Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Female politician and former minister, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, in a Facebook post expressed her preference for the establishment of a new district, the Kissi Bendu District, which she believes would yield greater economic and social benefits than the recently created Panguma and Bandajuma districts by President Bio.
Reflecting on her aspirations for leadership in Sierra Leone, Dr. Blyden stated, “If I ever get to lead Sierra Leone, I will swiftly create a Kissi Bendu district because there are far more economic & social reasons to create a Kissi Bendu than to create Panguma or Bandajuma as districts.”
In her post, she clarified that she does not oppose President Bio’s creation of these new districts, acknowledging that he is acting within the legal framework. “I am not against the creation of new districts. It is the prerogative of a sitting president to delineate our country into administrative areas as he sees fit, and I will never contest that. Even if a sitting president were to propose the establishment of 100 new districts, I would not challenge that, as it falls within his powers under the law (specifically Section 4(1) of the Provinces Act {CAP 60}). While I may offer criticism, I will not label it as wrong,” she asserted.
Dr. Blyden also reflected on her tenure as Minister of Social Welfare, Gender, and Children’s Affairs during the formation of the Karene and Falaba districts under former President Ernest Bai Koroma. She emphasized that this decision was one of the most significant legacies of the former president. “In 2017, I was serving as Minister when the decision was made to reconfigure Sierra Leone’s administrative divisions and create additional districts and chiefdoms. I fully supported the establishment of the Karene and Falaba districts. In my view, these creations represent some of the greatest legacies of the former president, rectifying a historical injustice imposed by colonial powers on the northern region.”
She expressed her disappointment at missing a crucial meeting that could have advanced the establishment of a Kissy Bendu District and the creation of a new division of the Karina Chiefdom from the Biriwa Chiefdom, aimed at resolving a long-standing dispute.
“I was unable to attend the Cabinet meeting due to overseas duties when the decision to approve the divisions was made. By the time I returned, it was already a fait accompli. Had I been present, I would have advocated strongly for the then Local Government Minister to revisit his team and initiate the creation of a Kissy Bendu District. Additionally, I believe it is essential to establish a Karina Chiefdom from the Biriwa Chiefdom to address the ongoing violence between the Limbas and Madingos in that region of Bombali District,” she stated.
In her concluding remarks, she articulated the compelling reasons why both President Bio and former President Koroma should prioritize the creation of a Kissy Bendu District. She emphasized the area’s military significance and its historical role as a trading hub prior to the war. She highlighted the distinctiveness of the region in terms of language, culture, and social dynamics.
“The rationale for establishing a Kissy Bendu District is both profound and evident. This area holds considerable military importance, situated adjacent to our two neighboring countries, and has significant economic value as a major trading hub before the war years. The unique cultural and linguistic attributes of the Kissi people further underscore the necessity of designating this area as a distinct district,” she concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
