Senegalese and Africans at large were elated as the result of the presidential election were released showing that 44 years old opposition candidate, Bassirou Faye has comfortably won the election with 54.28 percent of votes.
Faye’s election is a first in many ways. It makes it the first time since independence from France in 1960 that an opponent has won in the first round in Senegal.
The election also put an end to three years of tension and deadly unrest, which Senegal plunged into a deeper political crisis in February, when former president Sall decided to delay the presidential poll.
Faye, who won the presidential race 10-days after he was freed from prison, will later be officially be declared winner after his victory after the Senegal’s top constitutional body validated his win.
As the euphoria wane, it is time to take a critical look at what lies ahead and reflect on what led the landmark win.
Ousame Sonko Kingmaker role
The pivotal role of Ousmane Sonko, now prime minister of Senegal in this victory cannot be over emphasised. It Sonko who cried blue murder when the rumour of aa possible third term bid for Macky Sall emerged.
Trouble started after 2022 parliamentary elections which though the ruling coalition lost absolute majority, the opposition felt the result was rigged in favour of the ruling party. This led to mistrust and suspicion that it a pre-cursor for then President Macky Sall announcing a third term bid.
Just for delaying making a clear statement about whether he will run or not, Ousmane Sonko had already called for demonstrations, he would eventually be imprisoned and later banned from running.
However, before all these, Sonko had already sensitised the young people and the opposition, such that the emergence of Bassirou Faye did not affect the resolve of their supporters.
So many across the continent especially Nigeria has focused on the age of the president hailing it as the great big thing, in was much as the reason for this sentiment is appreciated, the new president and his team must not loose focus.
Let’s not forget that Macky Sall was only 50 when he became president, he became the country’s Prime Minister at the age of 43 in 2004 and also acted as President of the Senegalese National Assembly at 46. So age is good but that’s not all.
Time to repay the trust and loyalty of supporters
The new President must ask himself where are the areas my predecessor failed, what can I do to improve it? How can I help the youth of the country achieve their dream of economic freedom inn Senegal with embarking on the treacherous journey through the desert to Europe that has claimed the lives of thousands of Senegalese.
He must also be wary of former colonial master – France, he must also understand that the speech he gave inn English language in the weeks leading to his political victory has stirred hornet’s nest.
Without analysing the speech there are two things in that speech that Paris won’t be pleased with: one the address was in English language, two the content of the speech itself.
You guys has to be on the lookout; armed with your weapons as you focus on the work like Nehemiah and his team when they rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem.
Let’s end the celebrations and give Senegal and by extension the youth of Africa the hope they are looking for. God bless the President and people of Senegal.
