By Abass Jalloh
Paramount Chiefs (PCs) from the North and North-west regions of Sierra Leone have warned residents in their various towns, chiefdoms, and villages that they will commit to disown any one of their people preaching hate against other tribes as they prepare to develop byelaws against such acts.
The warning was issued in a statement on Friday 9th September at the headquarters of the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) by PCs Alhaji Masakma Kanamaka III from Kholifa Rowalla chiefdom in Tonkolili, Bai Koblo-Queen II from Marampa chiefdom in Port Loko, Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III from Konike Sanda chiefdom in Tonkolili, Massayei Tham III from Gbanti chiefdom in Bombali, Bai Bairoh Mabolleh Anshenni III from Mara chiefdom in Bombali, and Bai Shebora Kasanga II from Bombali Shebora chiefdom in Makeni.
They expressed their readiness to speedily develop chiefdom bye-laws to tackle the spread of hate speech on social media and political violence.
“We denounce hate and all forms of vile and abusive languages and encourage all Sierra Leonean families to be tolerant. We treasure our long years of peaceful co-existence with all tribes. Given the growing rise in hate across the country, we appeal to all political leaders to encourage their supporters to stay away from hate and violence,” their statement read.
The chiefs condemned acts of disrespect directed at them, and the attempt to involve them in party politics, and reaffirmed the central mission of the chieftaincy institution in promoting tradition and culture.
The chiefs noted that they maintain their role in mainstreaming tradition in the implementation of national development policies in their respective chiefdoms and that their support for national development under successive, current, and future regimes should not be mistaken to be support for any political party.
The chiefs called on the government to establish an annual chiefdom peace index and provide development funding to the most peaceful chiefdom in every district every year in a bid to inspire and motivate the urge for peace and unity.
Giving their individual viewpoint, Chief Sanka III said Sierra Leone needs to be a “united nation” and that “God created people into tribes and as chiefs, they wouldn’t want to run away from their chiefdoms.
Comparing between regions, Chief Masankama III spoke about the migration between regions and how many have improved their lot as a result.
“If any situation that wants to destabilize these good relationships arises, I think it is our responsibility as paramount chiefs to stand up and cry them off,” he advised.
Chief Koblo-Queen was concerned that “derogatory statements and hate speeches are messages of cankerworm that tear that could tear the nation apart.
“We have seen the 10 years of senseless war ... so we appeal to all Sierra Leoneans to denounce all forms of violence and recipe for chaos, especially hate speeches,” he appealed.
Chief Tham III on his part stated that the essence of forming a council of paramount chiefs counts a lot for preaching against hate speeches and political violence.
He said they have already created unity among themselves by forming councils in a bid to lead peace and unity.
Another chief Anshenni III said the status of the country is “highly fragile, highly worrisome”. “I want to assure that we will use this measure as traditional leaders to make bye-laws, and we believe that if we start to take action, maybe that will suffice,” he said, adding that politicians should discourage themselves from selfishness.
Chief Kasanga II, as Adviser for the northern paramount chiefs, said they are the bridge between government and the people and that they should ensure that there is peace.
“Today Sierra Leone is at the stage that we should say there is a challenge, and we have come here to promise to the world that we will do our best to ensure that Sierra Leone goes back to where it was,” Chief Kasanga II assured.
Also on Wednesday 7th September, a cross-section of paramount chiefs from the east and south of Sierra Leone denounce all forms of tribal hate messages.
The country has in recent times seen an upsurge in ethnic diatribes, sparking tension in the country.
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