“Yeriba Boita Kunolii Jajjantaa.” The great tree has fallen, and the birds have scattered.

This Mandinka aphorism captures the collective grief of Jarra West, the Lower River Region, and the entire nation as we mourn the passing of Honourable Alhaji Yahya Ceesay, a statesman of the First Republic, a loyal son of Sankwia, a pillar of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and one of the most consequential parliamentarians of his generation.

His departure is not merely the death of a man; it is the falling of a towering baobab tree whose shade sheltered generations.
Thomas Fuller once wrote that death keeps no calendar. It visits kings and commoners alike, sparing neither the virtuous nor the wicked.

Yet when a man of virtue returns to his Creator, the world feels smaller, dimmer, and poorer. Such is the weight of the loss we feel today. The news of Alhaji Yahya Ceesay’s passing on Saturday, May 1, 2026, at the venerable age of 89, struck with the force of a storm. For those who knew him as a leader, a mentor, a father, a neighbor, or a friend, the shock remains raw, the silence heavy, the void immense.

Honourable Ceesay belonged to a rare generation of patriots, young, courageous, and resolute, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the founding fathers of the PPP. At a time when political commitment demanded sacrifice, he offered his energy, his voice, and his conviction. His political journey was never driven by personal ambition; it was anchored in a deep love for his people and an unwavering devotion to public service. He was a man who understood that leadership is not a title but a responsibility, not a privilege but a burden carried with humility.

Despite lacking formal academic credentials, Yahya Ceesay distinguished himself as a servant leader of uncommon integrity. In the 1980s, he pioneered rural electrification in parts of Jarra West, bringing light to communities that had known only darkness.

He provided boreholes for clean water, introduced telephone services to rural settlements, and championed horticulture and women’s economic empowerment long before such ideas became fashionable. Many of us, rural boys with big dreams, studied under the very lights he helped bring to our villages. His home in Banjul and later in Kombo became a sanctuary for rural youths seeking education, opportunity, and a sense of belonging.

His rise to national leadership was not accidental. Through discipline, humility, and practical wisdom, he became a respected State Minister under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. He served as Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Local Government and Lands. At every stage, he contributed meaningfully to nation-building. He helped shape the First Republic with a steady hand and a clear conscience. He was a man who learned through experience, led through service, and governed with a sense of duty that transcended personal interest.

But beyond titles and offices, Alhaji Yahya Ceesay was an institution. He witnessed the evolution of our nation across decades and mentored countless individuals. He remained a moral compass amid national uncertainty. The PPP has lost a guiding light. Jarra West has lost a father. The Gambia has lost a statesman.

As a political leader, he embodied humility, compassion, and dignity. Nelson Mandela once wrote that humility is a magnet; arrogance is a repellent. Alhaji Yahya Ceesay was the embodiment of that magnetism. In his presence, social distance dissolved. He extended courtesy to all — the powerful and the powerless alike. He listened. He advised. He uplifted. He never forgot old friends, nor did he allow the trappings of office to corrupt his humanity. Benjamin Franklin warned that “a friend in power is a friend lost,” but Alhaji Yahya Ceesay was the exception that proves the rule.

His compassion knew no bounds. As a schoolboy in the 1970s, I often visited his home and never saw him refuse help. His heart was large enough for others’ burdens. His generosity was instinctive. With him, you felt seen, respected, and valued. He demystified public office with simplicity, strengthened friendships with sincerity, mentored with patience, served with honor, and lived with grace.

His public service duty and political leadership tenure marked a moment of collective gratitude for a man whose popularity was unassailable, whose leadership was steady, and whose legacy was already etched in the hearts of his people.

Over more than three decades, he guided the exceptional and complex people of Jarra West through turbulence and triumph. In doing so, he earned their love and respect. The Jarra people are known for their independence, resilience, and refusal to accept mediocrity. Therefore, their profound celebration of his life and deep mourning at his passing are the ultimate testament to the leader he was.

As we confront an uncertain national future, the qualities embodied by Alhaji Yahya Ceesay—humility, justice, courage, fairness, and service—must be taught in leadership programs and civic education. His life is a curriculum, his character a lesson, and his legacy a mirror in which future leaders must examine themselves.

Today, as the people of Jarra West, the Lower River Region, and the entire nation salute the life of their leader, father, and grandfather, we join them in prayer and remembrance. His life was a gift from God; his passing is a reminder of our shared mortality. Gratitude is required when God gives; patience is required when God takes.

May the Almighty forgive his shortcomings, illuminate his grave, and admit him into Aljannah Firdausi. May his family find strength. May his community find comfort.

May his legacy find eternal honor. May his memory remain a blessing to all who knew him and a guiding light to all who follow.

As a proud Jarranka, I salute the passing of Alhaji Yahya Ceesay of Sankwia, a man whose life will be remembered across generations, whose legacy will endure across ages, and whose example will continue to inspire long after the tears have dried.

May Allah grant him perfect peace, mercy, and everlasting goodness. May his spirit walk gently into Paradise, into the company of the blessed. A noble man never dies; his goodness remains, his kindness remains.

May Allah grant him eternal light. May his name remain honoured. May his spirit travel in joy forever.

Aameen. Yarabi.