Romende Chiefdom Authorities Call on North-West Minister
By Abu Bakarr Kanu
On 27th January 2021, stakeholders of Romende Chiefdom in the Port Loko District, north of Sierra Leone led a delegation of traditional leaders to the Resident Minister North-West to enable government to restore their elected Paramount Chief, Bai Fonti Thangbathie II.
The delegation included the former candidates, ceremony chiefs and other stakeholders. The engagement took place at the Resident Minister’s office along the Kambia – Port Loko highway in the Bakeh Loko Chiefdom, Port Loko City.
The purpose of the delegation is to officially deliver a massage for the attention of the president, that Mr Mahoud Fonti Kanu, one of the candidates who lost the chieftaincy has destroyed the tradition of the chiefdom whilst his supporters terrorize peaceful citizens, harass elders, using offensive languages in against people without any due respect.
Mr Alie Kanu, former candidate from the Bai Fonti Fenthgbo ruling House who doubles as head of delegation commended President Bio for maintaining peace in the country. Mr Alie Kanu said that the reason for the delegation to the Resident Minister was to relay their information to the President for the following; that the people of Romende chiefdom have spoken through the ballot box by voting the elected Paramount Chief, PC Bai Fonti Thangbathie II with a total 695 votes which manifest that the election is transparent, creditable, free and fair.
Mr. Kanu said that Mahoud Fonti Kanu was not the only candidate that contested the election. He further expressed dismay over the current situation of the chiefdom destroying the tradition which he said had never happened since the history of Romende chiefdom.
Mr Alie Kanu further opined that the elected Paramount Chief is a son of the soil and he has taken huge development to the chiefdom through the construction of schools, health center, provision of scholarship to deserving children and the construction of mosque. He maintained that Mahoud Fonti Kanu wants to continue to put the chiefdom backwards, since he never contributed for their development.
Dr Gibirl Kanu another contestant from the Bai Fonti Nghaghah ruling house said that as member of ruling house they all accepted the loss and threw their support to the elected, since he has good inspiration for the chiefdom. He said that the father of Mahoud Fonti Kanu ruled Romende chiefdom for thirty five and all ruling houses respected him.
Section Chief of Kamba Section, Pa Alimamy Alhaji Kamara said that the chiefdom needs their elected Paramount Chief to start functioning and maintained that power comes from God and people elected the Paramount Chief in a transparent and credible atmosphere. Pa Alimamy Kamara called on the President who is also a member of a Paramount Chief ruling house to restore their Paramount Chief so as to kick start the development of the chiefdom.
Sheik Mohamed J.A. Kabba, representative of Thangbathie ruling house said that Mahoud Fonti Kanu is using names of politicians in the petition case. He expressed that Mahoud Fonti Kanu contested the 2012 election under the All People Congress (APC) and that he is more political. He concluded that the elected Paramount Chief never associated himself with any political party.
Sheik Mohamed Kabba called on government not to allow Mahmoud Fonti Kanu to use the current government to gain his ambition.
Resident Minister North-West, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara extended thanks and appreciation to the people of Romende for expressing resilience and maintaining peace. She said that President Bio respects the views and concerns of people. The Minister lamented that President Julius Bio respects chieftaincy in the country. She went on state that President Bio needs peace and tranquility in the country. She urged those that are perpetrated violence to refrain from the act.
She assured that the massage will surely reach the President for the benefit of the chiefdom and the country.