By: Mohamed M. Sesay
The leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) President Julius Maada Bio, and the leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Hon. Kandeh Yumkella, have on Sunday the 23rd of April 2023, launched and signed the SLPP-NGC Strategic Alliance.
The content of the alliance clearly positions President Bio to be the indomitable Presidential Aspirant for the June 24th 2023 elections.
In his statement, President Bio expressed that he was very proud for the remarkable achievement in forming the strategic alliance between the two political parties. President Bio noted that there is something bigger then all of them which the Sierra Leone.
He added that the strategic Alliance is geared towards promoting the interest of the country and its citizens other than political parties.
The said if they are not hypocritical to the land that they love, they should always put the interest of the country first which was exactly what the Strategic Alliance aimed at achieving.
He said it is high time they came together to make Sierra Leone a better place for all.
He continued that in 1961, their founding fathers of the SLPP built the SLPP from a foundation of great aspiration of the ‘One Country One People’ syndrome.
He said the founding fathers of the SLPP built a party that provides a broader umbrella for all Sierra Leoneans. He added that due to the core values of the SLPP which is one country one people, further urged him as President to ask the call on the All People’s Congress Party (APC ) to join in the alliance.
“I wanted to go to social media to debate what progressive alliance means but His excellency said to me Kandeh real politics is not run this way let’s see the result first thank you, sir, I follow your guidance. Thank you to the party elders of SLPP and NGC, you didn’t give up. There were times things was difficult and the misunderstandings were there but we still pulled through”, said Hon. Yumkella.
Hon. Kandeh Yumkella acknowledged that progress and development cannot be achieved individually but only through collaborative effort and partnership. He added that their vision for Sierra Leone is to build on the fundamental pillar of National Cohesion. He said they have recognized and embraced the diversity of the nation, and firmly believe that the diversity should stand as a strength which is part of their commitment for tolerance for all sierra Leoneans. As Leaders, he said they have recognized that it is their responsibility to work for the betterment of the country regardless of their political affiliations.
“President Bio said to me Kandeh come back to your father’s party, come let’s change S/L; Having all these conversations with him I will say it has been long myself and the president have been talking, As the saying goes; when chiefs are doing their business it is only chiefs that should know”, Hon. Yumkella concluded.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who doubled as chairman of the occasion, confessed that the SLPP is making another history going into alliance with other political party. He said since President Bio took over governance in 2028, he had been making history.
He said they are bringing another new way in the political sphere of Sierra Leone. He added that this was the same the founding fathers of the SLPP who came together to form the SLPP did. He said the just launched alliance was part of President Bio’s reputation to bring all political party stakeholders together in terms of promoting inclusive governance.
The Chairman of the SLPP Party Dr. Prince Harding, appealed to the APC to join the SLPP to endorse President Bio in the June Elections. He added that the SLPP needs KKY and his party supporters. He said KKY has versioned the next step in Sierra Leone Politics which was the more reason he decided to form an alliance with the SLPP. He said the two parties coming together was not by coincident but a natural course. He said the alliance was what they were praying for so President Bio could win the June 24th elections. He called on the APC to endorse President Bio on oppose for the election. He said KKY has decided to support the SLPP for the development of the country.” Me as chairman of the SLPP I welcome you all and I encourage all SLPP members to work with the NGC”, he said.
Chairman for Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Justice Abdulai Bangura, commended both parties on behalf of the commission for forming such alliance. He said the PPRC was keen about the alliance being done within the legal framework of the law. He added that various political parties have opted to form alliance over the years but none yielded fruition. He assured that the PPRC would work with the ECSL for the progressive stance of the alliance. He said he was very impressed about the alliance because it promotes democracy and good governance.
