By Septimus Senessie Kono
Paramount Chiefs of Kono district have told their people that the district is “disunited “and in “disarray”, which they say is seriously undermining development efforts in the district. Addressing a crowd at a reception ceremony for two cabinet ministers who hail from the district, the chairman of the Kono District Council of Paramount Chiefs, Paul Gabba Saquee V of Tankoro, lamented that the development of the district had been derailed due to “disunity” among the figure heads in the district. He said that it was time for the people of Kono to put hands on desk and unite “in the name development”. Paramount Chief Member of Parliament Sheku Fasuluku Sonsiama III of Sandor Chiefdom said “the Vice President, Samuel Sam-Sumana and his ministers should use their time and talents collectively to develop the district.” Minister of Transport and Aviation, Balogun Koroma said that “Kono will never get a better opportunity to develop than at present considering the high profile positions we occupy in the present government”. He told the Paramount Chiefs that they had “a great role to play in the unification and development of the district. Koroma told the gathering that “this is the time for Konos to stop infighting and back-biting and display one goal for Kono”. The APC National Secretary General, Osman Foday Yasanneh said Konos should focus on things that would bring lasting development to their district and forget those things that would put them apart. He said the district was suffering especially when considered against its huge diamond deposits. Balogun Logus Koroma was recently appointed Minister of Transport and Aviation while Karamoh Kabbah had been made Deputy Minister of Political Affairs following the re-election of President Koroma. The visit comes three months after another minister from the same district, Finda Diana Konomanyi had organised a similar home-coming reception. There have been persistent media reports, which have not been denied, of a deep-seated rivalry between Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana and Local Government Minister Diana Konomanyi. Chiefs and other politicians are said to have pitched tents with either side. (C) Politico 09/07/13
