As the argument to create lower Bong as ‘Bong Range County’ intensifies in the county, a group branded under the banner of ‘One Bong County Campaigner’ want the citizens of both lower and upper Bong to reject all discussions surrounding the division of the county.
Correctly, Senator Hanry Yallah is working on a bill at the Liberian national legislature that will divide Bong County into two. Senator Yallah argues that when the bill is passed by his colleagues at the legislature, uncountable developments will explore in the two counties.
Article 34a of the Liberia Constitution says the legislature shall have the power to create a new county and other political subdivision and readjust existing boundaries. Liberia now has fifteen counties, if the said bill is passed, will be increased by one to be called Bong Rang County, the new county name proposed by the bill master.
However, during the weekend, the One Bong County Campaign’s team issued a press statement which expressed their total unhappiness and concern about the bill that Senator Yallah and others are proposing for the division of Bong County.
According to the group spokesman, Kusee Armstrong the intent of current lone Senator and supporters to divide Bong is selfish, diabolical and has the tendency of persuasively dividing the peaceful citizens of the county instead of reconciling them.
They further argue that the problem are not division but the lack of adequate and United leadership that will see Bong as a whole in decision-making and ensure the adequate distribution of the limited resources for the sole purpose of improving the lives and wellbeing of the citizenry.
The statement said “Senator Henry Willie Yallah has lost the ability to provide quality leadership for the county due to the size and population as well as his inability to fulfill his campaign promises in 2012 general and presidential election” The One Bing County campaign team is encouraging citizens of the county to reject what they called a negative message from Senator Yallah.
The one Bong county campaign currently has over 2500 members in the 13 administrative districts in the county. It can be recalled that Liberia Noble peace prize winner Madam Layman Gbwee during a one day exercise in the county lashed at the senator to not divide the Peace loving people of Bong County. She also called on Bongese not to accept this act something she believes has the propensity to establish an age-old conflict in the Bong.
This statement including other from various concern citizens of the county has created more debates in major intellectual centers and community radio stations in the county.
Currently, some permanent citizens of lower Bong in including their representative, Moima Briggs Mensa, Joseph Papa Kolleh and former county Superintendent Madam Selena Polson Mappy are in support of Senator Yallah quest to divide Bong county through the legal means.