KONO DISTRICT HAS SPOKEN
John Baimba Sesay-Freetown
In Sierra Leone politics and of course the country’s economy, Kono District is integral and a major player. In the 2007 and 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections which brought President Ernest Bai Koroma and the All People’s Congress (APC) to state governance, political dynamics in Kono changed drastically in favor of the APC.
There has been a lot of political discussion in and out of the country following the removal of Chief Sam Sumana from the Vice Presidency by His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma. As the matter is currently sub judis , I am reframing from saying anything about the matter. Suffice it to say that state governance goes on as usual, politics is ever so interesting and the All People’s Congresses continues standing strongly United behind the Party Chairman and Leader, His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma.
There are many players in the APC, a Grass Roots Political Party that draws country wide support across Sierra Leone and amongst all the country’s tribal groups. But of traditional and historical significance, Kono and the APC share many commonalities. To mention the 1967 General Elections and the ouster of the SLPP from state governance by the APC, an African FIRST for an Opposition Party to defeat a government in power, was the result of careful political planning and excellent collaboration. And Kono was pivotal to that wonderful success story. And a repeat of the same scenario was executed in 2007 to usher into office H E President Ernest Bai Koroma as President of Sierra Leone. The rest is current politics still unfolding.
On Monday 18th May, a huge all across Kono District group of eminent indigenes from Kono District including Members of Parliament, Ministers,Ambassadors etc, etc, were at the Office of the Vice President to formally register Kono District’s unflinching support and loyalty to President Koroma, the APC and Vice President Ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh, and to thank His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma for his decision to appoint Ambassador Foh as Vice President of Sierra Leone. “The appointment is a Master Stroke”, they echoed.
APC Iron Lady who led the delegation, Local Government Minister, Diana Konomanyi, for and on behalf of the Kono High Profiled Group, declared that Kono shall remain loyal to H E the President and the APC and that Kono District, support Vice President, Ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh, who has an enviable and unequalled, non-to beat, track record of unwavering loyalty and commitment to the APC.
The Group claimed to have the blessings of the greatest majority of Kono indigenes including all Paramount Chiefs in Kono District. They called on government to Fast Track development of Kono District. They asserted that Kono people have every reason to support Vice President Foh because of his several good attributes.
In a brief and pointed response, the Vice President said that the message from the people of Kono was well received and timely as it bridges those narrow minded gaps in the country’s unfolding political landscape. This is because as Vice President, he sees this latest development from the people of Kono as clear demonstration of their willingness and readiness to demonstrate and put the Nation above Self and work assiduously with President Ernest Bai Koroma and the APC to take much needed development to their home in Kono District.
