By Paul Lamin in Kenema
The Mayor of Kenema City, His Lordship Thomas Karimu Baio aka Tagbateh has said in a town hall meeting at the Albertson hotel that the political division that exists among leaders in Kenema has impeded a lot of developmental activities in the city and the District as a whole.
In his statement, the Mayor also expressed happiness over the appointment of Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis as the political Leader (political God Father) of the district.
He said the meeting summoned by the Paramount Chief was designed to map out a way forward for the development of Kenema and not to blame and castigate one another as it used to be in the past. The Mayor said as ‘Kenematonians’ and as sons of the soil, if they do not put themselves together, the region will stand to lose more and that in the event, the SLPP would lose power.
The Mayor further lauded the efforts of some indigenes of Kenema who, he said, have played vibrant roles in ensuring the development of the city, naming among others, Mr. Kabineh Kallon, Hon. Matthew Nyuma, the Chief Minister, Professor David Francis.
The Mayor also pointed out that the government of President Julius Maada Bio has indeed given out a lot of ministerial appointments to the easterners for which, he said, they are grateful.
He continued to state that the efforts of the Chief Minister in bringing Kenema Stakeholders together for the development of the district is a laudable move and therefore called on all to join the process.
He said just after the elections in 2018 the SLPP went into factions, adding that if the division continues the party will surely lose subsequent elections as, according to him, Kenema district is the hob of the party.
The Chief Minister Professor David Francis when presenting the Kenema Stakeholders Leadership Committee to the People said, the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has appointed them as Ministers to help him in the running of the State and also urged the Kenema Stakeholders Leadership Committee to work with the aspirations of the President to develop their own community.
Professor David Francis said the ‘New Direction’ manifesto means new things and by extension, ‘New Kenema, new City.’
The Chief Minister said his office is charged with the responsibility of overseeing other ministries and departments whilst working with the President which, he said, makes him a very busy man.
The Chief Minister went on to name the following personalities who will form the Kenema Stakeholders Leadership Committee and will be endorsed formally as forerunners for the development of Kenema.
Thomas Baio – Mayor Kenema City Council; Joseph Samba Keifala-Former Mayor, Kenema City Council; Madam Haha Massa Kaisamba; Hon. Matthew S. Nyuma- Leader of Government Business; Hon. Musa Peter Moigua- SLPP Caucus; PC Kapuwa of Nongowa Chiefdom; Moriba Koroma- SLPP District Chairman; Mrs Ella Goba, SLPP Women’s Leader, Kenema District and Mr. Marwan Kallon, Religious Leader.
The Chief Minister described President Dr. Julius Maada Bio as a master strategist, adding that because Kenema has been neglected for over decades, the President in his wisdom has thought it prudent to allot more ministerial positions to Kenema so that they would be able to help themselves in terms of development.
Earlier, tyhe Paramount Chief, PC Sadique Kapuwa in his welcome address said Kenema city has not gotten the kind of development it deserves compared to other cities.
The indigenes of Kenema, he said, have not done a lot to develop Kenema because of previous the political leadership setup. He urged citizens, among other things, to come together and work for the development of the district so that they can be proud of their district.
Also present at the meeting was the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. David Panda Noah.