The Jammeh challenge and Buhari’s gambit

Once again, Nigeria is returning to the era when our leaders played pivotal leadership roles in resolving knotty political issues within the ECOWAS sub-region.

Firstly, Nigeria’s foreign policy is hinged on Africa as being the core or centrepiece of our foreign policy.

Expectedly, on assumption of office, President Muhammadu Buhari did not depart from this path; rather he has elevated Nigeria’s leadership, both in West Africa and the entire continent to higher levels.

With the political debacle arising from the recent presidential election in the Gambia where the incumbent leader, Mr. Yahya Jammeh lost, President Buhari in league with other ECOWAS leaders is leading the way towards finding a diplomatic solution to the problem.

It is important to state here that Yahya Jammeh has been in the saddle for 22 years until the December 1, 2016 presidential election in which Mr. Adama Barrow challenged and won him convincingly.

Initially, Mr. Yahya Jammeh had conceded defeat, but surprisingly he later reneged and this is at the root of what is presently unfolding, not only as a threat to Gambia’s democracy, but also the peace of the entire country.

Gladly, President Buhari with benefit of hindsight and experience has seen through the likely conflagration the impasse can cause, hence he decided to rally other ECOWAS leaders in resolving the impasse.

The need to intervene in The Gambia political logjam led by President Buhari is laudable considering the dire consequences that may likely emanate from the impasse. Already, the government of President Jammeh has started a clampdown on the media with the closure of some media houses.

For example, the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of ECOWAS leaders in Abuja on January 9th 2017 had condemned the arbitrary closure of three radio stations.

President Buhari acting in a proactive manner had summoned a meeting of ECOWAS leaders and in attendance were chair of the ECOWAS authority, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Senegalese President Macky Sall, and the immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama among others.

It is also reassuring that the leaders decided to ensure that the Gambia constitution is respected under the present circumstances.

There is no doubt that the decision of Yahya Jammeh to reject the result of the elections is an afterthought and has put the country on edge, and presently citizens of the country are leaving in droves to neighbouring countries and to the hinterlands.

It is also worthy of note that the United States State Department has alerted their citizens to leave The Gambia, in view of the palpable fear of violence that may likely erupt.

With President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership role in resolving the impasse demonstrates his passion, love and support for democracy not only in The Gambia, but across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Gradually, he is emerging as a champion of democracy, rule of law and consensus in addressing issues affecting nations.

Apart from the direct consequences of a total breakdown of law and order in The Gambia, there is also the possibility it may spiral into neighbouring countries. Even the humanitarian impact on neighbouring countries following the influx of Gambian citizens can be very devastating and unsettling.

On the whole, the dire consequences are real and foreseeable, and all hands must be on deck to forestall an avoidable calamity.

In truth, the unfolding crisis in The Gambia is a needless distraction for the growth of democracy, not only in the country, but across the whole ECOWAS sub-region.

Therefore, all well-meaning people should rise and applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for his visionary leadership towards ensuring that the situation in The Gambia does not escalate. His statesmanship and towering personality in the