By Seedy Jobe
The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has questioned Mayor Talib Bensouda’s readiness to lead The Gambia, arguing that the Kanifing Municipal Council leader and his political team lack the experience and maturity required to govern the country.
Speaking in an interview with Star TV, Dr. Ceesay said his criticism was not intended to diminish Mr. Bensouda’s knowledge or accomplishments. Rather, he said, it concerned whether the mayor had demonstrated the competence necessary to manage a national government.
“He doesn’t have experience,” Dr. Ceesay said. “Talib himself has shown that he doesn’t have experience, and he is not yet mature enough to govern a country.”
The information minister cited what he described as unfulfilled campaign promises in the Kanifing municipality. He said Mr. Bensouda had pledged to construct 30 kilometers of roads connecting the municipality’s wards, build thousands of homes, make Kanifing free of waste, and establish an urban bus service.
Dr. Ceesay said those projects had not materialized. He also rejected claims that the central government had obstructed the proposed road construction, saying infrastructure projects must meet established safety and regulatory standards before receiving approval.
He further accused Mr. Bensouda of neglecting his municipal responsibilities in favor of political activities and frequent travel. The mayor, he said, was elected to serve the municipality for a fixed term and should devote greater attention to the council’s work.
Dr. Ceesay also criticized the mayor’s response to national emergencies, pointing to the recent incident in Foni. He said responsible leadership required public officials to remain calm and verify information before making statements.
According to the minister, Mr. Bensouda commented publicly about the incident within 90 minutes, relying on information circulating on social media rather than waiting for official confirmation.
“Social media leads him,” Dr. Ceesay said. “That shows he doesn’t have the experience to run the country.”
Turning to the broader opposition, Dr. Ceesay said opposition parties should operate as governments-in-waiting, with shadow cabinets and teams capable of assuming national responsibilities. He challenged Gambians to identify members of Mr. Bensouda’s political circle who possessed the qualifications to serve in a national cabinet.
Dr. Ceesay warned that entrusting the government to Mr. Bensouda and his team at this stage would, in his view, carry serious consequences for the country because of what he described as their limited experience and political maturity.
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