Ceesay, a member of the National Assembly, condemned the recent protests by Gambian youths regarding the sale of Jammeh assets, referring to the protesters as "cockroaches."
In response to Ceesay’s comments, Sheikh Tijan, a dynamic university student studying political science and a candidate for the National Youth Parliament, expressed his strong disapproval. "As a youth participant in the GALA protest and a resident of the Sabach Sanjal constituency, I vehemently condemn the derogatory language used by Babou Ceesay, the NAM for Sabach Sanjal, against a protest that successfully conveyed a national message to the President and his Cabinet, urging them to convene an emergency meeting to address the situation."
Tijan emphasized that the protest was not aimed against the President but was motivated by a sense of betrayal, as the youth felt their state had been cheated and they stood to protect it from exploitation. He pointed out that Ceesay had aligned himself with the NPP immediately after being sworn in as an independent candidate for Sabach Sanjal, reminding him that the constituents did not vote for NPP, but rather for an independent candidate.
He called for a continued struggle for good governance and better administration, stating, "We will not allow political figures to use government or partisan politics to detract from our future." Tijan lamented that Sabach Sanjal has been the most underdeveloped constituency in The Gambia, suggesting that this should have been a priority for the MP to address, rather than seeking recognition from the President.
He added, "This is the same MP who was vigorously supported by the youth of Sabach Sanjal as an independent candidate, yet he betrayed us the moment he took his oath in parliament. Calling us cockroaches and mice is unacceptable and we absolutely condemn it. I want to convey to him that we cannot be intimidated, and we shall not relent in our pursuit of accountable governance."
