By Ralph Sesay
Augustine Bangura, of the Madina ruling house in the Tonko Limba Chiefdom, Kambia District, northern Sierra Leone, is set to replace his late father as Paramount Chief of the Chiefdom.
Speaking to nightwatch, over the weekend, the 35 years old candidate stated that the people of Tonko Limba chiefdom are in sympathy with him and his family as a result of the good works of his father, who met his demise in a road accident in 2018.
Paramount Chief Bombomli Kelfa Foroo III, who ruled between 2009 and 2018, was noted to be a very simple and down to earth Paramount Chief, who was loved by his people. As a development person he served with a number of Non-Governmental Organizations, such as Action Aid Sierra Leone, International Development Association (IDA) and a lot others.
This explains why it was simple for him to become Paramount Chief. As Paramount Chief, he lobbied for hand pumps and other development support for his chiefdom people.
As Paramount chief, he was very strong and he ensured that the 2014 Ebola Virus did not destroy his people. He stood firmly with the government and the local structures set to fight the deadly virus. In fact, the disease had very little toll on Tonko Limba and its people.
Augustine Abubakar Bangura, who is being challenged to the throne internally by his cousin, Alhaji Bangura, also told the nightwatch that he is conversant with the traditions and customs of his people since he was an apprentice to his late father.
“I am loved by my family and the entire sections chiefs in the chiefdom. I was with my father throughout his tenure, even when he had the accident. So am in a better place to replace him as chief,” the soft spoken candidate noted.
He continued that he and his immediate family have made frantic efforts to get his brother, Alhaji Bangura, to step down for him, but this had failed; as Alhaji has insisted that he was going ahead to contest the elections and this, according to him, is his right as a grandchild of the late P.C. Bombomli Kutha II.
Government, according to Augustine Bangura, has not interfered with the process so far, and that the Resident Minister North West Region, Madam Isata Abdulia, the iron lady, has insisted that the people vote for a chief of their choice, who will respect and work for them. She has taken a very tough stance to ensure that the District Office conducts the process in a transparent and corrupt free manner. She has given her support to all candidates to march on to the process on a fair footing.
The Tonko Limba Chieftaincy elections will be contested by candidates from four recognized ruling houses: Madina, Kagbonkoh, Bubuya and Mabanda.
The Madina ruling house has ruled for the past three decades, with P.C. Bombolai Kutha II, who ruled for 22 years. He was followed by P.C. Bombolai III, who ruled for only 9 years.
Augustine Bangura is set to clinch the throne and replace his father as the youngest chief ever to rule that Chiefdom. He is calling on his people to sympathise with him. He said they should not forget about the good works of his father.
The elections for the new chief will hold on the 16th April, 2019 while the declaration of rights will hold on the 2nd April, respectively, at the Chiefdom headquarters, in Madina.