By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament (DSPK), Hon Sengepoh Thomas, has welcomed Martin Massaquoi back to the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP). He was one term aspirant for the All Peoples Congress Party in Constituency 080 in Tikonko Chiefdom in Bo District. He contested against Hon Sama Ismael Sandy in the 2018 elections.
It was a colorful moments to receive a long lost son in the person of Mr. Massaquoi during the Mid Term Performance Review of Hon Sandy, where the Deputy Speaker of Parliament said “you are welcome to the SLPP party. This is your party and you are mostly welcome.”
DSPK added that “no political party will develop Tikonko and the country as a whole except the SLPP and those who are thinking about leaving the SLPP you are just wasting their time but I encourage those who have gone to come back.’’
Hon Thomas said that the Party has technocrats who have been able to give life to the economy that was in coma and that he is impressed with the scorecard of Hon Sandy, adding that out of his sitting allowances and the help of other people he is using to bring development into his constituency. He reiterated that Parliamentarian function is to make law, represent their constituencies and do oversight, but taking up developmental projects worth praise.
In his statement, Mr. Massaquoi said that he has return to the party to stay for good, “Forward ever, backward never,” he said.
Earlier, the Hon. Sandy gave his score card to the people of Bo which he described as Mid Term Performance Review for the two and half years of being in parliament.
He started by recognizing God for his mercy and provisions to meet the demand and promise to his people of constituency 080. He also expressed his sincere gratification to the leadership of the SLPP at constituency, sectional/zonal, district, regional and national levels and to the amiable people of constituency 080 for giving him such opportunity to serve them.
According to Hon Sandy, constituency 080 comprises of Tikonko Chiefdom and New England Zone in Kakua Chiefdom in Bo District and that it also Tikonko Chiefdom comprises eight sections including Seiwa Section, Ngolamajei, Morku, Mambawa, Jagbla 1,2 and 3 sections, Sendeh and Bainyawa Sections.
Seiwa Section , he said is the largest section with over 80 towns and villages and through concerted effort with the constituency executive, approval was granted by the Bo District Executive to create three additional zones compromising densely populated communities prior to the 2018 general election and the newly created zones were Mendewa z, Sami and Mosamai Zones.
“I have respect for my mantra service to God, contrary and the people and I went the extra mile in facilitating the provision of social service for the different parts of the constituency including construction of Health centres, advocated for the rehabilitation and construction of additional classrooms for four secondary schools, appeal to SLRA for the rehabilitation of Dodo bridge among others to the admiration of the people of his constituency,” he noted.
Hon Sandy said that he is still determined to serve the people when elected in the 2023 elections.
While his campaign manager, Sullay Kangbai said he never regretted been his campaigned manager to represent them in Parliament. He added that the two and half years’ tenure has touched every part of the constituent and more is expected when voted back to Parliament.
Former Chairman of Constituency 080, Mohamed Zoker appealed to the government to ensure that Constituency 080 is divided into two as it is huge constituencies oversee by one MP and expressed interest to contest in one of the constituencies.
