What began as a gesture of purely noble intervention - the president’s move to venture into the infertility treatment – now happens to be the subject of national debate.

According to President Jammeh himself during last weekend’s ceremony marking the discharging of the 3rd, 4th and 5th batches of patients undergoing his treatment programs, about 80% of Gambians had raised concerns about his security, all because of the increasing popularity of his infertility treatment.

The fact that Gambians can make such a passionate appeal to their leader suggests the bond of love between the leader and the led, and it goes further to confirm the degree of appreciation of the people of The Gambia of the selfless service of their leader.

But as wisdom would have it, Allah would never entrust the affairs of such a noble people to someone that would not commensurate the integrity of his people. It was therefore not a surprise that the president responded in the most prudent of manners imaginable.

“The decision whether to continue with the treatment or not,” he told thousands of Gambians  at his home village of Kanilai, “rests on you, the Gambians”. In effect, the president has turned the decision-making baton over to the people. How thoughtful of a leader in this 21st century!

What we can deduce from this is that President Jammeh understands the feelings of his people, and he fervently appreciates their concern; but, obsessed with the urge to fulfil the promise of destiny, there is no way he is going to give in so soon. Caught between necessity and the need to love, all that occurred to him was to throw back the decision to his people.

Now this is one of the most uncommon gestures in today’s world. The president, apparently, is so much filled with humanitarian concern for the sick that he just cannot abandoning these people. The final point rests on the following question: “Should I leave them in their misery, or should I believe in the Almighty Allah and treat them?” This is the question Gambians have been tasked to answer. It is by no means an easy question to answer, let’s make no mistake about that.

We are talking here about 2,500 people who having registered for the president’s treatment for an illness that has denied them the joy of a whole life – childlessness. Until we come to a conclusion, the situation lies in the balance.