Ribbi New Paramount Chief Promises Discipline And Collaboration in His Administration

In activating hope and restoring the glories of his Chiefdom, the newly elected Paramount Chief of Ribbi Chiefdom, Moyamba District, PC. Moses Kannie Kai Mahoi V has on Friday 8th March, 2024 at the Chiefdom Headquarters town of Bradford promised the people of Ribbi Chiefdom a disciplined and collaborative administration in the transformation of Ribbi Chiefdom.

PC Mahoi made this pronouncement during his homecoming ceremony after winning the Paramount Chieftaincy Election in mid-January 2024.

The occasion was attracted by Government and Non-government officials including the Resident Minister – South, District Officer (DO – Moyamba), Office of National Security (ONS), National Council of Paramount Chiefs (NCPC), Parliamentary Caucus Leader, High Court Judge, Members of Parliament (MPs), Civil Activists, the Media, Traditional Leaders among others.

In addressing the gathering, PC Mahoi honoured gratitude by thanking the people of Ribbi for voting him the crowned Paramount Chief of Ribbi Chiefdom and maintaining peace during and after the electioneering process.

He described Discipline, Collaboration, and Respect for authority as fundamental principles of local administration through which peace, unity, and development can be easily achieved.

“I am asking you all to respect yourselves, respect authorities. Ribbi is going to be transformed. I am a very disciplined man. When I started this war, I always tell anyone I come across that this Chieftaincy is mine, and having succeeded I will deliver.” PC. Mahoi stated.

The new Paramount Chief acknowledged and appreciated the Honorable Members of Parliament Cluster (093) Hon. Ben Alpha Mansaray of the All People’s Congress (APC) and Hon. Umu Pyne of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) for their unflinching contributions towards the development of the Chiefdom.

“Ribbi People, Ribbi is a blessed Kingdom. From the history of Ribbi since I was born in 1965 this is the first time Ribbi has got two Hon. Members of Parliament at the same time. With the help of these two personalities Ribbi will transform from this stage to another stage”. PC Mahoi said.

The Paramount Chief shed light on the grievances he experienced from people of the “Down River” community during his Paramount Chieftaincy campaign over the persistent neglects in relations to precious development where he promised to change the narratives accordingly.

He pleaded with the community to actuate the spirit of love, respect for one another and collectively stand the chance in the fight against Kush in the Chiefdom.

In his keynote address, the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ben Alpha Mansaray described the newly elected Paramount Chief as a man of wisdom, discipline, listening and a team leader with collaborative tendencies.

Hon. Mansaray encouraged the community to be law abiding citizens and to embrace the vision of the Paramount Chief for the betterment of the Chiefdom. He encouraged sub-chiefs to treat their subjects with outmost sincerity for a peaceful cohesion within the Chiefdom.

The Member of Parliament admonished the community to embrace and priotise agriculture as one of the pillars for sustainable growth and development.

PC. Moses Kannie Kai Mahoi V was duly elected Paramount Chief of Ribbi Chiefdom Moyamba District on Thursday 18th January, 2024 at the Chiefdom Headquarter town of Bradford, Ribbi Chiefdom Moyamba District where he defeated his opponent Kenneth Mahoi with 03 Votes difference in a Run-off Paramount Chieftaincy election after six years of Chiefdom Simpering.

PC Moses K. K Mahoi V succeeds PC. Foday Raka Mahoi IV.

Ribbi was originally a part of Bumpeh Chiefdom in the Moyamba District ruled by the Caulkers. The area was at the time the site of a profitable timber operation.

Around 1800 however, under the rule of Thomas Theophilus who was considered a weak ruler, the chief of Ribbi section declared the Chiefdom independent (Caulker-Burnet, 2010). Some years later in 1830, Ribbi and the other chiefs still in Bumpeh was attacked by a group of Temne from Yoni seeking a new port.

At that time, a woman named Yah Kai, rosed to great prominence by hiring Loko mercenaries from the North to successfully repel the Temnes.

Descendants of these mercenaries have their own section in the Chiefdom today. The Chiefdom continue to produce timber today, receiving surface rent from Basco International, a logging operation.

The Chiefdom has two ruling family houses including the Bendu and Cole.

The Bendu traces the lineage of Yah Kai and has dominated the Chieftaincy for most of the 20th century and have their headquarter in Bradford.

The Cole traces the lineage of Bandama Cole, a trader from Freetown who tought to have used his influence with the colonial officials to establish himself as Paramount Chief in the very early 20th century.
Though his descendants continue to contest in elections, they are widely viewed as outsiders and do not garner many votes.