March 1, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (Bo)
Residents of five Chiefdoms were Paramount Chieftaincy elections should have been conducted have demanded from their provincial administration in the Southern region to explain to them what is responsible for the hold. The aggrieved residents want to have their paramount chief elections held.
There are five vacant seats in chiefdoms including Ribbi, Lugbu, Barrie, Funkya and Kpanga Chiefdoms in the Southern Region.
Speaking to this medium in a telephone interview, Brima Nallo who is a resident of Lugbu Chiefdom said that they are being kept in suspense about the election and that the authorities that are to ensure the electoral process are followed should be updating them but that does not seems to be happening.
Juliana Koroma talking to this medium via a phone interview from Fakunya Chiefdom said that it poses security threat when a chiefdom exists without a Paramount chief. She called on the Provincial Secretary to be engaging the residents of Fakunya Chiefdom to know the bottle necks so far in the electioneering process.
Abdul Rogers who spoke from Kpanga Chiefdom in a telephone interview said that if the authorities have failed to update them, “we will urge them to cast suspicion over the process that it is not genuine.”
Reacting to these concerns, the Provincial Secretary in the Southern Region, Simeon Peter Fatorma said the Paramount Chieftaincy elections in the Southern region are yet to hold as there are certain benchmarks yet to be met.
He said that in Moyamba District: Ribbi and Funkunya Chiefdoms, Pujehun District: Barrie Chiefdom and Kpanga Chiefdom and for Bo District, Lugbu Chiefdom have vacant positions.
Mr. Fatorma however noted that “in Moyamba district the election is delayed due to tax verification issue while Fakunya Chiefdom is battling with a ruling house that does not exist and the matter is in court but no ruling has been made on the matter.
Lugbu and Barrie chiefdom are yet to conclude on a violence report in court, with some arrested over the destruction of property, which investigation is on-going. Kpanga Kabonde chiefdom in Pujehun is on verification of taxes, A-Z has also learnt.
It has been revealed that the Local government Ministry has set up two teams to look into the administrative issues in these areas, while awaiting further directives from Freetown.
