By Hassan Bruz
Rumours that His Excellency- President Ernest Bai Koroma is so much disgusted with the people of Port Loko over what is perceived to be infightings and unhealthy competition among politicians as well as descendants in high offices, that he had vowed to have less dealing in the District, have now been discarded and even replaced by rumours of his pending visit to the District.
This has not only been evident in the levels of busy preparations of most Local dignitaries including the Local Council Chairman –Ahmid Munirr Fofanah, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of the North/Western Region – F U K Daboh, but has even been confirmed by no less a person than the Member of Parliament for Constituency 049- Hon, Alhajie Serray Dumbuya. He made the disclosure about 24 hours ago, in a Meeting that was fully attended by Candidates and Members of the Bekeh Loko Paramount Chieftaincy Ruling Houses.
Although the meeting was in fulfilment of some of the conditions in the Performance Contract Parliamentarians signed with His Excellency, wherein Members of Parliament are required to meet with their Constituents at regular intervals on Proposed Bills, Laws Passed and General Concerns, the purpose of the above meeting as outlined by its Chairman- Mohamed Tarawalli popularly known as ‘Malapay’, was to map out ways through which the President can be accorded a rousing welcome against his pending visit to the District in a few days time.
According to Hassan Bangura and as buttressed by Pa Amadu Seaport Kamara who spoke on behalf of the respective Chieftaincy Ruling Houses in Maforki Chiefdom, the public is very much displeased with what is referred here as an unnecessary delays in the electioneering process of a substantive Paramount Chief. Several other Contributors saw it as a financial ruin for which blames were levied on President Koroma and his Government.
Interestingly, all the misconceptions and ill feelings were laid to rest after the analysis of the Senior District Officer- Mohamed Sheik Kargbo who stressed the need for Locals to adhere to the dictates of the Law. He said Government had put modalities in place for the conduct of the Maforki Paramount Chieftaincy Elections but that the Process was brought to a halt by an injunction from the High Court of Sierra Leone .He said it would therefore be difficult for President Koroma to interfere with the decisions of the Court which seemed to be the expectation of most people .The Senior District Officer said this is largely because there is a separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary especially when President Koroma himself is a respecter of Democratic principles.
Hon. Alhajie Serray Dumbuya in his wrap – up message, said he is equally constrained in having to operate without a Substantive Paramount Chief in the District Central Chiefdom. He prevailed on all and sundry to exercise restraint and refrain from all forms of lawlessness as there are a lot of good things in store for the Government. The Member of Parliament went further to disclose plans to rehabilitate the Bai Burreh Memorial Complex which is incidentally the District Head Office of the Ruling ALL Peoples Congress Party with the Maforki Local Court Barray. He said plans are also afoot for the recommencement of Road Networks in the Township of Port Loko.
Meanwhile, the issue of the lack of a Town Football field, the unreliable source of Electricity Supply at the Port Loko Government Hospital, the acute need for an expansion of the Solar Street Poles and Water Supply Facilities to the rest of the Port Loko Town, were some of the concerns raised by people in attendance.
At the moment, a series of meetings are being observed in readiness to accord President Koroma a befitting welcome to what is believed his second home…
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