Credible reports from within the corridors of power indicate that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, in his capacity as the Father of the Nation, has on Monday March 25th 2013, invited both the Leader, John Oponjo Benjamin and Secretary-General Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie of the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) to State House for counselling talks in like manner of how a father will talk to troubled children.

 

Benjamin and Banja Tejan-Sie were reportedly invited alongside the Minister of Political Affairs Alhaji Kemoh Sesay and the Attorney-General and Justice Minister Frank Kargbo, to a closed door session with the Head of State during which the opposition leaders were counselled by the President against the terrible image they were painting not only of themselves and their party but of the country’s thriving democratic culture.

 

President Koroma is believed to have called on the party leaders to ensure their followers act in a more civilised manner and see reason why they should stop intra-party violence or else the State would have to apply the fullest weight of the heaviest hand of the law on any culprit of lawlessness no matter the person’s political standing.

President Koroma: The Father of Sierra Leone is busy counselling SLPP children to be civilised

President Koroma is reported to have warned the SLPP leaders that their internal political differences should not result in bloodletting. The President is reported to have advised them that as Father of the Nation, all Sierra Leoneans were to be seen as his children including members of the opposition SLPP. As such, the President informed that as long as it was under his watch, he will ensure all citizens, whether SLPP or APC got all due protection under the law without fear or favour.

 

It can be recalled that recent happenings at the SLPP headquarters have seen repeated incidents of bloodshed amongst SLPP partisans who are battling for control of what is left of the formerly great political entity. The most recent incident which sent chills down the spine of many patriots was the violence which occurred on the anniversary of the country’s March 23rd Day of Reflection.

 

On March 23, 1991 was the day the first gunshots were fired and citizens killed in what was to become the most vicious war the region had ever seen. 22 years later on March 23rd 2013, the SLPP headquarters was turned into a scene of bloodshed when supporters of the defeated SLPP presidential candidate Julius Maada Bio attacked and grievously wounded the party’s Youth Leader Jaiah Sundufu Koroma causing his blood to flow copiously from skull and body wounds he sustained.

 

Meanwhile, the President, whose impeccable human rights record has won him laurels from near and far, will this morning of 26th March 2013 fly out of Sierra Leone with top-notch presidential delegation for the scheduled meeting with President Barack Obama of the United States at the White House on Thursday 28th March 2013.

 

Please see below for press release from the White House Press Secretary about invitation from America for the President which is a positive development.

The visit of these four leaders underscores the strategic importance the President places on building partnerships and substantive engagement with sub-Saharan Africa, and our commitment to working with strong and emerging African democracies.