By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Councilor of Ward 30 in Constituency 11, Kenema district, Vandi Musa of Kandu-Leppiama chiefdom has accused the Executive Director of Sierra Leone Produce Monitoring Board (SLPMB) Dr. James Vibbi for the destruction of his oil palm plantation during the just concluded Sierra Leone Peoples Party’s constituency election.
In an interview with Politico, councilor Musa explained that he once approached Dr. Vibbi for assistance to cultivate oil palm which he said he subscribed to and directed him to the district agricultural officer who supplied him with two hundred seedlings in May this year.
However, Musa said he recently got a distress call from the village when he was away that the over two acres of palm oil planted have been destroyed by people sent by Dr.Vibbi. He alleged that Dr. Vibbi accused him as councilor of failing to talk to the delegates ahead of the intra-party constituency election so they could vote for his choice of candidates and to support their camp.
“I told Dr. Vibbi that I don’t have voting rights and he too was not a candidate, having no voting rights at the same time. I do not have control over those delegates who voted,’’ Musa said.
He alleged Dr. Vibbi confirmed to his mother Madam Theresa Vibbi who is the Paramount Chief of Kandu Leppiama chiefdom that he instructed the youths to destroy the plantation. He said the matter has also been reported to the Member of Parliament Peter Musa Moigua and the Chairman Kenema district council Mohamed Amodu Sesay and the Police who have visited the scene. Chief Vibbi said she totally condemned the destruction to the plantation in which her son Dr. Vibbi was named.
“I shouted at him and frowned at the incident but it happened in the bush and it was unknown to me but James answered to me that he sent people to commit the act,’’ she said, and promised to address the matter.
When contacted, Dr. Vibbi said “I will not continue talking to media people on this matter. I don’t have time for that matter”.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (15/09/21)
