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Political infighting, power struggle and personality clash has left the political structure in constituency 112 in disarray with no focus in community development and proper political organization, between the three female APC politicians Hon. Salamatu Turay, representing constituency 112 in Parliament, Councilor Mary Harding of Ward 393 and Mariama Seray Sesay representing ward 394.
The struggle for who is who started when both Councillors Mary Harding and Councillor Mariama Sesay were elected to represent these two wards 393 and 394 in local government in 2008.
Political infighting reared its ugly head and the problems became even worst when the three female APC politicians were doomed as to their various responsibilities to the electorates of the constituency as there was continuous clash as to whose personality surpasses the other in the political hierarchy of Lumley.
APC political stalwarts who envisaged the dangers of disunity among the three female politicians of the same political party, made attempts to bring them together with series of peace meetings at constituency level, which yielded no dividend, as the female politicians continued as enemies rather than as partners in the development of Lumley community which they are representing in both central and local government respectively.
The contagious political problems between the three female APC politicians for supremacy in the political realm in the Lumley community also attracted authorities at the APC Headquarters for which concerned Party Stalwarts including chiefs, market women and youths from constituency 112 were called upon by the then APC National Organising Secretary, Mr. M.L. Bangura including a Mr. Bankie John, Chief Alimamy Bangura, "Bright Star" Mr. Mohamed Sillah, Bai Sanu representing the party Elders Committee and other respectable members of the Lumley Community also failed to bring them closer together after the peace talks between them failed.
In related development to settle the political bitterness between the three female APC Politicians, a high powered Parliamentary group, headed by former leader of the house, Hon. Eddie Turay including Hon. Binneh Bangura, Hon. Marie Yansaneh and others presided over another peace talks between the three APC politicians at the APC headquarters which also failed to initiate the much needed peace.
Further report states that senior party representatives including former Organising Secretary Mr. M.L. Bangura and the leader of the APC Women's League Mrs. Marie Mans, visited the Lumley Constituency and held the final peace talks between the politicians at the Pasanday Community Centre at Lumley, but it also failed to engage a robust approach to reach an amicable solution as one of the Councillors, Mary Harding of Ward 393 was said to have always been the bone of contention, a scenario that actually necessitated the political disarray of constituency 112.
Confirmed sources also disclosed to Peep that there is no proper constituency executive to run the political affairs of the APC in the Lumley axis, as there are too many chairmen and chairladies imposed on the constituents either through the backing of the Councillors or the Honourable member of the Constituency.
One of the impostors our sources revealed is Max Thompson who s said to be supported by Councillor Mary Harding and another Sam Turay said to be having the blessing of the Hon. Salamatu Turay.
Max Thompson is reported to be working clandestinely to unseat Hon. Salamatu Turay in Parliament come 2012 while reports also state that Hon. Salamatu is grooming Sam Turay to unseat Councillor Mary Harding in the coming Local Council Elections.
Constituency 112 is reported to be administered without political agenda, no project proposals, social activities or political programmes for the development and benefit of the people of Lumley.
The Committee of Elders headed by a Mr. Mohamed Sillah which was the Party Fillers in Constituency 112 was reported to be undermined by the three female politicians each suspecting Pa Sillah of supporting one against the other, leaving the formidable body not in disarray.
Community based organizations instead of encouraged into developmental activities are reported to be interfered into by politician in an effort to discourage their meaningful programmes and community development projects to the detriment of the community people.
The Pasanday Indigenous Association headed by Mr. Percy Nicholson has its own tale to tell against Councillor Mary Harding, who was reported to have interfered with a community project undertaken by the Association to fence the perimeter walls of one of the neglected cemetery in Lumley which also met with confrontations from the Councillor who argued that she was marginalised by the group.
The community based football association is also in constant confrontations with councillor Mary Harding who has threatened to erect a market at the only community recreational grounds, and is working round the clock to derail the social and sporting activities of the Association by dissolving an executive body she met in place for an hand-picked political hustler, which has caused bitter blood between the youths who were once ardent APC supporters.
Betraying the confidence of traders and shop owners who voted for the APC as well as constituency 112, who complained of harassment by Councillor Mary Harding for rentages, increasing the fees indiscriminately for which traders claimed no development in their welfare from the councillor.
The three female politicians are ever determined to derail meaningful project proposals as long as it is initiated by any group they suspect to be supported by any of the factions leaving the constituency in political disarray even as 2012 approaches for a test case for the APC.
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