The Senior District Officer, Kono District has said that Nimikor Chiefdom is a "shining star" in the district. Moses Gbetu was speaking at a lively ceremony of the official inauguration of newly-elected sub-chiefs and the presentation to the constituents of the Member of Parliament for Constituency 24 at the UMC Primary School grounds in Jaiama Nimikor on Thursday, 17 October, 2013. He pointed out that the ceremony was the first in the history of Kono District, referring to it as a demonstration of a sign of strength and wisdom in the administration and governance of the chiefdom. In his address preceding the official presentation of the chiefs to the people, Paramount Chief of Nimikor, Evangelist Aiah Denton Bona Foamansa III said the occasion was a culmination of a process that started some three years ago when his administration started conducting elections for positions occupied by acting chiefs. He said the significance of the ceremony was to give official recognition to his sub chiefs which he said was part of his leadership style.
P.C. Bona noted that the occasion was both his recognition and endorsement of the chiefs as well as a public recognition and acknowledgment of the chiefs by the people of the chiefdom. He said a democratic model of traditional governance was the message he wanted to send out through the election of chiefs and their inauguration. Member of Parliament for Constituency 24, RoskyMomohKaniMbayoh expressed gratitude to the Paramount Chief and his constituents for officially recognising him as their elected representative in Parliament. He noted that although he was elected under the APC ticket, he should be seen as a representative of everybody in the constituency. "The APC just happened to be the party through which I was elected to parliament", he assured the people. Hon Mbayoh also took time to explain to the people his role and responsibilities as a parliamentarian which he said included representing his people in the House where laws were enacted and to provide oversight over development projects and programmes executed by local councils and other development partners. Chairman of the occasion, Sahr E. Gbormoh read out the functions and duties of town/village chiefs and speakers "pursuant to the 2009 Chieftaincy Act" to the hearing of the newly elected chiefs and the people. The functions and duties of the chiefs range from revenue collection and security to law and order and respect for human rights, traditions and customs and development and good governance. A distribution of certificates to over 300 section chiefs and section speakers and town chiefs and their speakers formed the highlight of the ceremony while an inter-denominational prayer session by the inter-religious council on the following day climaxed the occasion. (C) Politico 24/10/13
