According to the parliamentarians, the Office of National Security (ONS) and the Tankoro Police had been earlier and severally intimated about early warning signs precipitated by the illegal imposition of one business woman on the Kono populace for the position of Market women Chairlady, adding that the officiating of an occasion by the SDO in the name of “inaugural ceremony” shows complete disregard for the rule of law.
The MPs went on that even the C4C Members of Parliament had earlier advised the authorities above not to organize any session of that nature that might provoke conflict and contrary to Section 97 (b) of the 1991 Constitution.
However, according to the MPs, they consider the ONS, SDO and LUC Tankoro as lawbreakers aggravating situation in this direction, while calling for their immediate transfer.
The conditions regarding who should be chairlady of the Gbense market the MPs state further, are already embedded in Part 5, Section 20(e), (g),(k) of the Local Government Act of 2004. Sections 11, 24 (1),(2) (3) give the joint Councils tremendous powers with both executive and legislative rights to appoint such officials at any point in time.
“By no means can both Councils recognize the chairlady appointed by the SDO; and in our quest for self defense by law, nonetheless, we hope that the police will not blame members of the C4C whenever such ugly occurrences might have occurred in subsequent times” they stated.
Speaking to AYV before press time last evening, a senior resident of Kono, who prefers anonymity, said Mayor Komba Matthew Sam never imposed any individual on market women.
He explained further that the mayor’s decision to appoint a tentative chairlady came after a group of people decided to appoint a market chairlady without due process.
He said in a bid to salvage the spate that ensued then the mayor chipped in and in a press release, he categorically made it clear that his appointment was tentative and that an election would be held in which a chairlady would be elected.
Secondly, he went on, reading that an election was held was a big deception to readers. He said no election was held, for which an inauguration was slated, adding that if there was an election, the public must be told who and who contested? Who conducted the election? What was the result? Who were the observers? Where there journalists to cover the program?
He said if the aforesaid questions are answered, all will judge whether the said press release is genuine, while suggesting that, if this issue is to be resolved, all must disassociate themselves from party and/or the president.
“I believe the president is not intimated on this issue and that few elements are over using their political appointments to usurp the authorities of others. If I keep silent knowing the truth, I have taken sides with the oppressors. Let’s go back to the drawing board and fix this right so that Kono will rise again.
