There is a special place in hell for the politician who, having failed to convince Gambians with ideas, now tries to divide them with tribe. Let us call them what they are: cowards, frauds, and dangers to the Republic.
For 22 years, The Gambia was held hostage by tribal arrogance. We buried that era in 2017 with a promise — never again will a Gambian be told he is less Gambian because of his last name, his accent, or the village of his mother. Never again will State House be a tribal shrine. Yet today, with December 5th approaching, the ghosts have returned. They wear agbadas and suits. They speak on Facebook Live, WhatsApp audios and political rallies. They have no manifesto, no record, no plan for jobs, for roads, for the price of rice. Their only campaign strategy is to whisper poison: “It is our turn. They are dominating us. Vote your tribe.”
Shame on them. Shame on the politician who goes to Foni and tells Jolas that Mandinkas hate them. Who goes to Baddibu and tells Mandinkas that Fulas want to take their land. Who goes to Fulladu and tells Fulas that they are strangers in their own country. This is not politics. This is arson. What have they built to ask for votes? Nothing. So they seek to burn the only thing Gambians were able to build — peace, coexistence, a fragile national unity that is the envy of the sub-region. Let us be blunt: The Gambia does not have a tribal problem. It has a tribalist politician problem. The ordinary Mandinka farmer in Kerewan shares attaya with his Fula herder neighbour. The Wolof fisherman in Tanji sells to a Jola woman. In Serekunda market, tribe does not decide the price. Only the failed politician sitting in his compound or speaking at political rallies, afraid of his own emptiness, sees tribe everywhere — because without it, he is nothing.
Gambians must reject them, completely and loudly. Do not clap for them. Do not share their videos. Do not give them the audience they crave. On December 5th, vote as a Gambian, not as a tribe. Vote based on who believe will build the roads to your village, who bring electricity to your community, and who will improve your health system.
To the tribalist politician, we say this: The Gambia is bigger than your bitterness. The Republic will survive you. Your name will be forgotten, but the unity you tried to destroy will remain. You came with tribe. You will leave with shame.