By: James Kamara-Manneh
Ahead of the polls on Saturday 24TH June, President Julius Maada Bio in his final State broadcast to the nation has called on citizens to uphold and respect our hard-earn democracy.
In the forthcoming elections, he called on the citizens to embark on a significant milestone in our democratic journey the 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council Elections. He said the elections are not merely a procedural formality; they embody our democratic ideals, where every citizen has the privilege to exercise their constitutional right to vote freely and without fear.
He said as a nation we cannot afford to be oblivious to the dangers that lurk when violence replaces the path of democracy and the rule of law. We have experienced firsthand the far-reaching effects of choosing war over dialogue.
“We cannot subject our children or loved ones to a repetition of our darkest past. Therefore, we must recognise that there is simply no substitute for 3 3 democracies, even when its outcomes may feel inconvenient or leave us disheartened” he emphasized.
Adding to that, he said as our President has been entrusted with the duty to uphold the democratic principles that guide our nation’s progress. Free and fair elections are a legal requirement and a moral obligation.
“Every citizen has the right to express their will through the power of the ballot box. Our duty and unyielding resolve are to conduct the upcoming elections in an environment of freedom, fairness, and credibility” he laments.
With confidence, the President said his government is committed to ensuring that every citizen can exercise their democratic rights with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their voice will be heard, and their choice will be respected.
President Bio reveals that his government has introduced forward-looking reforms in the electoral processes by seriously and closely reviewing reports by several Elections Observer missions to our nation over the years, including the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, African Union Commission, and the European Union, and we have systematically implemented the key recommendations.
The president reminisced that in 2012, the European Union (EU) made over 100 recommendations to improve the conduct of our democratic elections. The previous All People’s Congress (APC) Government ignored almost all those recommendations. The EU mission made additional recommendations following the conduct of the 2018 elections.
He said since assuming office, he has directed that the recommendations be considered, and practical action was taken for their rollout and implementation, “…commitment to electoral transparency and to consolidate our democratic gains, more than 70 of the recommendations by the European Union have been implemented.”
The government has toiled tirelessly to consolidate our country’s democracy, institute reforms that enhance the well-being of our nation, establish a stable and harmonious Sierra Leone and set our country on the trajectory of progress and sustainable development.
He urged citizens to condemn and desist from unfounded allegations, divisive rhetoric, and vehement hate speech, along with the threats of violence directed at the police, electoral commissioners, the justice sector, and political opponents.
He affirms that June 24th 2023 will go on as planned and there shall be no postponement or cancellation.
H.E Bio said we must also wholeheartedly accept the people’s verdict, to whom our Constitution confers sovereignty. The forthcoming elections shall serve as a litmus test for our democratic values and unwavering commitment to progress.
“Let us seize this opportunity to fortify our democracy, safeguard our institutions, and forge a stronger Sierra Leone that embraces the aspirations of all its citizens”.