As Shekuba Declares Himself President Traditional Healers Union Supports President Kabba
Hundreds of members of the Sierra Leone Indigenous Traditional Healers Union (SLITHU) has pledged their unflinching support to the first elected President of the union, Field Marshall Professor General Dr. Alhaji Sulaiman Kabba (in photo) for what they described as astute leadership.
They made the commitment to support Dr. Kabbah if an election is to be conducted during a meeting which attracted traditional healers including Regional Chairmen and Chairladies from across the country at Poyo Bar, Calaba Town in Freetown on Saturday 14th July 2018.
Speaking to members of the union, Dr. Sulaiman Kabbah dutifully expressed that the meeting was not aimed at refuting a press release issued by one Mr. Sheku Tarawalie commonly known as ‘Shekuba’ claiming that he is the current President of the traditional healers and further debunked that Dr. Kabbah who was democratically elected during the era of late President Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) as first President of the union and also honored with a staff by erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in one of the occasions at the national stadium is no more the President of the herbalists union.
Dr. Kabbah told colleague unionists that the meeting was not organized to attack personality but as it marks the first assembly since elections, aimed at discussing on how to move the union forward.
“We are non-political and non-tribal”, Dr. Kabbah told his audience adding that there will be problems if the union is politicized and stressed that his position is not a political appointment but officially elected among members of the union. “We live through life not by politicians”, said the President and explained that traditional healers become recognized after he became head of the society through constructive leadership.
He called on members to strengthen unity for the progress of the union and emphasized on how he has been targeted on several occasions by opponents since he started practicing traditional healing as a young man.
He recalled that Sheka Tarawalie (Shekuba) who he described as fighting illegally to overthrow him and many others were brought to join the union and described Shekuba as was his security. He ended by stressing that he fight length and breadth and liaise with people in all sectors of society to elevate the work of herbalists in the country.
The National Registrar of SLITHU, Sheik Hafiz Bashir Kamara who was also the Chairman of the occasion buttressed that the meeting was to bring all herbalists together and advised on the important to respect the leaf.
The Southern Regional Chairman, Agba Moses thanked elders and the national executive and prayed against people who are hell bent of fighting Dr. Sulaiman Kabba.
“Dr. Kabbah has done great things to positively expose the work of herbalists to the public”, he asserted that the Southern Region is always behind him when it comes to matter of election. He promised to disseminate the message of the meeting to all his subjects in the region because according to him enemies are not fighting Dr. Kabba alone but the entire herbalists and the union.
He rested his case by encouraging Pa Kabba not to either relent or afraid because the Almighty God is with him.
In his statement, the Northern Regional Chairman, Isheka Kalokoh called on members to throw their weight behind Dr. Kabbah and motivated him not to relent in his course. He affirmed that Shekuba was truly brought to join the union together with Jahanama Commander from Kabala, Pa Yapo and others.
He said the Northern Region will support Dr. Kabba in an election because they have authority over their subjects in Makeni.
Pa Alhaji from Makeni advised union members especially the national executive to start moving right across the country and warn against fighting one another. He called for change of attitude among traditional healers.
Regional Chairlady representing the Southern region, Salamatu Bangura said leaf is created and blessed by God and appealed for unity in the union. She preached that a leader is chosen by God and spoke about the role Sulaiman Kabba has played to elevate them in society.
The Spokesman for Southern Region from Pujehun, Ibrahim Kissimi Kamara described Sheku Bah as not a target and vowed that he will never forsake SLITHU. He buttressed that Dr. Kabbah’s Presidency is not political but officially elected by members of the union.
Secretary for the Southern Region, Dr. Jonjo confessed that he has been confused why some were making several attempts to have joined other unions but he turned them down. He maintained that he is against tribalism because it has the potential to collapse the entire activities of the union which cut across tribal line.
“We are medical people working to compliment Government’s effort”, said Dr. Jonjo and vowed that they will not allow the union to be politicized because they are not politicians.
The National Chairman, Dr. Omalie said Shekuba who is now fighting to depose the President was believed and respected Dr. Sulaiman Kabba.
He said Sulaiman Kabba had worked harder to unite traditional healers for the progress of the nation and talked about the negative perception of people against President Kabba whom he described as a philanthropist and lover of mankind.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
