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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Sep 2011 : 18:04:41
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DAILY NEWS In the Malick Gayes Fight for Ngain-Sabach Throne Villagers Believe Chief Gaye Bribed
"Monday, September 26, 2011
Ngain Sabach, a small village in the Sabach-Sanjal district of North Bank region of The Gambia is embroiled in a simmering controversy over the village throne, alkaloship. Admittedly ‘rare’ in the rural village of 24 compounds, the power struggle revolves around two men, who, without their middle names, are impossible to tell apart. Malick Ho Njie Gaye and Malick Ancha Gaye, the two men in the face-to-face showdown for alkaloship also have family ties, unimpeachable village sources confirmed to The Daily News.
Yet, when the question as to who should become the village headman arose recently, the villagers, who have ever noticed the facial differences of the two men, were not mistaken by the similarities in the Malick Gaye’s. Infact, the village is unequally divided. “We want Malick Ho Njie Gaye to be our alkalo,” says Mr Ali Gaye, a prominent village elder. His choice appear to reflect that of an overwhelmingly majority of the decision makers - compound heads - as far as alkaloship in that village is concerned, but the district chief Mr Sait Gaye instead crowned Malick Ancha Gaye as alkalo.
Take it or leave it
Generally, succession to the throne of alkalo in Gambian villages is entirely the affair of the founders, who pass the traditional regalia to each other based on age. However, political developments in recent times witnessed a change of this trend in some villages, particularly where the village headman is known or perceived to be a supporter of an opposition party.
In Ngain-Sabach village, the founders are said to be the Gaye family. Mr Malick Ancha Gaye, being the elder male member, should naturally succeed the retiring Kabba Gaye, who stepped down because he is ‘both sick and old’ for alkaloship task.
However, before the outgoing alkali Kabba Gaye left for Manduar village in West Coast region of Gambia to live under the care of his son, he had recommended Malick Ho Njie Gaye, who is next to Mr Malick Ancha Gaye, the elder in the extended family, to succeed him, Mr Ali Gaye told The Daily News.
The outgoing alkalo’s move could be abnormal and unusual, but in a village where communal interest overrides personal, the fact that Malick Ancha Gaye is seen as a man who does otherwise, the villagers seem not to be convinced that he is the right man for the position.
Malick Ancha Gaye, “never cooperated with the people. He had isolated himself. He last prayed at the village mosque in 1997,” explains Ali Gaye, a village elder.
He went on: “All the baobab trees in our village here belongs to the villagers, who harvest them, sell them and invest the proceeds into development projects in the village, such as rehabilitation of the mosque.
“Last year, we spent around D12, 500.00 to repair the village hand pump. That money came from our communal efforts, but Malick Ancha Gaye infact refused the villagers to harvest the baobab trees in the farms.”
Money talks
According to several village sources, all the villagers have endorsed the retiring village headman’s choice for alkaloship with the exception of Malick Ancha Gaye and two others out of 24 compound headmen. And when put into vote, Malick Ho Njie Gaye is said to emerge the winner, but chief Gaye of Sabach district reportedly refused to accept the outcome.
“To our surprise,” says a villager who preferred anonymity, “On the 8th of September 2011, a delegation of four people sent by Chief Sait Gaye came and forfeited the stamp and all the village properties under the care of Malick Ho Njie Gaye, the proposed alkali and handed them over to Malick Ancha Gaye.
The villager added: “We were told that Malick Ancha Gaye is our new alkali. When we protested, one Alhagie Ousu Jallow, a member of the chief’s delegation told us: ‘Whoever can’t take the decision should pack and leave the village.’
Word has been in the village that the chief was bribed by Malick Ancha Gaye, who is quoted by the villagers as saying in Wollof: “Ku amul haalis du heh’, (You cannot fight if you don’t have money).
When asked to react to the allegation, Malick Ancha Gaye instead demanded The Daily News to disclose to him the person who had said that.
And the chief, Mr Sait Gaye, categorically refused to discuss the subject with The Daily News.
“Are you working for a government [media]” Chief Gaye enquired from our reporter, who replied that he works for The Daily News, a private newspaper.
“I will not speak to the private media. I will only talk to a government media,” the chief snapped, declining to give reasons for his move, which is infact akin to most Gambian public servants even though Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has emphatically denied that his government restricts public servant from talking to the independent press.
Politically motivated
“I did not put myself in the position of the alkalo,” says appointed Malick Ancha Gaye, pledging to serve his village.
Alleging that all those who are against his appointment are opposition to the ruling APRC party, he said, “whether they like it or not I am the alkalo.”
Those against his alkaloship however denied being sympathisers of any opposition political party in Gambia. “I am a supporter of APRC and those supporting me are APRC supporters,” says Malick Ho Njie Gaye, his opponent.
War not over
The villagers of Ngain-Sabach however appeared determined to have the person they believe is the right man for the job.
Last week, a village elder Ali Gaye engaged the governor of North Bank Region, Edward Seckhan, who promised to resolve the matter, though our source could not so far tell how the governor plans to intervene.
“We will take this matter up to any level,” Mr Omar Mbaye, a village youth however assured.
Author: Alhagie Ceesay"
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Edited by - kobo on 26 Sep 2011 18:20:51 |
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