June 15, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
It is rare in this part of the World for opposition members to heap praises on an incumbent government, and for Sierra Leone it has almost become a taboo to even associate with or give praises where it is due.
That negative mentality is slightly changing.At the 229 Anniversary Service of the Regent Road Baptist Church gone Sunday 13th June, the former All People’s Congress(APC) Party aspirant for the 2018 general elections , Hon. Alimany ‘Petito’ Koroma showered praises and described President Julius Maada Bio as a caring leader.
He furthered described the occasion as special moment, as many other leaders had worshipped with them in the church, but they have never had a seating president as part of the congregation. On the 13th June, it was a record breaking moment for the President of Sierra Leone to make history and gracing the occasion of the first Christian Baptist Church in Africa is an impressive feat for president Bio.
He furthered that even with recognizable political differences when it comes to worshipping the Most High, unity must serve as the hallmark.
He praised the leadership of the new direction government and expressed confident and optimism for better Sierra Leone under President Bio.
The former APC flagbearer aspirant substantiated his confidence in the Bio Led government with two main reasons that in 2017 when he was refused the APC symbol it was the President Bio (then Aspirant for SLPP) that called to console him, and described him as a ‘Great Man.’
Secondly, Mr. Koroma said when he was bereaved at the loss of his wife it was Maada Bio that called to give him words of comfort. He said it was President Bio’s government that rendered great assistance to him and send a special delegation to the family.
He also stated that the presence of President Bio clearly showed the quality of leadership he was displaying, noting that “President Bio is a man that holds his people at heart. He is a caring president. I know what he did for my family during the time I lost my wife”.
However, President Bio was tasked with the responsibility of unveiling the church’s new pulpit and launched its preparation for the 230th anniversary.
In his statement, the President said notwithstanding his busy schedule he was happy to be in the presence of God worshippers and was pleased to join the congregation to worship and celebrate, noting that the service was awesome and that he was blessed by the sermon and would come again to celebrate with them on their 230th anniversary.
President Bio further thanked the church leaders for the invitation and admonished them to continue the good work in God’s house. He also encouraged the congregation to continue believing in God, adding that he believed that to be a good politician one should always be closer to God.
When he welcomed the President and entourage to the celebration earlier, an elder of the church, Hon. Alimamy Petito Koroma, described the event as a historic moment because the church was hosting the first gentleman of the country for the first time in its long history of existence.
The preacher, Rev. Dr Samuel Broomfield Reeves Jr. from the second oldest Baptist church in Africa in Liberia, said “I am happy that the President is one who loves and serves God”, adding that the President should continue working with God and hold on to God’s plan because he has more blessings in store.
He admonished the congregation to be faithful to God and closed by presenting a medal, certificate and gifts to the President on behalf of his church in Liberia.