We must commend the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) led by Lawyer Charles Margai for their exemplary conduct during their yesterday grand final rally in Freetown.

Many Sierra Leoneans were in trepidation when reports indicated that the three major political parties in the country would be holding their final grand rallies during three consecutive days.

Foreign Embassies advised their citizens to stay indoors during those three days whilst some people planned to simply stay away from work.

The fears were justified. Since the whistle was blown for campaigning to start, the political rallies have been boisterous to say the least and downright violent in many cases with political opponents slugging it out with each other and not hesitating to use verbal abuse, stones, sticks, knives and in some cases, even guns against each other.

This is why many had been expecting that some violence would occur during yesterday’s rally.

However, on the contrary, all along the routes that the PMDC took as was monitored by several reporters from this presshouse, the PMDC supporters were well organised, polite and even chanting songs of peace and warmth to people who were clearly supporters of their main rivals, the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

For his part, at the Victoria Park Grounds where the rally ended, the PMDC Leader eschewed his usual verbose threats of violence-will-beget-violence and instead took pains to warn his supporters to keep the peace. He could not resist referring to himself again as a Field Marshal but he did not talk about public executions yesterday like he has been doing in Kenema, Kabala etc. etc.

Indeed, Margai, who has seemingly lost a considerable amount of weight during the campaign tour, spoke on a number of issues including his dissatisfaction with the logistical assistance being rendered to the National Electoral Commission by the Sierra Leone Military.

However, to his credit, he did not incite violence nor did he tell his supporters to perpetuate violence as he has been known to do in the past. All in all, yesterday’s display by both the PMDC rank and file and the PMDC Leader himself were a most welcomed display of maturity and for that, we highly commend them.

Let us hope the other two political parties who will be holding their own final rallies today (the All People’s Congress) and tomorrow (Sierra Leone People’s Party) will also emulate the fine example of Lawyer Charles Margai Esq. and his supporters. We are praying that these other two parties will also be displaying maturity along the streets of Freetown.

But most of all, we are praying that all the political actors will show maturity in accepting the will of the people come August 11th 2007.

Lawyer Charles Margai, like Ernest Koroma or Solomon Berewa, should quietly accept the will of the people in the same matured manner in which Margai carried himself yesterday and for which he is being highly commended.

Only one man will emerge as the winner for the Presidency. All the others, for the sake of the people they wanted to lead, should accept defeat and congratulate the winner when it is announced.