Disagreement Rocks Margibi Project Committee

Serious disagreement has reportedly marred the Margibi County’s Project Management Committee (PMC) recent elections conducted in the county, despite efforts by stakeholders to calm the storm and install new a leadership to steer the affairs of the body.

The row erupted when Margibi Superintendent Levi Z. Piah, who invited township commissioners and representatives of various constituencies to the induction ceremony, announced later that members of the county’s legislative caucus were in a serious meeting therefore, they could not be present, but has given their blessing for the ceremony to proceed.

But Piah’s statement infuriated some participants, who suggested that the ceremony be postponed until the caucus is fully represented through its chairman, Representative Saah Gbollie.

Piah being the head of the county, decided to exercise power, maintaining that no one is bigger than him in Margibi therefore, the process should go ahead. However, while he was about to nominate people to various positions, two members of the caucus, Representatives Roland C. Kaine and Kollie Sorsor Jallah, arrived at the ceremony.

Their presence led to temper flaring, especially when they expressed “dissatisfaction” about the manner in which Superintendent Piah was conducting the Project Management Committee. In the aftermath, a conference was held in camera, which led to call for re-nomination of contestants.

But things turned nasty when township commissioners and representatives of various constituencies in the county abandoned the process in anger, having been told to register only one person instead of three as Superintendent Piah had announced earlier. With interest at stake, one group accused the commissioners of being dictated to by the Superintendent, who wanted three delegates each.

“But if this were to happen, it would have been unfair to others like the lawmakers, student groupings, civil society and other major stakeholders in the county,” one elder at the ceremony observed.  Because of the disagreement, the entire process ended in disarray with participants walking out of the hall.