By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Amidst the ongoing mediation dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and the All People’s Congress party, Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh has in an interview earlier this week intimated that the APC participation in governance would not be a loss to the opposition and not a win to the government but a win for Sierra Leone.
As the head of the Government delegation in the mediation dialogue, Chief Minister Sengeh expressed his profound interest for the ongoing mediation dialogue while condemned the act of throwing stones at each other. He reveled that disputes are inevitable but said that should not take away the fact that Sierra Leone is a unified and strengthen country, adding that they should not see each other as enemies but good friends.
Explaining some family line connections between him and some members of the opposition, Dr. Sengeh expressed that there were more that should unit them than those that should divide them.
Responding to Dr. Samura Kamara’s statement, alleging that the Bio’s Government was illegitimate, Chief Minister Sengeh politely replied that such did not reflect the reality on ground, adding that it was just an unfortunate statement. He said a lot of people say things based on perceptive and perceptions, and admonished that they should not be saying words that were hard for people to appreciate. “Everybody knows we are legitimate, fully functioning with all the arms of government,” he affirmed.
Sengeh expressed that the dialogue was one that would strengthen their democratic state Institutions. “We really believe that as a government we need to strengthen our state democratic institutions which amongst them are the participation of opposition. It is a commitment to national development and to foster diversity in views,” he clarified.
David Sengeh assured that at the end of the dialogue they would surely achieve a strengthen democratic process. He reinforced his anticipation of having the APC in Parliament and take up their responsibility. He assured that there would be a lot more inclusive engagement in the governance across the various works the government set forth to achieve, such as the constitutional review process.
David Sengeh continued that they needed the APC Parliamentarians to debate in Parliament those laws, take responsibility for them, and pass them in Parliament with a two-third majority. He added that they require the participation of the opposition and their votes as well as their support on the process. He said if that happens and they go to a referendum, the people of Sierra Leone would be happy and Sierra Leone would be better for all Sierra Leoneans.
Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh expressed that with the positive energy APC started showing and the positive energy the government as well had started showing, he assured that there is hope for APC to go to Parliament. “It is not a loss if APC comes to Parliament; it is not a win for the Government if APC comes to Parliament. Sierra Leone wins when APC comes to Parliament,” Chief Minister David Sengeh expressed hope.
As a fervent Christian who seeks forgiveness frequently, Dr. Sengeh admitted that he personally said sorry to the opposition members as he might have said things that hurt them knowingly and unknowingly. Though the ‘sorry’ was not in his official speech Dr. Sengeh expressed that he felt the need at some point in time to say that as he recognized that he said things that hurt them and they also. “That doesn’t mean if I recognize that I said things that hurt them I can’t say sorry. That doesn’t take away from me because I mean it,” he clarified.