The Gambia polls: When people are fed up!

It is a country that made headlines recently when its’ longtime leader Yahya Jammeh announced that it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court. Earlier, the former president had withdrawn the country from the Commonwealth states and declared the country an Islamic State without first bothering to consult his people on the move.

Jammeh ascended to power in a military coup 22 years ago as a junior military officer. However, power corrupted him to a point that he could not distinguish between right and wrong, and his personal interests from national interests. He made unilateral decisions that had a negative impact on the country’s economic performance leading to many job losses and extreme poverty. He used the state media to brainwash his people and made them believe that he had powers to heal all ailments including the HIV/AIDS. His supporters viewed him as everything from liberator, to reverend, and healer amongst others.