By Ralph Sesay
The Leader of the main opposition in Parliament, Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah, has told Members of Parliament, on the fifth and final day of the debate on President Bio’s maiden speech, that the issue of developing Tomabum, the rich agricultural area in Bonthe District, southern region, has, far too long, been music to the ears of Sierra Leoneans.
He accused the Tejan Kabbah led government of first mentioning the issue of Tomabum and their then intention to develop the rich agricultural potentials of the area to increase food production and in turn diversify the economy, but this intention, according to him, did not materialize.
He urged President Bio to ensure that this incessant promise of reviving Tomabum, by successive SLPP governments, is brought to fruition this time round under President Bio, who has outlined an ambitious plan of diversifying the economy using the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining sectors.
The APC opposition MP extolled his former government’s strides in introducing the Free Health Care Scheme, building of more referral hospitals in different parts of the country and for the first time establishing Teaching Hospitals to train medical professionals.
He encouraged his colleague MPs to spend more time in indentifying the gaps of the free health care scheme rather than criticizing it, noting that this would not help the situation.
On the road sector, he noted that they have constructed a number of roads and also awarded and contracted others, including the Bo-Mattru Jong road. But since, according to him, the New Direction has referred to these roads as expensive they, in the opposition, are waiting to see the cheaper roads the SLPP are going to construct during their rule.
Chernor Maju Bah took time to note other areas of success, such as the educational sector, while further disclosing that funding had been secured by the APC for the construction of a University in Kono.
The APC MP concluded his speech by calling on MPs from the SLPP to view government as continuity. He accepted the fact that President Julius Maada has been popularly elected by the people for a five year period and they have been asked by the people to govern Parliament as the majority party for the next five years.
He pledged the cooperation of his party to work with the New Direction, but was quick to point out that they would criticize what is not right and proffer solutions and alternatives.