At the laying-out ceremony of Chairman Rev. Smart Kelson Senessie, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh delivered more than a tribute he offered a profound lesson in leadership grounded in humility, timing, and purpose.
Opening with solemn reflection, the Vice President reminded mourners that “today is a very sad day in the contemporary history of our party,” honoring a man who “worked tirelessly for this party and consistently demonstrated character, discipline, and service.” The occasion became not only a moment of grief, but also one of reflection and meaning for the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the nation at large.
Speaking on behalf of the party’s leadership and membership at home and abroad, Dr. Jalloh extended heartfelt condolences while emphasizing the broader significance of the loss. “We want the family to know that this loss is not only theirs. It is a great loss to the SLPP and to the government as a whole,” he said, framing Senessie’s life as one devoted to service beyond his immediate family and community.
He described the late Chairman as “a man of timing and purpose, a devoted family man, and above all, a man of character,” laying the foundation for a deeper reflection on what enduring leadership truly means.
Central to Dr. Jalloh’s message was the discipline of understanding one’s moment. He recalled how, after the party’s 2018 electoral victory, Senessie chose to honour a prior church commitment before accepting national duty a decision he said demonstrated “wisdom, discipline, and respect for timing.”
Even more telling was Senessie’s voluntary decision to step aside from party leadership to create space for others to lead. It was at this point that the Vice President drew his defining conclusion: “True leadership is knowing when to serve and when to make space for others.” By elevating this principle, he transformed a tribute into guidance for both present and future leaders.
The extraordinary turnout at the ceremony, Dr. Jalloh noted, stood as living testimony to a life rooted in purpose and integrity. “This large turnout speaks volumes,” he said, urging all to “draw lessons from a life lived with purpose, discipline, and character.”
Through measured words and moral clarity, the Vice President revealed a leadership philosophy shaped by courage, gratitude, and responsibility qualities that resonate within the party and among Sierra Leoneans seeking steady direction during a defining moment in the nation’s history.