their properties, because of the multiple ownership of such properties. The council should approach the owners on this issue and together come up with a plan of removing the impasse.

    Lastly, If the mayor can provide a well run city, with adequate infrastructure and services, the city will attract considerable number of trade related businesses, and more importantly, the mayor will be in position to raise the necessary revenues or even float municipal bonds, not only nationally but regionally, to meet recurrent operational needs and for further development.

    Let the best person wins, to make into good use of the considerable goodwill for Banjul, at home and abroad”.

    Bai Lamin Jobe
    Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure

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