By Amadu Barrie
The declaration of rights, for the pending election of Paramount Chief in the Nongowa Chiefdom in the Kenema District eastern Sierra Leone, had on Tuesday 29th of January, 2019 been held in Kenema city.
The election, which is scheduled for the 12th of February 2019, is as result of the death of the late Paramount Chief, P.C. Alhaji Amara Banya Vangahun who died sometime in 2017.
Addressing the aspirants, chiefdom Councilors and the people of Nongowa Chiefdom at the Kenema show field, the declaration officer, who is also the Provincial Secretary, east, Mohamed Sheikh Kargbo, told the people that the day was important and historic for them and therefore called on them to embrace peace and respect the view of each other during the process. He said the election of a Paramount Chief, for any Chiefdom, has three stages, which, according to him, are the revision of the chiefdom Councilor’s list, the declaration of rights of intending aspirants and the election.
The provincial Secretary said that the process is going to be guided by the Chieftaincy Act of 2009. He said there are two Assessor Chiefs whose role and responsibilities are to advise and assist in the process. They will also advise the chiefdom Councilors on the importance of electing a new Paramount Chief, who will ensure that the traditions and customs of the Chiefdom are respected and upheld during the conduct of the election.
He furthered that in any Paramount chieftaincy election, the responsibility of the government is limited to only facilitation of the process so as to ensure that the election is conducted in a fair and transparent manner. He said that no Government minister or other officers, and no political party, whether collectively or otherwise, shall provide or show support to the candidature of any particular contestant in a Paramount chieftaincy election and therefore encouraged all to behave well for Nongowa chiefdom to get a good Paramount Chief.
Explaining to the aspirants and the chiefdom Councilors on the qualification for the election as Paramount chief, the Provincial Secretary said for a person to be qualified to stand as a candidate in a Paramount Chieftaincy election, he or she should have been born in wedlock to a rightful claimant in a recognized ruling house in the Chiefdom or where tradition so specifies, he or she has direct paternal or material lineage to a rightful claimant in a recognized ruling house, whether born out of wedlock or not.
He said during the declaration of rights, any person aspiring to be a candidate in the election shall formally declare his or her intention to the declaration officer and produce to him his or her receipt for a non-refundable fee of Le150, 000, which is to be paid to the Chiefdom Treasury by all aspirants and to also pay a non-refundable candidate’s fee of Le250, 000.
Mr. Kargbo told the aspirants that it shall be the responsibility of each candidate to establish his or her claim to the satisfaction of the Chiefdom Councilors present, the declaration officer and the two Assessor Chiefs.
In his statement, the Resident Minister east, Hon. Andrew Fatorma, appealed to the aspirants to be honest, sincere and preside in a fair and transparent manner towards the upcoming Paramount Chieftaincy election slated for February 12th 2019. He told the aspirants and the Chiefdom councilors that they have the burden as the development of Nongowa chiefdom rests with them, adding that, minor issues raised over the recent published Government Gazette should not be used to alter the family peace in the Chiefdom.
He maintained that, His Excellency the President Julius Maada Boi and his Government hold in high esteem Paramount Chieftaincy and will not tolerate any disrespect towards them. The Minister called on the declaration officer, the National Electoral Commission and the two Assessor Chiefs present to make sure the election of Nongowa Chiefdom Paramount Chieftaincy is free, fair and transparent.
One of the Assessor Chiefs, P.C. Momoh Fowah of Dama Chiefdom, Kenema District, admonished the aspirants to be faithful, sincere and to be God fearing to rule Nongowa Chiefdom. He said the declaration team will not allow any person with a bad record in the country. He encouraged the Chiefdom Councilors to be watchful during the process so as to help the team to do the correct thing.
In his contribution, an Assessor Chief, Hon. P.C. Samba Bindi Hindowa of Bajia Chiefdom Bo District, encouraged the people of Nongowa chiefdom to be law abiding and respect the rule of law in the land. He maintained that leadership comes from God. He told the Councilors to think wisely and to elect a Paramount chief that can bring development to the Chiefdom.
16 aspirants aspired for the position of Paramount Chief for Nongowa Chiefdom, including 3 females and 13 males from 4 ruling houses in the Nongowa Chiefdom, and all of them are qualified after declaring their nights to the declaration officer.
The following people are the successful candidates to run the pending Paramount Chieftaincy election on the 12th February, 2019. Madam Mamawa Lalugba Kaisamba from the Kaisamba ruling house; Foday Soko Kaisamba from the Kaisamba ruling house; Kalila Bonya Vangahun from Vangahun ruling house; Sadikie M. Kapuwa Matou from the Kapuwa ruling house; Abdul K.K. Vangahun from the Vangahun ruling house; Yakuba Kaisamba from the Kaisamba ruling house; Mohamed Sidikie Kaisamba from the Kaisamba ruling house; John C. Kapuwa from the Kapuwa ruling house; Mohamed L.M. Ngobulango from the Ngobulango ruling houser; Musa Gbow from the Gbow ruling house; Mohamed A.G. Matou from the Matou ruling house; Madam Mariama A.B. Vangahun from the Vangahun ruling house; Patrick M.S. Vangahun from the Vangahun ruling house; Madam Ann-Marie Vangahun from the Vangahun ruling house; Ansumana T.B. Vangahun from the Vangahun ruling house and Amara B.L. Vangahun from Vangahun ruling house.
The 16 aspirants have declared their rights without any objection from the Chiefdom Councilors.