Freetown — The Resident Minister (east) has attributed the opposition of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) leadership to the re-introduction of the office of the District Officers at council levels to factors motivated by political and personal gains.

"I am sure the SLPP is rejecting this laudable venture because of political and personal gains," Hon. William Juana Smith said while reacting to the misconception spreading among residents in the eastern region about the re-introduction. "But it is very necessary to re-introduce this office. As a resident minister, I have discovered gaps between the councils and the chiefdom authorities. On many occasions when there is a land dispute, the chief administrators were not around to settle them."

However, the SLPP Chairman, John Benjamin, has strongly condemned the move saying "The 2004 Local Government Act completely abolished the office and some of their functions were transferred to the chief administrators."

Some civil society groups in the eastern region also questioned the development on the pretext that the re-introduction of DOs offices will overlap some of the roles and responsibilities of the chief administrators at both city and district council levels.

Hon. Smith told Concord Times that the DOs would help checkmate the activities of the councils which have been retrogressive of late and have caused unnecessary embarrassment for the All Peoples Congress-led government.

He said councils have not been coordinating government activities properly at both district and chiefdom levels and paramount chiefs have complained of poor working relationship with the councils on several occasions.

"The office of the DOs was introduced by the colonial masters to serve as a link between the central government and local authorities," the Resident Minister added. "This office was existing alongside the councils for a very long time but it was later realized that the councils were seriously engaged in corrupt practices which led to its closure by the APC government in 1972."

Meanwhile, the Mayor of the Kenema City Council, Chief Brima Kargbo, has denied his council's objection to the re-introduction and cautioned that the issue should not be politicized so as not to hinder the smooth operation of the councils.