UDP North Bank spokesman Accuses Local Government Minister Of Tribalism

By: Ousman A. Marong

The United Democratic Party (UDP’s) North Bank Spokesman Karamo Njie, has accused the Minister for Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Hamat N.K Bah, of tribalism, alleging that the Minister favours the Fula tribe while harboring animosity towards the Wolofs.

Njie stated that Minister Bah “wishes nothing good for other tribes except the Fulas, all in the name of canvassing votes for President Barrow,” adding that “there is no Gambian who hates the Wolofs other than Hamat himself.”

These comments came as he accused the Minister of meddling in the chieftaincy affairs of Lower Saloum.

“In Lower Saloum, and in Sabah Sanjal, it was the Wolofs who held the chieftaincy; they belonged to the Gaye Kunda family. It was the same Hamat Bah who ousted that chief and replaced him with someone from his Fula tribe,” Njie claimed.

He pointed out that the current chief for Sabah ward is actually Minister Bah’s own Regional Chairman, whom he appointed.

“It’s quite shameless to see him [Hamat Bah] standing on a podium in Farafenni, trying to blend the Mandinka with the Wolof. Hamat has been less than truthful, and his heart is filled with tribalism,” he remarked.

Njie went on to allege that tribal tensions led to a fallout between Minister Bah and the late Amat Faal.

Photo: Showing Njie’s Membership Card while at NRP 

“I swear by the Almighty Allah that there was someone in our party (the UDP), the late Amat Faal, who had a long-standing disagreement with Hamat, stemming from Hamat’s tribal sentiments. Faal was a herdsman, quite wealthy, with a lot of cattle and land. He was a Fula and left the NRP party because of Hamat’s disdain for other tribes. That’s also why I left the NRP party,” Njie recounted.

He further claimed that Minister Bah declined to support President Adama Barrow during the 2016 coalition campaign because Barrow is a Mandinka

“How quickly we forget that during the 2016 coalition campaign, Hamat refused to support President Barrow simply because he [President Adama Barrow] is a Mandinka,” Njie remarked.

Reflecting on his past with the Minister, Njie shared that he had a close relationship with Bah from their days in the National Reconciliation Party (NRP).

Photo: NRP’s Motto.

“I knew Hamat Bah quite well. I was one of the founding members of his NRP party. In fact, I was the first to work on the party’s flag colors. On that day, some of the other party members who have since passed away, along with those still around, like the current governor of Basse and Dulo Bah, were there. Interestingly, Dulo Bah’s mother and President Adama Barrow’s mother are siblings. This just goes to show how well I knew Hamat Bah,” he explained.

Njie continued, “Hamat Bah has always had tribalist tendencies, even back when we were in the NRP together. He’s a staunch tribalist, and this has been evident since the 2016 coalition when he took on the role of Minister of Local Government.”

“I urge Gambians to shake off their complacency and recognize that Hamat Bah is indeed a significant tribalist,” he concluded.