Chei Momodou Sabally! Public flogging deh?

By Ndey Jobarteh

According to The Fatu Network, President Barrow’s Special Adviser, Momodou Sabally, has suggested that National Assembly Member Modou Lamin B. Bah could have been publicly flogged by the President for participating in a protest near State House.

I actually had to visit Momodou Sabally’s Facebook profile and read his post for myself to believe what he had written.

I quote:

“President could have brought him to the arch and flog him in public; and that would actually be acceptable according to our culture.” Momodou Sabally, Presidential Special Adviser

Momodou Sabally, I find your statement deeply disturbing, particularly coming from someone who personally experienced punishment under Yahya Jammeh.

Since when does a President have the authority to publicly flog an elected National Assembly Member?

And since when did peacefully marching towards State House automatically become a treasonable offence?

You describe President Barrow’s warning as “fatherly advice,” yet suggest that publicly flogging a Lawmaker would be culturally acceptable.

Momodou Sabally, we are discussing Constitutional Governance, not a father disciplining his child!

Section 25 of our Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration, subject to lawful restrictions. If you believe Hon. Modou Lamin Bah committed treason, identify the specific law and evidence supporting such a serious accusation.

And please explain how publicly flogging an elected representative would be compatible with the Constitutional Protection against Inhuman or Degrading punishment.

Momodou Sabally, having personally experienced the consequences of unchecked Presidential Power under Yahya Jammeh, you, of all people, should understand why such language is dangerous.

Be careful what you normalise today, because tomorrow you could become a victim of the very practices you are defending.

What worries me even more is the increasingly threatening language coming from President Adama Barrow, Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, and Presidential Adviser Momodou Sabally.

First, the President’s warning against an elected National Assembly member. Then, the Information Minister is invoking treason, the death penalty and dealing with citizens “mercilessly.” Now, Sabally’s suggestion of public flogging.

WHERE IS THIS DANGEROUS RHETORIC TAKING OUR COUNTRY?

Such language, if left unchecked, risks escalating political tensions, encouraging intimidation and potentially plunging our country into instability and anarchy.

Those entrusted with Public Authority have a responsibility to exercise restraint, respect the Constitution and protect the rights of all Gambians, including those who disagree with them.

Where are our constitutional institutions?

Who holds the President and his Officials Accountable?

I am calling on the National Human Rights Commission, The Gambia, The Gambia Bar Association, President Neneh MC Cham, National Assembly Of The Gambia, Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice and other Civil Society Organisations to urgently address the increasingly threatening language coming from President Adama Barrow, Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay and Presidential Special Adviser Momodou Sabally.

STOP THIS DANGEROUS ROLLERCOASTER BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND!

I hope Gambians are listening very carefully. I hope we are not dismissing these statements as mere political rhetoric.

We have heard threatening language from those in power before. We know our history, and we know the consequences of allowing intimidation to become normalised.

We did not struggle against 22 years of dictatorship to replace one system of presidential intimidation with another!

As I keep saying, December is a fight for the soul of our nation!

This is bigger than political parties and personalities. It is about Constitutional Governance, accountability and the kind of country we want to leave for future generations.

The President is not above the Constitution, and Gambians are citizens, not subjects!

NEVER AGAIN MUST MEAN NEVER AGAIN!

The struggle continues…

Ecowas – Cedeao

African Union

Amnesty International Africa

UN Human Rights Council

Human Rights Watch

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