On Friday 24th October 2009, the process started with a very peaceful atmosphere and during the process on the second day, while one of the most popular candidates Desmond S.L. Bondi stood up to talk, an unauthorized old woman (who was not a TA), named Sebeh Yaelie whom many people questioned her presence in that Barray, stood up and asked for permission to say she knew about the biography of Mr. Bondi and she was automatically allowed to talk even amidst condemnations from the general public and most of the other aspirants who knew she was not suppose to be in that Barray as she was not even a TA.

The people of Binkolo told this presshouse that Bondi is said to be in the black books of the P.S. because his own camp only spent one million leones on the P.S. whilst other camps in favour of other candidates might have spent much more on P.S. Dumbuya.

Anyhow, when Yaelie stood up, she questioned the birth of Mr. Bondi whose mother she alleged was not a legally wedded wife of the late Alimamy Dura of whose ancestry, children of the ruling house are certified. She even stated Bondi’s father was the son of a boyfriend and not a legitimate Dura man. After making this unfounded statement, the P.S automatically disqualified Mr. Bondi candidature and stopped him from making any further declaration and also announced that no other person is allowed to make any comment on this allegation, adding that Mr. Bondi will not be given a symbol based on the old woman’s allegation.

At this junction, amidst loud confusion, the P.S adjourned the process for lunch. To the surprise of all, the P.S, the Senior Elections Officer of NEC in Bombali Albert Massaquoi, the Central Chiefdom Finance Clark Samuel Turay, Sebeh Yaelie and other dubious people who were bent on seeing the downfall of the popular Bondi went into a room, locked themselves there and on their coming out, called the meeting to order and automatically announced the results which disqualified the popular candidate from contesting the forthcoming election.

This disqualification of Mr. Bondi who was labeled as being the people’s choice, ended the whole process in a state of pandemonium which nearly resulted to and still has the possibility of waging another rebellious war in the that part of the country if not for the quick intervention of well popular Mr. Bondi who has been the only person that the angry youths are giving ears to at present. The youths are clam for now but many of them told this newspaper’s team without mincing their words that there will be no election, no peace and stability in that part of the country if their best choice Mr. Bondi is not awarded a symbol to contest the election.

At present, their slogan is "No Bondi, no Paramount Chieftaincy elections in Binkolo Chiefdom."

Apart from been the brain behind the so call undemocratic, unconstitutional and corrupt declaration process, the P.S was also accused of engaging in corrupt practices of demanding whopping sums of money from candidates contesting the elections on the pretext of preparing document for them with reference to the process, contrary to the National Electoral Commission’s Act. He is also said to have been favoring candidates who showered him with more gifts and cash.

Front & Back of Complimentary Card used to collect the One Million Leones by Osman Samura, Grandson of Provincial Secretary

So, after spending two days in Binkolo, Awareness Times travelled down to Makeni to hear the side of the Provincial Secretary. We could not meet him at his residence but we met his grandson who confirmed that the complimentary card in our possession contained his handwriting and that he had written on the card to confirm the collection of one million leones for the P.S. from one Dr. Hassan Sisay in America.

All the regular phone numbers for the P.S. were unavailable but acting on a tip-off, our investigative team traced the new phone number and eventually we travelled down to Port Loko where we finally met with P.S. Dumbuya. He first of all denied the allegations of bribery to disqualify or qualify contenders for the chieftaincy but upon being shown his complimentary card where his grandson had signed, he hastened to accept the fact that he indeed received the sum of one million Leones from Dr. Hassan Sisay, a relative of Mr. Desmond Bondi, the popular candidate. However, according to him, the one million leones was nothing but a mere gesture from Bondi’s relative to him for, "my good job as P.S in the Northern Province and because of admiration from Dr. Hassan Sisay".

Although the Provincial Secretary was nonchalant about the level of discontent which he dismissed as propaganda, sounding public opinions from residents of the Chiefdom clearly indicates to this newspaper that there is serious cause for concern in Binkolo right now. For example, the Chairman of the Bike Riders Association of Binkolo Osman Turay vowed that he and his association members has vowed not to allow any Paramount Chief election in the Chiefdom if their favored candidate Mr. Bondi is not awarded a symbol to contest against the others. A youth member who preferred anonymity disclosed that they will be organizing a peaceful demonstration in support of their candidate which will be followed by another undisclosed step if nothing is done.

Several attempts were made by the Awareness Times investigation team to meet and interview Madam Sebeh Yaelie but all proved futile due to the fact that Madam Yaelie first of all disguised herself and when identified and a time for a meeting was agreed upon, she failed to make herself available for interview.

Also interviewed was the Councilor for Ward 107 in the Binkolo, Safroko Chiefdom, Councilor Juliana Y. Conteh who confirmed that the attitude of the P.S during the ceremony used to disqualify Mr. Bondi was very suspicious. She said there were all indications that the P.S did what he did to Mr. Bondi out of grudge. The Councilor also confirmed that Mr. Bondi is the people’s choice and must be allowed to exercise his franchise.