The political atmosphere in Foni Kansala turned heated on Monday evening after the constituency’s National Assembly Member, Hon. Almamy Gibba, responded sharply to remarks attributed to Presidential Adviser Dou Sanno during a community meeting in Ballen Village.
Gibba was speaking as part of his ongoing constituency tour when he addressed comments reportedly made by Sanno during an earlier visit to the village. According to Gibba, the presidential adviser had criticised his personal appearance, including his preference for wearing white clothing and maintaining a long beard.
Responding before a cheering crowd, Gibba dismissed the criticism and said his focus remained on representing the people of Foni Kansala.
“My shoe is better than Dou Sanno, my clothes are better than Dou Sanno, and my long beard is better than Dou Sanno,” Gibba told the gathering.
The lawmaker then shifted attention to what he described as his record of service since entering the National Assembly.
Gibba said he had supported approximately 25 scholarships for young people from the constituency, with beneficiaries pursuing studies up to master’s degree level. He also cited several solar-powered borehole projects among initiatives he said had been supported across the district.
Turning to Ballen’s immediate needs, the NAM pledged to facilitate the installation of a water borehole in the village within the coming weeks, citing persistent water shortages faced by residents.
“I did not go to the National Assembly to drink coffee and attaya; I am there to represent the people of Foni Kansala,” Gibba declared.
He also warned that he would respond whenever Sanno returned to Ballen to criticise him.
“Any day Dou Sanno steps into Ballen Village to criticise me, I will also visit the village to respond to him. This is my home,” Gibba said.
The confrontation also took a political and personal turn when Gibba challenged Sanno to identify his maternal roots in Foni, asking him to name the specific community and district from which his mother originates.
Gibba further referred to previous political contests and urged Sanno to ask Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally about the outcome of the Bantanjang Ward elections.
The Foni Kansala lawmaker subsequently levelled broader allegations against unnamed politicians associated with Gambia’s ruling National People’s Party (NPP), accusing them of exaggerating their level of grassroots support when seeking financial assistance from President Adama Barrow.
According to Gibba, some politicians allegedly approach the president claiming that entire villages or towns support the administration and use such claims to secure funding for those communities.
He alleged that, after funds are obtained, only a small portion sometimes amounting to a few thousand dalasis is distributed to residents, while the remainder is allegedly kept or shared among organisers.
