Residents of Tonkolili District especially political analysts, who have been following developments unfolding in the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party in the district, have discovered that there is a crack within its hierarchy largely as a result of nothing more than a battle for supremacy.

Even though the party is in power but there are visible indications that all is not well at various levels across the country, Tonkolili being the latest hotspot where two district executive members Mohamed Saybom Kanu the current party district chairman and Osman Bangura the current Youth Minister are said to have already divided the party into two splinter groups for obvious reasons.

The deep animosity between the pair is said to be affecting not only their party membership but the district in general.

Reports indicate that recently, an ugly ensued between the two camps that allegedly resulted into physical attacks on six party youths that saw the arrest and detention of one of their leaders in Bumbuna town.

According to the Youth Minister’s closest aide, a number of online offensive articles, led to the arrest of their Youth Chairman of Dasogoia Chiefdom John B Cole and detained over allegations of attacking colleague SLPP youths in Bumbuna town.

The injured youths claimed that the Youth Chairman in question had ordered their immediate arrest and detention when they went to mining sites in Bumbuna to stop the ongoing illegal mining scheme.

Immediately after the incident, they said they saw articles authored by known SLPP members accusing one of their members – the Youth Minister of not only having knowledge of the ongoing reckless and illegal mining, but benefitting from the illegal business.

Many SLPP party supporters and other people in the district including this writer had initially thought that the issue was really to stop illegal mining and pollution of River Rokel but later learnt that it was all about battle fighting for supremacy between Ahmed Saybom Kanu and the Youth Minister Osman Bangura for personal gains.

Concerned Tonkolili district inhabitants have not only frowned at the unfortunate situation describing it as a mess but insisted that it has the propensity to undermine security situation in the entire district if not handled with maximum care by the concerned authorities.

“This situation is a mockery and disgrace to us to say the least,” the irate residents stressed, noting that they are still forced to drink unpurified water as a result of the ongoing reckless and illegal mining along the Rokel River.

The people claimed that the ongoing fighting between two SLPP giants is no longer a secret but a mere fight to control power, while the rest continue to wallows in poverty.

Prior to the ugly incident, unconfirmed reports have that the Youth Minister is likely planning to contest for the District Chairmanship of SLPP as the party prepares for its next leadership and executive elections, which may not have gone down well with the other faction.

The rumour might not shake him as incumbent district chairman but the Saybom’s camp now seems threatened though it has since started the preparation ahead.

Because of financial benefits, followers of the two camps want their respective leaders to be at the helm of affairs in the district.

Evidence has indicate that majority sympathizers of detained Youth Chairman of Dasogoia belong to the District Chairman, Ahmed Saybom Kanu’s camp who some people believe are not actually fighting to stop illegal mining or the suffering of the district’s population rather than unjust and selfish course.

Meanwhile, the people have appealed to concerned authorities for proper investigation into the ongoing unhealthy situation in the district as they are currently going through a lot including lack of access to clean drinking water thus exposing them to health and related risks as a result of the illegal mining in the area.