The situation of the oppressor and the oppressed, is a classical failure of what emerging African states should have done at the dawn of their independence. And, indeed, all emerging nation-states, to carve the destiny of a nation rooted in strong institutions and structures that promote social cohesion, lessen conflict and strife, and engender a political system that peacefully transfer power from one person to another; from one regime to the next.  

 

   Imagine, if our 1970 constitution had a provision for presidential term limits. The first Gambian president would have served for only ten years instead of over thirty. And even if the P.P.P were to rule for over thirty years, which they did, the country would have been governed under three different administrations. The potential of the situation of the oppressor and the oppressed would have been negated; the potential of each successive administration to do better than the previous one, both in terms of human resources and infrastructure development, would have been greater. And the potential to have a coup that heightened and deepened the situation of the oppressor and the oppressed would have been aborted. 

 

   This should serve as a lesson to those who are in the process of negotiating a future for our country; and they should heed your advice as stated below:

 

   "The person who seeks liberation must therefore engage in a regime of resistance perpetually inspired by an unshakable conviction that oppression is to be rejected without qualification, and that what comes next must be carefully and constantly contemplated and visualized every step of the way."

 

Rene 

 

 

 

 

   For our purposes, and for those who are engaged in the process of negotiating a future for our country, they should heed your words thus: