Back and Next - Back and NextExemplary leadership
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The visit to Kanilai of 41 students from Guinea Bissau reveals a great deal of the effectiveness of The Gambia’s unique diplomatic style with regards to regional integration; a diplomacy that is built on truth and mutual respect.
The level of admiration the students displayed for President Jammeh’s style of leadership denotes how appreciative the rest of the world is of this nation of ours. Apart from the president’s pan-Africanist stance which, clearly, was an inspiration for the students to have come over to The Gambia as guests of His Excellency, the visitors were ubiquitously amazed at the relationship between a typical African leader and his people.
“We have heard of your closeness to your people … and now we have seen it for ourselves,” they told the president, as he gave them audience at his home village of Kanilai.
Apparently, one of the remarkable attributes of the 2nd republic of The Gambia is this extraordinary affinity between its leader and his people. This, as it turns out to be, is among the most fancied of relationships anywhere in the world.
As a matter of fact, a disconnection between a leader and their citizens serves as an obstacle to progress, because the people do not only fear such a leadership, but are compelled to distance themselves from it. And such a leadership categorically lacks legitimacy, as it deprives its people of the opportunity to take part in the decision-making process.
If anything, the visit by these youths reiterates one thing, and that is an assurance of the continuation of the pre-colonial bond that ties the two peoples together. As the president said, it is important that the youths are united because they are the future leaders.
Besides, has it not been argued, time and again, that the prospect of unification of the continent lies greatly on the participation of those at the grassroot level? Well, if what these youths have demonstrated is anything to go by, then the people of the continent should rejoice, because The Gambia and Guinea Bissau are setting the pace.
The level of admiration the students displayed for President Jammeh’s style of leadership denotes how appreciative the rest of the world is of this nation of ours. Apart from the president’s pan-Africanist stance which, clearly, was an inspiration for the students to have come over to The Gambia as guests of His Excellency, the visitors were ubiquitously amazed at the relationship between a typical African leader and his people.
“We have heard of your closeness to your people … and now we have seen it for ourselves,” they told the president, as he gave them audience at his home village of Kanilai.
Apparently, one of the remarkable attributes of the 2nd republic of The Gambia is this extraordinary affinity between its leader and his people. This, as it turns out to be, is among the most fancied of relationships anywhere in the world.
As a matter of fact, a disconnection between a leader and their citizens serves as an obstacle to progress, because the people do not only fear such a leadership, but are compelled to distance themselves from it. And such a leadership categorically lacks legitimacy, as it deprives its people of the opportunity to take part in the decision-making process.
If anything, the visit by these youths reiterates one thing, and that is an assurance of the continuation of the pre-colonial bond that ties the two peoples together. As the president said, it is important that the youths are united because they are the future leaders.
Besides, has it not been argued, time and again, that the prospect of unification of the continent lies greatly on the participation of those at the grassroot level? Well, if what these youths have demonstrated is anything to go by, then the people of the continent should rejoice, because The Gambia and Guinea Bissau are setting the pace.
Author: DO
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