By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
Residents of Small Bo Chiefdom Kenema District have requested the Paramount Chief of Langurama Chiefdom, Prince Pewa to pay a fine of Le100 million.
The Chiefdom Speaker, Mambu Moiwai said his people had demanded the said amount from Chief Pewa and his subject as damage for the "defaming" suffered by their Paramount Chief, Dhaffie Benya in the hands of Chief Pewa.
It followed the apparent admission of guilt by Chief Pewa that he lied at Chief Benya that he had plotted to kill him.
Moiwai said residents of Small Bo were overjoyed when Pewa conceded and sent ten of his chiefs and other local authorities to plead with Benya and his chiefdom people.
He said their chief was honest and God-fearing and would not involve in such an act as alleged.
"This day will be recorded in the history book of Small Bo. We are very proud that our chief has been vindicated" he said.
Public Relations Officer of Langurama, Patrick S. Koroma, while addressing a meeting at the Blama Court Barrie last week said ten of them were sent by PC Pewa and the Langurama people to apologise to Benya and his people.
He said Benya was innocent of the allegations that he had hired somebody to plant a charm with the intention to kill Chief Pewa.
He pleaded with Small Bo "to maintain the peace and coexistence" as most of their children are attending schools in Blama.
He presented Le 2 million to the Blama People as part of the amount the people of Small Bo had demanded. He also pleaded with them to accept the said amount as what was requested they could not afford.
Younger sister of PC Pewa, Mamie Pewa pleaded with Benya to forgive her brother and the Langurama People.
President of Council of Paramount Chief, Charles Caulker said their efforts in trying to restore peace between the two chiefs had been a very long journey. He said they were in Langurama on Sunday to talk to the subjects of Chief Pewa that Benya was innocent and there was every need to apologise to him. Regional Chairman, East, PC. Fasuluku II said he was extremely delighted that the two chiefs were ready for peace, adding that they had been behind this matter to maintain the pride of chieftaincy.
PC Benya, whiles responding said he had wept twice thinking of an allegation that he could never dream of doing. He said the Benya family is a ruling house and there was every need to defend that "family name against such grave allegation".
He said that despite the seriousness of the allegation he could not frustrate the efforts of his colleague paramount chiefs, adding that he had joined them to accept Pewa’s apology.
(C) Politico 08/04/14
