Kemo Bojang
By Seedy Jobe
The spokesperson for the Unite Movement for Change on Wednesday criticized what he described as the entrenched practice of linking public services to partisan loyalty, arguing that Gambians should receive government services as a constitutional right rather than a political reward.
Kemo Bojang, writing on his personal Facebook page, said political actors across the spectrum have perpetuated a culture in which access to national resources is conditioned on support for those in power.
“Gambians deserve services as a matter of right, not as political favours,” Bojang said. “We cannot, on one hand, criticise the NPP for turning our politics into a money-based, transactional exercise, and on the other hand, quietly replicate the very same practice. That would be hypocrisy.”
Bojang condemned what he called manipulative tactics used in recent elections, including the Kiang by-elections, where voters were allegedly told that a favorable vote was required to secure a “fair share” of national development resources.
“The resources are funded by taxpayers and belong to the people, not to any political party,” Bojang said. “When will we elevate our political discourse? When will we stop commercialising and transactionalising our democracy?”
He urged political leaders to refrain from promising benefits in exchange for votes and instead present realistic policy proposals grounded in transparency and fairness. “Whether voted in or not, political leaders must sell realistic ideas, grounded policies, and honest plans and be truthful with the people,” he said. “Be clear about what can and cannot be done.”
The UMC spokesperson reiterated that public services should be provided to all citizens without political conditions, underscoring what Bojang cast as a fundamental principle of democratic governance.