The committee met the president in a rather gloomy mood, this time around seeking another chance to renegotiate with him for more political empowerment to achieve the goals and aspirations of the APC party. They told President Koroma that development opportunities offered the district over the years, were misused by the then “bad leadership” of former vice president Alhaji Sam Sumana.
Welcoming the delegation, President Koroma expressed revulsion at spate of recent violence in the district, which he described as a mere disappointment, adding that much is expected from Kono. The president informed the committee that he was unimpressed with the quick turnaround of things, especially the negative attitudes of certain groups of people.
The Head of State assured the Konos of government’s continuous support for the completion of ongoing infrastructural development projects among others. He assured that all issues highlighted by the committee will soon be adequately addressed.
President Koroma vowed to redouble his efforts towards enhancing development focused programmes, and encouraged the committee to continue to focus on bigger issues while sorting suitable and permanent answers to problems affecting the district.
A position paper read at the meeting on behalf of the committee by the Deputy Secretary, Ahmed Nanoh said the advisory committee was born out of the desire to watch, facilitate and take the necessary actions to support national development agenda of Sierra Leone, and how it would impact on Kono district as well as to consolidate political gains that have been made over the years.
“We would continue to confront the red tapes, bottlenecks, bureaucracies that are impeding the impact of the Agenda for Prosperity in Kono,” he said, and continued; “the committee will this time take the necessary action and provide the appropriate political leadership to accelerate development in the district, differently from what we have been experiencing in the last eight years.”
Mr. Nanoh disclosed plans by the committee to work hard to garner support for government in Kono for the next local and general elections.
“We have come to renew our commitment to government and assure its leadership through Your Excellency that the Action Committee would serve as the nucleus that would carry Kono and win elections again and again,” Mr. Nanoh pledged.
The committee, he maintained registered its staunch support to President Koroma for the appointment of Hon. Victor Bockarie Foh as Vice President of Sierra Leone.
Local Government Minister Diana Konomani said the purpose of their courtesy call on the president was to talk about development as the district no longer discusses individuals as they are tired of making complaints to the Head of State. She pleaded with President Koroma for another chance.
Minister of Transport and Aviation Leonard Balogun Koroma profusely thanked President Koroma for the warm reception. “We will copy from the page that brought peace in the APC party,” he said, and described the moment as a political renaissance for Kono the district.
APC District chairman Gbondo Penipani reported that remnants of Sam Sumana supporters including the infamous misleading radio talk show, Monologue, are making frantic attempts to cause trouble in Kono, as Sam Sumana did when he was a vice president.
Speaker after speaker, including paramount chiefs, cabinet ministers and members of parliament from Kono profusely thanked President Koroma for his astute leadership of the fight against the dreadful Ebola virus disease (EVD).
