The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Daily Observer
30 July 2010
editorial
The 2010 presidential Dialogue with the people tour has finally ended with great success. During the tour, people from all walks of life, young and old, male and female, came out to welcome the Gambian leader and his entourage.
The tour also witnessed the laying of foundation stones of new development projects; above all there was also a mass defection of opposition supporters to the APRC. We can deduce that the tour was not only a great success; it also availed the people the unique opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to a leadership that has mobilised our total manpower for the industrial, economic, technological and scientific reconstruction of the country.
It is good leaders that intermingle with their people and listen to their constraints. There is every indication that this is a fact well appreciated by the leadership of this country. The clause in the constitution that makes it mandatory for the head of state to tour the country at least once in every 12 months set the pace for this democratic practice. The tour provides the president the opportunity to not only see how the people are faring; it also enables him to share with them his idea of nation building.
The comments of the people themselves at meetings held during the tour show how happy they were to have the president in their midst, and how they cherish the opportunity discuss pertinent issues with him. The down-to-earth attitude and pragmatic approach of the president also elucidates his strong commitment to democracy, good governance and the standards of good practice by a representative government.
The tour therefore undoubtedly manifests that we have a leadership and a government that is responsible to the citizenry. In fact, what the people demonstrated during the tour provides ample evidence that come 2011, the APRC will again sweep the pools.
The people have demonstrated a high sense of patriotism in affirming loyalty to the leadership during the tour. We commend Gambians for coming out in their large numbers everywhere in the country to welcome the president and his entourage; we also hope to see more successful tours in future.
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