Mystery still surrounds the circumstances that led to the burning down of the Kono home of the former minister in the All People’s Congress (APC) Government of President Ernest Koroma and one of the pillars of the party, Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi.
Diana was Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment and later Minister of Local Government and Rural Development . She was also the Eastern Regional Chair of the APC.
Though the Sierra Leone Police claimed that it had launched full investigations into what is being perceived as an arson attack on the female politician, there has still not been released who carried out the act. Nor has any accused persons been arrested. The incident continues to be cloaked in mystery.
Both the ruling SLPP and the opposition APC have accused each other on social media of perpetuating the act. According to the SLPP version, Diana’s home was burnt by APC supporters who alleged that 25 motorcycles meant to be donated to the SLPP were hidden in the house. The APC has denied the allegations and supporters on social media are alleging that the house was burnt by SLPP supporters to frame the APC and cause Madam Konomanyi to defect from the party to the SLPP.
The alleged arson event remains a contentious issue as both the SLPP and APC have raided Kono and drawn huge crowds in their quest for votes in the swing state.
WE BRING YOU MESSAHES AND PRESS STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES SINCE THE INCIDENT ON MAY 30, 2023.
FINDA DIANA KONOMANYI
EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TO MY KONO FAMILY FOR THEIR MORAL SUPPORT DURING A MOST UNFORTUNATE MOMENT
On the evening of the 31st of May, the world saw my house in Kono engulfed by a malicious fire.
As I try to understand what it is that I’d done for such evil to be done to me, I realise that unprovoked hate can break the strongest of us, even if only for a moment.
As I watched videos of my house on fire, my strength failed me, for I did not understand why anyone would direct such hate to another.
However, as the news spread, I started receiving calls and messages of support both locally and internationally.
I am immensely grateful to each and every one of you. God Almighty will bless you all abundantly.
It is the support of my Kono people that has most provided me with the buoyancy to float from the depths of my hurt.
Let me hastily explain why. You see, Kono has always been the safest place for me since I was a little girl. Therefore, to be attacked in such a vicious manner in my safest space was the core of my hurt and anger. So, receiving a rapid response support from our traditional leaders, our political leaders, our women, our youth and every other constituent demographic in our Kono, automatically restored my much valued sense of security in my safest place in the world; and for that, I am eternally grateful to my kinsmen.
As I basked in this renewed security, freely given to me by my people, I am reminded of the words of Gwendolyn Brooks: “ we are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond”.
Now, more than ever, we must strengthen that which binds us; we must lift each other up and not pull each other down; we must share our harvest, so as to strengthen one and other. It is only then that we’ll maximize our strength and force respect on those who seek to see our dignity become undone.
As leaders of Kono, we’ve all made mistakes at some point; now, let’s let bygones be bygones.
Once again, I thank you all with all of my heart.
Finda Diana Konomanyi
MY RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL TIMES ARTICLE ON MADAM KONOMANYI’s SILENCE.
I respect the Global Times’ usual journalistic take on national matters, however, in this instance, their article on the woes facing APC in Kono fell short in probing the issues .
In the weeks post Dr Samara Kamara’s hesitant announcement of former President Koroma’s enforced choice of Chericoco as Running mate, I was severally consulted on my thoughts on how to get my sister, Madam Diana Finda Konomanyi, on board.
Every time, I gave the same advice:
That our anger isn’t over the Running maté disappointment.
Rather, we are appalled that the party leadership would say to, “Forget regional balance, it is irrelevant, Kono is irrelevant, and ignore gender balance, it’s no big deal…”
This appalling statement reportedly came from our most senior party comrade.
I have since advised the party to send a high-powered delegate to Kono to either ‘deny, disown or clarify the statement, and apologise’ .
And I have since advised that only then can they expect Alhaji Chief Sam Sumana and Madam Diana Konomanyi to assist in apologising to Kono for this ungrateful, hateful and backward comment which has caused so much hurt and consternation in the Southeast and in Kono!
Unfortunately, my advice to the party was ignored.
Instead, senior party members who are handlers of Adebayo and other such miscreants have briefed their hounds to insult our district, and our Kono women, especially Madam Konomanyi, on social media.
In one such audio, a certain PRO SAMURA of the APC, who’s a stooge of a very Senior former APC parliamentarian, made absolutely false claims that Madam Konomanyi had about 25 bikes at her residence in Kono which she planned to dish out to SLPP youths in Kono.
This incitement led to misinformed youths setting fire to her home, where she had planned to spend the night, but was fortunate enough to have delayed her arrival.
In the ashes of her burned down home, not a single bike was found.
We thank the Almighty that not a single life was lost in the fire.
The APC, instead of following good advice on the Kono matter, have compounded the situation by further ill-advised utterances from both Pa Yansaneh, and the Flagbearer, Dr Samura Kamara.
It is unfortunate that while the party hierarchy makes ostentatious public pleas to Alhaji Sam Sumana and Madam Konomanyi, in private, efforts are being made to undermine, discredit and harm their interests and their persons.
As for the Global Times’ report of the party hierarchy’s laughable and disingenuous claim to have been unaware of Madam Konomanyi’s VP aspirations, I only have this to say:
Leh God judge Una for that!
Tony Konomanyi
Eastern Regional Secretary
APC
Kono Women’s Organization Network (KOWONET)
*Press Release*
The Kono Women’s Organization Network (KOWONET) condemns the incident of the alleged fire that engulfed and burt down the house of Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi Former Eastern Regional Chairperson for the All People’s Congress (APC) Party situated at NO: 20 Komba Ngegba Street Koidu City on Tuesday 30th May, 2023 while we continue to be in solidarity with her.
As a Network of women organizations in Kono District, we have heard several rumors relating to the incident, and that we believe Sierra Leone is one of the countries practicing a multi-party Democracy that gives the right to every citizen to choose his/her political party. This is also the person’s inelineable right.
It can also be recalled that, after several advocacies by civil rights campaigners, the recently dissolved 5th Parliament of the second republic passed into law the; ” Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2022 one of which provisions allows women to have a 30% quota of representation in all political and leadership positions.
We believe that this law can only be workable if women’s rights are protected.
For us as women, this incident is worrisome, scary and has the proclivity to insteal fear in the minds of other female politicians or candidates in the District.
This network has also acknowledged receipt of complaints of political harassment and intimidation against women in the course of the ongoing political campaigns in Kono District.
As women, we strongly condemned these acts in all forms and we are calling on the law enforcement bodies like the police to thoroughly and speedily investigate the matter and bring to book anyone or those that would be found culpable while imploring on the security sector beef up security to avert the reoccurrence of similar incident as alleged.
Signed: Christine Pettiquoi.
Coordinator (KOWONET)
Cc:
1. LUC Tankoro
2. ONS
3. SDO Kono
4 Chairman Council of PC’s Kono.
5. District Mammy Queen Kono
6. Media
