By Makutu Manneh
Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda of the United Movement for Change has sharply criticized a regional governor’s decision to confiscate the official stamp of the Nyangen village head, describing the move as “immoral, unethical, and illegal” and warning that it sets a troubling precedent.
In remarks addressing the incident, Mr. Bensouda said the involvement of an Alkalo’s son in local administration is a longstanding and widely accepted practice in The Gambia. Village leadership, he noted, is often hereditary, and sons are frequently trained to assume responsibilities.
“You must bring up your son to make sure he is familiar with the operation of the office,” he said, adding that he is aware of several cases in which Alikalolu have delegated responsibilities to their sons.
The mayor called for the immediate return of the confiscated stamp and expressed concern over reports that the governor justified the action by alleging that the Alkalo’s son supports the opposition U.M.C.
“If you feel you have evidence, it must be reported through the right channels, but do not abruptly use your power and seize the Alikalo’s stamp,” he stated.
Drawing on his tenure as the de facto governor of the Kanifing Municipal Council in 2021, Mr. Bensouda said that although there were suspicions at the time that some village Alikalos supported the ruling National People’s Party, his administration did not take punitive actions such as seizing official instruments.
He urged the governor to reverse the decision, framing the issue within the country’s broader democratic trajectory.
“We have fought against dictatorship in this country,” he said. “Remember, the president you serve today was an opposition in 2016, so the opposition is not the enemy.”
Mr. Bensouda added that national challenges such as corruption, poverty, illiteracy, and poor governance should take precedence over political divisions.
“We are all Gambians, despite our different points of view,” he said.
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