Reports coming from Nyangen village in Niani District are deeply troubling and should concern every Gambian who believes in justice, fairness and democracy.
According to reports, the Governor of the Central River Region, Ousman Bah, and the area chief, Alhagie Pierre Bah, allegedly confiscated the official alkali stamp of the village. The reason said to have been given is that the alkali’s son, Mbye Nyan, is associated with the opposition United Movement for Change.
If this is true, then it is a very serious abuse of power.
The alkali stamp is not a personal item and it is not a political weapon. It is a public instrument meant to serve the whole community. Taking it away does not only affect one person or one family. It affects the entire village, especially residents who need official attestations to obtain voter cards and take part in the electoral process.
This means that ordinary citizens may now be prevented from exercising one of their most basic constitutional rights, which is the right to vote.
No citizen should be punished because of political views, family connections or perceived loyalties. Democracy cannot survive where access to basic civic rights is controlled or denied for political reasons. Public institutions are meant to serve the people fairly, not to intimidate, exclude or silence them.
The people of Nyangen deserve better. They deserve equal treatment under the law, and they deserve to access public services without fear, discrimination or political interference. They deserve to live in a country where authority is used to protect rights, not to take them away, and where every citizen can participate freely in national life regardless of political background.
The alkali stamp should be returned without delay, and there must be a full, fair and transparent investigation into this matter so that the truth can be established and those responsible can be held accountable. Silence or inaction will only deepen public anger and weaken trust in the very institutions that are meant to protect the people.
The NPP now appears deeply worried by the growing rise of UMC. Many believe they can see that UMC represents the future and has the strength to defeat them in December. For many supporters, this situation is yet another sign that UNITE remains the strongest and most formidable opposition force in the country.
What is happening in Nyangen is not just a village issue. It is a national concern that deserves urgent attention from all those who care about democracy in The Gambia.
Democracy must be protected. Institutions must serve the people, not punish them.
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