By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Following the August 10 violence that claimed the lives of civilians and Police Officers, President Julius Maada Bio yesterday engaged Tribal Headmen in the Western Area and Paramount Chiefs in separate meetings to discuss their role in the government’s effort at consolidating the country’s peace and democracy.
In his statement, President Bio said he was pleased to meet the traditional rulers at State House to engage them on various issues, especially about last week’s riots.
He described the incident as unfortunate, in which a group of people had organised youths to cause mayhem in some parts of the country and in the Western Area. He added that notwithstanding the difficulties around the world, his government has been making great efforts to cushion the pressure on citizens, noting that his government was working on a long-lasting solution as evident in the implementation of the Human Capital Development.
“In the last four years, my government has succeeded in cleaning the image of this country. That is why we are being invited severally to chair and co-chair many meetings of development that will benefit the country,” he said.
The President also said that his government has changed and reviewed so many laws to ensure that society was safe, progressive, and freer for all citizens irrespective of where they were. He however assured that his government would investigate all those who were involved in the August in the riots.
Speaking on behalf of the Tribal Headmen, Chief S.O Gbeki, thanked the President for the invite, adding that one of their roles was to help the police maintain law and order in their various localities.
He said they totally condemned the violent acts and urged the government to launch an investigation into the matter and bring all those involved to face the law, citing the various gains so far made by the president and his government to help bring development to the country.
Prior to the meeting with the president, the National Council of Paramount Chiefs (NCPC) in a press statement similarly condemned the protest.
They also demand that a ‘robust’ and ‘decisive’ action be taken against the perpetrators of those heinous deeds.
The council reiterated that it detests any attempts whatsoever by any group of Sierra Leoneans who do not want to use the available channels to register their dissatisfaction. The statement pointed out that citizens should always engage peacefully with the government on their demands, rather than resorting to terror tactics to cause mayhem and destabilize the state.
As custodians of social decorum in their communities, they appealed to all their subjects and the rest of the populace to stay calm and to also act within the framework of the law.
The Council in the release went on to urge Sierra Leoneans to refrain from stirring up a conflict that they said will plunge the nation into its dark past of the rebel war.
It further stated that the council would join political, religious, and other community leaders in continuing to work assiduously to restore and consolidate peace and calm throughout the country.
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