President Barack Obama made a strong statement during his inaugural speech, in which he emphasized the need for the world to bear in mind the values that constitute key pillars of development. Considering patriotism, loyalty, hard work and honesty as the components of the engine of progress, the first African-American US president sought to send a clear signal to the whole world on the need to reconcile politics with ethics.

Reacting to this epistemological move, Dr Omar Touray, secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, said that the American president has vindicated President Jammeh, as the Gambian leader is on record as having always emphasised that these are the core principles for a country’s development. In addition, he noted that hardwork is the sine qua non for any developmental initiative. And patriotism, SoS Touray indicated, is also very key to attaining development goals.

“People should be conscious of their national duty, know their responsibility towards the country, and appreciate the privileges and opportunities created,” he emphasised. For Crispin Grey-Johnson, secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, patriotism plays a fundamental role in any development process. Making reference to President Obama’s stance, he went on to say that our differences should not be reflected in the context of national development.

The Higher Education secretary of state urged the masses to do things that will greatly promote the development objectives of the country. Patriotism, he outlined, calls for loving each other and forging ahead as a nation. Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, the Chief of Defence staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, expressed similar sentiments.“It is through these principles that we can develop our country. So these principles are fundamental to any peace and sustainable development,” CDS Tamba noted.

For the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Lamin Bojang, every citizen should bear in mind these core principles. He stressed that if citizens are not patriotic, honest, hardworking and loyal to the nation, development and progress will remain elusive. He stated that what president Obama has said is not new but there is a need to return to these realities. He then called on Gambians to be honest and ensure accountability for the national interest.

The Majority leader of the National Assembly and NAM for Serrekunda East, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, noted that these traits are the engine for the growth of any nation. This, he maintained, are the things the Gambian leader has been trying to inculcate in Gambians. “Loyalty is the backbone of every successful endeavour. So, in any political dispensation, loyalty is the key,” he emphasized, while calling on Gambians to put aside their narrow partisan views for nation building.

Veteran journalist Suwaebou Conateh, the publisher of the Gambia News and Report Magazine described President Obama as a model for the young generation. As such, he added, it is not a surprise to see him promoting human values such as honesty, hardwork and patriotism. ‘‘Patriotism, honesty are the instruments of development,’’he indicated. Buttressing this idea, Papa Leigh, Africell marketing manager, underscored that these principles are the bedrock on which developmental efforts should  be built.