By Septimus Senessie in Kono
As the clock continues to tick ahead of the November 2012 general elections with parties having awarded symbols to candidates, Paramount Chiefs in Kono are slugging it out over who should represent the district in Parliament.
PC Sheku Hammed Tyjan Fasuluku Sonsiama III of Sandor Chiefdom, who doubles as Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province, is challenging the incumbent Paramount Chief MP Sahr Fengai Korgbende
Kaimachiendeh of Gbense Chiefdom who has served in the House for five years.
They have both gone through the nomination process at the district office of the National Electoral Commission.
Speaking to Politico, PC Fasuluku said he was running for the position because he was the “fittest and youngest” among the 14 Paramount Chiefs in the district. He maintained that the Council of Paramount Chiefs in Kono had made a conscientious agreement that no one of them should serve for more than one term as they were too many in the district waiting to serve before death.
He therefore called on his colleagues to vote for him as he would provide them “quality representation” in Parliament.
The incumbent, PC Kaimachiende described the contest between them as “a sign of disunity and division” among the chiefs of Kono which he said did not portend well for them. He pointed out that he deserved a second term because he was now au fait with issues of parliament and pleaded with his colleagues to vote for him.
The District Elections Officer in Kono, Momoh Kanneh said the Paramount Chiefs had done their nominations and their election would be held on 10 October 2012 if none of them steps down for the other.
This option, according to a NEC source, was only employed by the commission where a consensus has failed to produce a representative.
(c) Politico 02/10/12
Photo: Christiana Thorpe, Chairman of the National Electoral Commission
