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The historic visit of His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to Kenema and Kailahun in the East of the country has left the public with more questions than answers. According to political analysts, the manner in which the President was received in that region cannot be in any way compared to other visits made to other regions since he assumed power.
Apart from the fact that both Kenema and Kailahun was painted red, the people of those two towns and even those in Kono in same region, came out in their numbers singing songs of praise, chanting slogans in favour of APC as they received the President in a manner he himself least expected. The President had gone primarily to launch the Kenema- Pendembu Road Project estimated at $110 million in Kenema town. Addressing the people of Kailahun, last Saturday, 6th February, 2010, the President started by thanking them for the kind of reception accorded him. He said he failed to visit the district earlier because, according to him, he wanted to first study the situation on the ground.
He however confessed that he was not surprised over the kind of welcome he received because according to him, the people of Kailahun were aware of the fact that he knew a lot about the district. The President went on to assure the people of Yenga in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom, Kailahun District of his government's commitment to ensure that the long standing border dispute is resolved. According to the President, he was the first political leader to enter Kailahun during the 2002 campaign period. He said he knows the length and breadth of the district and the needs of the people adding that that was why he asked the people to vote him into power during his 2007 campaign trail. The major problem in the district, the President said, was poor road network which he said was the reason why he ensured that the Pendembu-Kailahun Road project was launched. "The devil that is against the development of Kailahun will be overcomed," assured President Koroma, adding that when the road project is completed development will be a sure-thing for the district as according to him, every Sierra Leonean, particularly Kailahunians would stand to benefit immensely. In his welcome address earlier, the Paramount Chief of Luawa Chiefdom, PC Alhaji Mohamed K. Banya IV expressed how grateful and joyous the people of Kailahun were over the visit of the President.
He went on to highlight some of the good works the APC government has done in the district, citing the construction of a modern office for the Paramount Chief and the rehabilitation of the popular Kailahun Court Barray. The Paramount Chief assured the President of peoples' continued support to him and government in order to achieve his political goals set.
PC Banya IV however called on the President to support the farmers in that part of the country as according to him, very little or nothing is realized from their farming activities. In His statement, the Chairman of the Kailahun District Council, Rtd. Tom Nyuma also thanked the President and entourage for the visit.
The Chairman used the opportunity to highlight some of the development made by the Council in the District which he said included the construction of a canteen in the township, a market in Lowuma, Mandu Chiefdom, a guest house in Koindu, in the Kissi Teng Chiefdom; adding that the district can now boast of three ambulances. In another development, the President laid the foundation stone of the APC District office and a guest house in Kailahun after officially opening the APC regional office on Hanga Road in Kemema. The visit of the President also saw the defection of both SLPP and PMDC members to the APC. Notable among the defected persons were the former SLPP Member of Parliament, Moiwo Makaya and the Eastern Region Chairman of the PMDC, Alhaji Benson Sowu. |
