Amul Nyassi, former National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala
By Fatou Sillah
Amul Nyassi, former National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala and a prominent figure in the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), has sharply criticized current legislator Almameh Gibba, accusing him of deceiving constituents and failing to deliver on key campaign promises.
Speaking to a gathering of APRC supporters over the weekend, Mr. Nyassi declared that “the era of deception in politics is over in Foni.” He accused Mr. Gibba of misleading the people with promises he has yet to fulfill, including the swift return of former President Yahya Jammeh and the withdrawal of ECOMIG forces from the region.
“The people of Foni are now awake,” Mr. Nyassi said. “We know how they were deceived to vote certain individuals into the National Assembly.”
Mr. Nyassi alleged that during his campaign, Mr. Gibba had promised that Yahya Jammeh would return to The Gambia within three months of his election, and that the West African ECOMIG forces stationed in Foni would be promptly withdrawn.
“How many years has it been now? Why is he not addressing that failure before accusing me of mismanaging constituency development funds?” Mr. Nyassi asked.
The former legislator also addressed recent claims by Mr. Gibba, who accused him of embezzling constituency development funds during his tenure. Mr. Nyassi denied the allegations and called for a public debate to settle the matter.
“I challenge Almameh Gibba to meet me at Bwiam Radio, which is widely listened to in Foni, so the people can judge for themselves who is telling the truth,” Mr. Nyassi said.
He described Mr. Gibba’s accusations as baseless and said he would not forgive him for the public smear. “This is the one thing I will never forgive him for,” he added.
Mr. Nyassi further explained that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was introduced during his time in office and that Mr. Gibba was misinformed about its origin.
“He heard about the CDF, but he doesn’t know how it came about,” Mr. Nyassi said. “There was no such fund in The Gambia before our time. We introduced it, and shortly after, we left office.”
He continued, “Removing ECOMIG forces would be a more meaningful achievement than making unfounded allegations about me.”
Mr. Nyassi also defended his record of community engagement, saying he routinely consulted constituents before parliamentary debates.
“I held two meetings in every ward to hear the views of the people and represent them in parliament. When has Almameh Gibba done that?” he asked. “I only stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mr. Nyassi emphasized that development requires substance, not just rhetoric, and praised the leadership of APRC National President Fabakary Tombong Jatta, crediting him with revitalizing the party and opening the eyes of Foni residents to the realities of national politics.
“Many people were afraid, but Fabakary Tombong Jatta showed them that the APRC is stronger today than when Jammeh was in power,” he said. “No one can stop this party — we have not broken any laws.”
Addressing allegations that Mr. Jatta had betrayed Mr. Jammeh, Mr. Nyassi dismissed the claims, insisting that the former president would never personally accuse Mr. Jatta of disloyalty.
“Fabakary opened the eyes of the people of Foni and helped them understand politics. I know Yahya Jammeh would never sit with us and accuse Fabakary of betrayal,” Mr. Nyassi said.
The tensions between Mr. Nyassi and Mr. Gibba reflect ongoing divisions within the APRC and among supporters of former President Jammeh in the Foni region. The issue of Jammeh’s return and the continued presence of ECOMIG forces remain sensitive political flashpoints.