By Joseph Lamin Kamara
A non-family member who benefited from the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s will that was made public at his Juba residence in Freetown on Saturday has referred to the gesture as “a reward of loyalty”.
The one-time Minister of Presidential Affairs in the Kabbah administration, Dr. Shekou Sesay, said he worked closely with the late man, adding that their relationship spanned as far back as the early 90s when they both worked at the UNDP in New York.
“My loyalty to my friend has continued even when he left office as president. Today, my respect for the widow, Isata Jabbie Kabbah, has doubled. On this day, I want to pledge my loyalty to her and the Kabba family,” Dr Sesay said.
Among the beneficiaries were the president’s five sisters, some of whom are also now deceased, police and military officers, and Haja Alake Mahdi - his former confidential secretary.
After receiving her share, Haja Mahdi said “Tejan Kabba was a common and sincere person. He would always joke with me,” she recalled.
A pecuniary legacy of Le74 million was divided into two, with each beneficiary receiving two-and-a-half percent the inheritance, said family lawyer Alhaji Amadu Deen Tejan-Sie.
He said the late former president had made a trust settlement for his sisters and longest-serving staff and had subjected that to the approval of five trustees. Among the trustees were Osman Boie-Kamara who is the current Minister of Trade and his widow, Isata.
In a tribute, the widow who was the principal trustee, said: “My husband never forgot his family members and those who faithfully served him closely. He was the best husband because he never hurt me to the point that I would want to leave him.”
She referred to his death as "a big loss" to the family and the nation.
“To immortalise my husband’s dreams of peace and democracy, and girl-child education, we are planning to establish the President Tejan Kabba Foundation for peace and democracy, and the Trust Foundation for girl-child education”.
(C) Politico 19/08/14
