All roads lead to the Independence Stadium as President Barrow’s inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place on The Gambia’s Independence Day (18th February). As the dawn of a new life and President is set in New Gambia with fanfare, razzmatazz and pageantry, what a good time to take a glance at the must talked about people since the inception of the country’s new government.
Since Barrow’s emergency, one person that managed to establish himself as the most liked Gambian soldier in the country’s history is Lieutenant-General Ousman Badjie. He is the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He won the hearts of many during the political impasse for assuring the public that none of his men would pull the trigger to keep Jammeh in State House.
A Facebook group created by his fans has now garnered more than 2,800 members.
The leader of the PDOIS party, Halifa Sallah, who is also the spokesperson for the Coalition, has accumulated a lot of admirers in the past one month. A few years ago, many thought Halifa would vegetate and flame out politically due to his socialist leanings, ideologies and talking above the head of Gambians as alleged in a leaked US embassy dispatch to Washington by WikiLeaks. However, it seems the veteran politician is here to stay and waxing ever stronger.
Halifa’s sharpness, maturity, eloquence, fearlessness and lucidity of mind during press conferences, which were usually stream lived on social media, has helped significantly to widen and cement his fan base. Some of his admirers said he is a rare gem of a politician and true man of the masses who you can’t help but love unless you are an enemy of progress.
Unlike Halifa and CDS Badjie, Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang attracted controversy and bickering among Gambians at home and abroad following her appointment as the country’s new Vice President. Her age disqualifies her to occupy the position. According to section 70(2) of the 1997 Gambian constitution: “a person shall be qualified to be appointed as Vice President if he or she has the qualifications required for the election of the president under section 62”.