Alagi Yorro Jallow.
MAMUDU: It has become abundantly clear that President Adama Barrow and the Coalition 2016 leadership have lost focus following their significant electoral victory. Democracy Day, Freedom Day, or Liberation Day should be celebrated annually to mark the end of Africa’s worst dictatorship in a century and the valiant stance taken by Gambians to overthrow a dictator and restore democracy, as well as to shame those who failed to participate in the fight against tyranny in The Gambia.
Caught in a state of euphoria, they failed to grasp the complexity of managing success versus the challenge of winning an election. Hesitation crept in when decisive action was needed. Attempts have been made to downplay the importance of the December 1, 2016, election results. Such denial has continued for an extended period. The December 1 Presidential elections serve as a reminder to Gambians to defend our democracy. Remembering that day, we are called to protect our hard-won democratic freedoms and to prevent any erosion or abuse of constitutional democracy principles.
Mamudu: December 1 is recognized as the true Day of Democracy and Freedom, marked by the sacrifices of martyrs who gave their lives for democracy. Despite attempts by adversaries to undermine these ideals, the sacrifices of Gambians who protested in the streets must always be remembered. It is the government’s responsibility to honor the genuine heroes of Gambia’s democracy. December 1 should be established as a National Day and recognized as a public holiday. The state must continue to promote the strengthening of this emerging democracy by honoring both the living and the deceased heroes of the December 1 movement, ensuring their legacy endures.
Mamudu: The people of The Gambia should honor and remember the heroes and heroines of the nation’s democracy and commemorate the deaths of the late pro-democracy activists. December 1 is recognized as one of the most significant dates in The Gambia’s political history, a day that should not be forgotten, and truly deserves national recognition for the struggle.
Mamudu: Nation-building necessitates the sacrifice of all citizens; thus, everyone must adopt the moral integrity to acknowledge the past. It is essential to honor the champions of Gambia’s democracy. The events of December 1 in Gambia’s history represent a commitment to robust democratic values and experiences. President Adama Barrow and his administration should accurately reflect history by acknowledging and proclaiming December 1 as Democracy Day. Adama Barrow ought to honor the pivotal figures who have solidified Gambia’s democratic journey over the past three years, advancing democracy and good governance.
Mamudu: Numerous Gambians were at the forefront as active participants in the politics of the dictatorship era. We shared the fears, pains, and anxieties of our fellow Gambians concerning the horrors of dictatorship; our endeavors to establish a lasting democracy have faced challenges. President Adama Barrow and his government must cease the deceit and mend the damage by symbolically acknowledging the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists and the many other champions of democracy—artisans, human rights organizations, students, traders, journalists, academics, various professionals, organized religions, and the labor movement—by bestowing the National Award with full honors. This honor should first recognize the men and women, young and old, who paid the ultimate price to lay the foundation for Gambia’s democracy, and then the heroes and heroines who resisted the dictatorship, including members of the Fourth Estate who wielded the written and spoken word against tyranny and advocated for the declaration of December 1 as Democracy Day.
Mamudu: The Gambian government should also bestow the nation’s highest honor posthumously to the families of all fallen heroes and heroines. This act is not about reopening old wounds but shedding light on the nation. We cannot correct the past, but we can soothe our conscience and refuse to accept further perversion of justice, corruption, and violations of human rights. December 1 marks the day Gambians chose to end dictatorship and embrace national unity over ethnic divisions. We reshaped The Gambia through the ballot box. Reviving the spirit of December 1 is possible if we adopt democratic principles.
Mamudu: No Gambian can question the commitment of United Gambians from all tribes, social media activists, and Facebook warriors to the tremendous welfare of The Gambia and its people. Our ability to transform The Gambia’s inadequate government, our determination, and our vow for a better nation should not be underestimated. We were significant men and women, capable enough to frame a change towards a brighter future for all Gambians at this point in our history. We are the guides of our nation and its people.
Mamudu: We witnessed a time when an educated and wealthy elite looked down upon the Gambia and its citizens, having enriched themselves at the expense of the nation’s resources or by profiting from the labor of our people. Should the impoverished Gambians attain liberation from corruption, our source of wealth would be depleted, compelling them to pursue new ventures, likely doomed to fail.
Mamudu: The act of carrying placards in protest, writing petitions, and voicing criticism against a ruthless dictator should be commended rather than remaining silent and fearful. Such actions, recognized at the Elysee Palace, Buckingham Palace, New York, or the White House, are at the vanguard of the struggle against a brutal dictator and must be acknowledged as such.
On December 1, also known as Freedom Day, the government and civil society organizations might consider establishing a Hall of Shame. This would recognize individuals who were complicit in tyranny, those who remained silent during the struggle for democracy, and supporters of brutal dictatorships. Such a measure would act as a courageous deterrent to future tyrants. The Gambia and civil society must immortalize Democracy Heroes, heroines, and martyrs, and proclaim December 1 as Freedom Day, while also recognizing the complicit, enablers, and fence-sitters in a Hall of Shame for Dictatorship Enablers.
