By: Mohamed M. Sesay
After reflecting on President Bio’s five Years Developmental scorecards ranging from Free Quality Education, Uninterrupted Electricity supply across District Headquarter Towns, Human Capital Development, infrastructural development especially the New Freetown International Airport, increment of salaries for teachers, nurses and the security forces etc, the Chief Executive Officer of Smart Movement for SLPP Aerean Steven Smart Gegra, has predicted 72% votes in favour of President Julius Maada Bio in the June 24th election with no run-off.
Addressing journalists at his residence, the CEO of Smart Movement for SLPP Aerean Steven Smart Gegra, pointed out key achievements of President Bio since he was elected in April 2018. He said the President had a very good scorecard that would convince Sierra Leoneans to vote for him, he therefore, added that the aim and objective of the Smart Movement for SLPP are to massively embark on a national sensitization campaign to Sierra Leoneans to see reasons why they should vote for the visionary President in this year’s election.
Aerean Steven Smart Gegra recalled that the Smart Movement for established during the 2018 elections. He edified that they started the Movement in Kenema which was recently launched in Kono and cascaded to other districts.
The CEO disclosed that they had started house to house campaign which they refer to as ‘operation touch your area’ and the campaign had helped a lot. He added that they have engaged thousands of people across the country to explain to them what the President had done and the vision the President had for the people.
He highlighted that President Bio had done a lot in the area of education, energy, water, and infrastructure among others. He recalled that before 2018, there were a lot of inadequacies in electricity supplies across big cities; Kenema, Bo and Kono to which President Bio had restored life in those towns.
He pointed out that since 2018, the electricity supply has drastically increased with specific reference to Kono which is now enjoying 24 hours electricity supply as it was not the case before 2018.
“With all these challenges the President has done so many developments since 2018. And as you know if it was not the Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the President would have done more development. But even with all the economic challenges, President Bio’s Government has continued to recruit teachers, health workers, security personnel, increase the salaries of teachers, doctors, lecturers and many other sectors across the board” he said.
Steven Gegra continued that all of the aforementioned developments were done within five years. He, therefore, urged other members of the Movement to champion the no-run-off campaign for the re-election of President in the upcoming General Elections. He mentioned that the movement is targeting all registered voters and that they have a robust movement that would convince Sierra Leoneans to see the reason why they should re-elect the President. He emphasized that politics is a number and they are focusing on getting up to 72% of registered voters across the country.
He furthered that President Bio had made a lifelong rescue to women through the enactment of the Gender and Women Equality Act 2022 which provides a 30% quota for Women. With the 30% quota, he said women are now placed in high decision-making across the board.
Smart Movement CEO also noted that President Bio had made a historic landmark in terms of promoting Human Rights and Press Freedom. He added that President Bio had been dubbed as the champion of Press Freedom through the repeal and replacement of the draconian 1965 Criminal Libel Law. He said the exceptional leadership of President Bio precipitated him to emerge as the African Leader of the Year 2022.
He concluded by calling on the youths to keep the peace before, during and after elections and not to encourage any politician to give them alcohol or involve in violence. He advised, “election is not about violence but how you can convince your opponents to buy your ideologies to vote for your candidate”.